The gallbladder is a small organ located just beneath the liver which aids in the digestive process by storing and secreting bile into the small intestine when food enters. Bile is a fluid which the liver produces that is made up of several substances, including cholesterol, bilirubin and bile salts.

Sometimes, pieces of solid material known as gall stones form in the gallbladder as a result of cholesterol and pigments in bile forming hard particles.

The two main types of gallstones are:

Cholesterol Stones (approximately 80% of gallstone cases)- These are usually yellow-green in color.

Pigment stones - These stones are smaller and darker and are made up of bilirubin.

Gallstones can be caused by several factors including:

- Genetics

- Body Weight

- Decreased motility of the gallbladder

- Diet

Wherever an imbalance on the substances that make up bile exists, gallstones can form. An example would include cholesterol stones, which develop as a result of excess cholesterol in the bile. Another example may be gallstones forming as a result of the gallbladder’s inability to empty properly.

Pigment stones are commonly found in people with certain pre-existing medical conditions, such as sickle cell anemia, which is a disease of the blood.

In most cases, people with gallstones don’t experience symptoms. In cases such as this the gallstones are referred to as "silent stones." The awareness of the problem will usually surface during an examination for another illness.

When symptoms do appear, they include the following:

- Pain in the upper abdomen and upper back which can last several hours

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Other gastrointestinal problems, including bloating, indigestion and gas

There is no sure-fire way to prevent gallstones, but following the regimen outlined below may help treat & prevent them greatly:

Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.

Eat a high-fiber diet, which removes excess cholesterol.

At the first sign of pain, drink one tablespoon of apple cider in a glass of apple juice.

If the gallbladder becomes inflamed, stick to a liquid diet.

Avoid sugar and products that contain sugar.

Do not overeat.

The following is a list of beneficial supplements:

Alfalfa (1,000 mg twice a day for two days) - Cleanses the liver and supplies necessary vitamins and minerals.

Essential Fatty Acid Complex (take as directed on label) - Needed for repair and prevention of gallstones.

Lecithin Granules (1tbsp 3 times daily before meals) - Aids digestion of fats.

Vitamin A (25,000 IU daily) - Needed for repair of tissues.

Vitamin B Complex (50 mg 3 times daily with meals) - Necessary for proper digestion.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (3,000 mg daily) - Helps avoid gallstones as a deficiency can lead to gallstones.

Vitamin D3 (400 IU daily) - Restores deficiencies found in people with gallstones.

Peppermint - Cleanses the gallbladder.

Barberry Root Bark, Catnip, Dandelion, Fennel and Horsetail - Herbs for treating gallstones.