Greasy or Shiny Stools

Greasy or shiny stools are an indication of hepato-biliary dysfunction. Fats in the diet require adequate bile production from the liver and adequate bile release from the the gallbladder to be properly emulsified and digested. Decreased output of bile from the gallbladder will cause fat to remain undigested in the small intestine, leading to steatthorea or greasy / shiny stools, There is a strong need for bile salts to help with the emulsification of fats.

Another possible cause is pancreatic insufficiency. The pancreas produces lipase, which aids in the digestion of emulsified fats.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing

History of Morning Sickness

A history of morning sickness is an indication of liver insufficiency. Morning sickness corresponds with the increase in Beta HCG hormone, which, like most hormones, relies on the live for proper detoxification and elimination. If the liver, and to some extent the gallbladder, is not able to detoxify hormones, the HCG can linger and cause the symptoms associate with morning sickness. There is a need for liver and gallbladder support, which should also decrease the likelihood of severe morning sickness in subsequent pregnancies. 

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing

Sea, Car or Airplane Sickness and Motion Sickness

The most common reason for motion sickness is a disturbance to equilibrium in the organs of balance in the inner ear. It is also a sign of the need for live and gallbladder support.

Lifestyle Changes
1. Read or listen to music while traveling and try to keep eyes from outdoor scenery as it flashes past.
2. Sip steamy, hot drinks or hold moist, hot towels against the nose when traveling - dry air in vehicle dries out the nasal passages.
3. Sipping ginger tea.



Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Stomach Upset by Greasy Foods

Fats in the diet require bile production from the lover and adequate bile release from the gallbladder to be properly emulsified and digested. A person who has a stomach upset by greasy food is in need of gallbladder support. The bile is probably too thick and needs thinning.  If the bile does not properly emulsify fats, they can lead to irritation of the small intestine, especially if the fats are from hydrogenated oils.

Another possible cause is pancreatic insufficiency. The pancreas produces lipase, which aids in the digestion of the emulsified fats.


Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Nausea

Nausea is often seen with digestive dysfunction. One of the most common causes of nausea is biliary insufficiency or stasis, a condition called cholestasis. The bile is an essential route of elimination of toxins from the liver. When the flow of bile is inhibited toxins can build up in the body leading to a feeling of nausea. Inhibition of bile flow can be caused by a number of different factors, including liver damage. Liver damage can be mild, in the form of an early onset of hepatitis, or severe as in the case in full blow hepatitis. Liver dysfunction that impairs bile flow can have a number of different symptoms including digestive disturbances and nausea. Other digestive cause include inadequate levels of stomach acid, pancreatic insufficiency, and excess stomach acid. An irritated mucosal lining of the digestive tract can also cause nausea.



Other indications: Drugs / toxins, pregnancy, mechanical obstruction

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Pain Between Shoulder Blades

Pain between the shoulder blades is a sign of gallbladder stasis due to referring pain from the gallbladder radiating up into the shoulder area. This is not a very strong or specific sign, as many other things can cause pain between the shoulder blades including nerve irritation, nerve impingement, bursitis, frozen shoulder, weak pectoralis muscles etc.



Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

92. Sensitive to Tobacco Smoke

Sensitivity to smoke is an indication of dysbiosis in the large intestine. A build-up of yeast such as Candida will increase the toxic load that the liver has to deal with. This is more likely in a person who eats a lot of refined sugar and has a history of antibiotic use.

It has also been associated with a need for increased liver support, as the liver is not doing an adequate job removing toxins. The detoxification pathways in the liver require many nutritional co-factors. Phase I detoxification involves the oxidation, reduction and/or hydrolysis of a molecule to make it less toxic.  Sensitivy to smoke may indicate a need for molybdenum, a nutrient that is often deficient and is required for effective Phase II detoxification. Either of these problems may be present simultaneously, as the liver is under the added stress of detoxifying the build-up of toxic metabolites produced by the Candida.

Dysbiosis:
1. Nutrients that heal the intestines
2. Water soluble fiber and colon health nutrients
3. Multiple nutrients that support the immune system


Lifestyle Changes
See Handout located here for Recommendation for Keeping Your Liver Healthy and the Dysbiosis diet.



Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

89. History of Hepatitis

A history of hepatitis can be an indicator of an increased need for liver support. Hepatitis is an inflammatory and destructive process that destroys the hepatic cells and causes liver damage. The liver has the ability to regenerate itself given the correct environment. However, long-term damage to the hepatocytes from hepatitis is not reversible.

Supporting the many functions of the live from protein synthesis, blood sugar regulation, detoxification, blood filtration etc. can be very helpful for people recovering from hepatitis.


Lifestyle Changes
Read handout located here on Recommendations for keeping your Liver healthy


Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

82. Bitter Taste in Mouth, Especially after Meals

A bitter taste in the mouth, especially after meals, may be due to bile. This is a symptom of gallbladder dysfunction. Bile should not be regurgitated and you should consider gross pathology first, such as biliary or abdominal congestion, or gallstones, before beginning supplemental protocols. Identify and removing hidden food allergies may help.

If this is a consideration, you must contact your medical physician for their evaluation and treatment.


Lifestyle Changes
See handout located here on Healthy Lifestyle for a Healthy Gallbladder





Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

79. Headache Over the Eye

The gallbladder and liver meridians in the Chinese medicine system pass over the head. Liver and gallbladder congestion often causes headaches over the eye. They may also be due to a pancreatic dysfunction causing either a deficiency in digestive enzymes, or  blood sugar dysregulation. If the headaches come in the afternoon or first thing in the morning, the treating the blood sugar dysregulation will be very helpful to prevent these types of headaches.




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Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.