Surgery becomes necessary if the gall-stones are very large or in cases in which they have been present for long. Smaller gall-stones, can, however, be cleared through dietetic cure. In cases of acute gall-bladder inflammation, the patient should fast for two or three days, until the acute condition is cleared.
Nothing but water should be taken during the fast. After the fast, the patient should take fruit and vegetable juices for few days. The juice of carrots, beets, grape-fruits, pears, lemons or grapes may be used.
After the juices, the patient should adopt a well- balanced diet which should contain an adequate amount of all the essential nutrients. Ideally, the diet should be lacto-vegetarian, with emphasis on raw and cooked vegetables, fruit and vegetables juices, and a moderate amount of fruits and seeds. Pears should be eaten generously as they have a specific healing effect on gall-bladder.
Yogurt, cottage cheese and a tablespoon of olive oil twice a day should also be included in the diet. Oil serves as a stimulant for the production of bile and lipase, the fat digesting enzymes. High quality vegetable oil in the diet also prevents gall-stone formation.
The patient should eat frequent small meals rather than three large meals. The following is the suggested menu for those suffering from gall-bladder disorders:
Upon arising: A glass of lukewarm water mixed with lemon juice and honey or fresh fruit juice.
Breakfast: Fresh fruit, one or two slices of whole meals toast and a cup of skimmed powder milk.
Mid-morning: Fresh fruit juice.
Lunch: Vegetable soup, a large salad consisting of vegetables in season with dressing of lemon or vegetable oil. Fresh fruit for dessert, if desired.
Dinner: Vegetable juice, one or two lightly cooked vegetables, baked potato, brown or unpolished rice or whole wheat chappatis and a glass of butter-milk.
Oil cure has been advocated by some nature cure practitioners for the removal of gall-stones. Raw, natural, unrefined vegetable oils for example, olive or sunflower oil are used. The procedure is to take one ounce of vegetable oil, preferably olive oil, first thing in the morning and follow it immediately with four ounces of grapefruit juice or lemon juice. This treatment should be taken each morning for several days, even weeks, if necessary.
The pain of gall-stone colic can be relieved by the application of hot packs or fomentation to the upper abdominal area. A warm water enema at body temperature will help eliminate faecal accumulations if the patient is constipated. Exercise is also essential.