Primary sclerosing cholangitis is an inflammatory disorder of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver. The inflammation causes scarring and hardening that narrows these ducts. The disease may also affect ducts of the gallbladder and pancreas....
Biliary colic, more commonly known as gallbladder disease, is a condition in which the flow of the bile that is stored in the gallbladder sac is obstructed or otherwise cut off. This can be because of a number of things, including inflammation,...
Cirrhosis is defined as the presence of large amounts of scar tissue in the liver due to many years of liver inflammation and injury, according to the Mayo Clinic. Any liver disease in which scarring remains persistent, continuing for years, may...
Jaundice is a symptom of an underlying pathology and is not a disease. It clinically presents as a yellow discoloration of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes as a consequence of an abnormally increased bilirubin concentration in the blood plasma....
Eucalyptus is an herb native to Tasmania, an Australian island situated south of the Australian mainland. Aboriginal tribes used eucalyptus roots as sources of water, and as a remedy for fever, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The New...
A healthy liver is critical for cleansing toxins and harmful microorganisms from the blood stream. When your liver is under stress from poor nutrition, alcohol, medications and pesticides in food, toxins can build up in the organ. This can lead to...
More than 25 million Americans develop gall bladder problems; however, only 1 to 3 percent develop symptoms severe enough to warrant complaints, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. The gall bladder is the organ under the liver that...
The liver is a large organ located in the upper right-hand quadrant of the abdomen. The Children's Hospital Boston describes how the liver aids in digestion by breaking down fats in preparation for digestion. The liver also filters the blood and...
The liver produces bile, a cholesterol-rich fluid that aids in the intestinal digestion of fats. A network of ducts--the biliary system--collects and transports bile from the liver to the gallbladder and on to the small intestine. Chronic...
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the digestive tract lining. The disease is often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30 and affects men and women equally, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information...
Eucalyptus leaves are used to make eucalyptus oil, commonly used in chest rubs to alleviate common cold symptoms such as sinus congestion. According to the University of Maryland's Medical Clinic, some studies report that people who used...
Dandelion tea is made by infusing the plant's leaves, roots or both in hot water. Although dandelions are a nuisance to most gardeners and lawn-care enthusiasts, they do contain a surprising number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A,...
Alfalfa is a type of legume that grows naturally on nearly every continent. While it is an important feed harvest for livestock, sprouts are also a popular backyard garden crop used in salads, sandwiches and as an herb. Alfalfa is low in calories,...
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, gallstones are small substances that can move out of your gallbladder and create a blockage that results in intense abdominal pain. If the stone becomes stuck in your bile...
Abdominal pain, felt anywhere between the chest and groin, affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. Your abdominal region contains many different organs, including the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidneys, appendix and spleen, making...
Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is closely associated with cholecystectomy, or surgical removal of your gall bladder. According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, surgeons perform more than a half-million...
A cholecystectomy is the surgical procedure that involves removal of the gallbladder, and over half a million people a year have this procedure. The gallbladder collects bile, which is a fluid produced by the liver that aids in digestion....
Gallstones are small stone-like deposits that can form in your gallbladder and can range from miniscule to golf ball-sized. Gallstones can be painful, cause jaundice and indicate gallbladder cancer. If you have gallstones or are at risk for them,...
The gallbladder sits beneath the liver and produces bile to aid in digestion. Many people have gallstones, but most do not cause symptoms or problems, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. In some people, gallstones or...
Ascaris lumbricoides is a parasitic roundworm that can infect humans. Though infections occur most commonly in tropical and subtropical regions or areas with poor sanitation, they are the third most common parasitic worm infection in the United...
The gallbladder is an organ located in the right upper section of the abdomen. The liver produces digestive fluid, called bile, and stores it in the gallbladder. At times, the bile becomes solid and forms gallstones, also called cholelithiasis....
The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile until the liver needs it to aid in the digestion of fats. Frequently, this tiny organ causes more problems remaining in the body than if it never existed in the first place. "Pathophysiology: A 2-in-1...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a pancreas infection is also known as pancreatitis and is defined as the inflammation of this organ. The pancreas produces several enzymes, such as insulin, key to the digestion of food....
Hepatitis C can increase your liver enzymes and cause damage to your liver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.2 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C infection. Educate yourself about the liver...
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac located under the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen, according to MayoClinic.com. The liver produces bile---a digestive fluid that aids in the digestion of fat---and the gallbladder stores it. In...
Your liver is one of your body's largest and most important organs. It is found directly under your rib cage and is vital in the digestion of food, cleansing the body of toxic chemicals and helping maintain energy levels. Certain symptoms can help...
Blocked bile ducts are often referred to as gallbladder attacks, because symptoms may occur suddenly. Inflammation causes a gallbladder attack. Attacks can occur at night or after eating foods high in fat. Symptoms of a gallbladder attack include...
Bilirubin is a yellow bile pigment formed from the breakdown of heme in old, red blood cells. The old heme travels to the liver where it is secreted into bile by the liver and excess bilirubin is removed from the body through stool. When there...
There are many reasons why you develop pains in the stomach after eating, but some conditions are more common than others. Any time you experience prolonged or recurring pain, you need to make an appointment with your doctor for evaluation. Pains...