Yoga Poses for Gallstones

Yoga has been an effective exercise technique, offering health benefits, including increased breathing and circulation, improved muscle tone and decreased stress and anxiety. Exercises in the form of postures, or poses, have targeted muscles, connective tissues and joints. Specific poses are believed to improve the function of internal organs, such as your gall bladder. While yoga poses have not been proven to cure health problems such as gallstones, they help treat disorders of the gall bladder.

Function

Your liver functions to produce a liquid substance known as bile that is used for digestion. Bile is stored in your gall bladder, located below your liver on the right side of your abdomen. In some cases, bile may harden and form pebble-like substances, or gallstones, in your gall bladder. The bile becomes trapped and inflamed while traveling through your pancreas causing pain and blockage. If left untreated, serious medical conditions may result, including infection and death.

Factors

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse cites contributing factors leading to gallstone formation as liver problems, cholesterol buildup, inherited blood disorders, being overweight, rapid weight loss and age. Women are more likely to develop gallstones compared with men. Symptoms include sudden pain on the right side or center of the abdomen, back pain and pain in the right shoulder. Besides pain, additional symptoms are nausea and fever.

Treatment

Treatment for gallstones involves surgery to remove the gall bladder. This is for the purpose of preventing a re-occurrence of the condition, which is likely to occur. Removal of the gallbladder does not affect digestion. In some cases, medication is prescribed to dissolve gallstones. According to MayoClinic.com, treatment in the form of medication is often very lengthy, leading to the decision for surgery instead. Alternative treatments include a high fiber diet and vitamin supplements, including Vitamins C, E and Calcium to improve digestion.

Prevention/Solution

Yoga poses, combined with breathing, improves circulation, which has been shown to prevent gall stones from crystalizing, according to the Only My Health website. Poses such as spinal twisting poses help to empty your gall bladder. The twisting movement compresses internal organs squeezing out blood which contains by-products and toxins. Upon release of the pose, fresh blood containing oxygen and nutrients flows back into your organs. This promotes healing of your tissues and has a cleansing effect. Inverted poses relieve digestive disturbances and enhance circulation. Forward reaching poses stimulate liver, pancreas and kidney function.

Considerations

Yoga poses do not cure gallstones, they should be used as a component of treatment. Medical diagnosis and treatment are crucial and should be sought when symptoms occur.