If you’re having pain under the right hand side of your ribcage, it could be liver or gallbladder irritation, most often the latter. You often get referred pain in the right shoulder and back too, often under the shoulder blade although I have known it go down the arm. In fact, sometimes you only get the right shoulder pain so consider your gallbladder if pain there is not shifting with normal treatment.

Obviously check this out with your doctor for presence of stones or other pathology. Here, though, is a quick idea of gallbladder irritation treatment for you, courtesy of NutriLink, where you can get the supplements mentioned (please give them my name Micki Rose when registering, ta).

This supplement protocol, alongside a wheat, dairy and alcohol free diet, was given to a woman with gallbladder irritation and it resolved in 12 weeks. Be led by your health professional – remember this is just to give you a head start:

 

Gluta-Ascorbs (ARG) 1 with each meal

ButryEn (ARG) 1 with each meal

Ca-D-Glucarate (BRC) 1 with breakfast & 1 with dinner

Porphyra-Zyme (BRC) 1 tab 30 mins after each meal 

The dosages were lowered and the calcium d glucarate stopped after 4 weeks.

 

Supplement Information

Gluta-Ascorbs (ARG)

A combination of reduced glutathione and vitamin C. Despite the paucity of evidence to support oral glutathione supplementation on raising blood levels of glutathione, this product consistently helps to support those patients with liver detoxification support and or a need for increased levels of glutathione within the GI tract. Glutathione supports detoxification processes within the gut which are as abundant in the GI tract as the liver itself. By supporting the glutathione pathway, it helps to reduce inappropriate inflammation and the burden on the other pathways such as glucuronidation, methylation and sulphation.

ButryEn (ARG)

ButyrEn is an enteric-coated, extended shelf-life formulation of the calcium and magnesium salts of butyric acid, designed specifically for delayed release in the gastrointestinal tract. Butyric acid (BA) is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by certain commensal bacteria and their metabolic breakdown of fibre, and appears to support mucosal integrity as the epithelial cells utilise it. Butyric acid may support the integrity of the colonic mucosa by acting as a primary fuel for the colonic epithelium (colonocytes). Butyric acid (“butyrate” when in salt form) is an important SCFA for this reason. BA also supports the maintenance of bifidobacterium species in the large intestine. Although more indicated for the large intestine, I find this product is a useful supplement for helping to heal the small intestines and correct altered intestinal permeability. It also helps to reduce ammonia, support commensal bacterial growth and encourages bile flow, and has in my practice been a contributory factor to reducing ‘brain fog’ caused by GI issues.

Ca-D-Glucarate (BRC)

Provides the substrate for glucuronidation, which is one of the major Phase II hepatic detoxification pathways.

PorphyraZyme (BRC)

Porphyra-Zyme™ – A Concentrated Prophyrin Product. Unlike traditional chlorophyll products, Porphyra-Zyme is a concentrated porphyrin supplement. By increasing the porphyrin content, the heavy metal binding capability is also increased, providing clinicians with a natural, effective “chelating” tool. Porphyrins have the ability to bind divalent metal ions due to the nitrogen atoms of the tetrapyrrole nucleus. The central ion in chlorophyll is magnesium, which is freed from chlorophyll under acidic conditions, permitting other metals to bind in its place. Toxic metals, such as mercury, lead and arsenic, are complexed by the porphyrins.   In this case, it was used to bind toxins in the gut and help eliminate them.