Gall Bladders and Essential Oils

 

I have told you about a couple of gall bladder attacks that I have had in the last few weeks, since getting pregnant.  I’ve told you how we changed our diet and are eating more fresh veggies and fruit.  I love how much this change is working for us.  The children are loving all the berries, and oranges and salads (except for the avocado that I have grown to LOVE).  I am also drinking about 20 oz. of warm water first thing in the morning.  In that water I squeeze a half a lemon.  Wyatt loves to share my water.  About once a day or once every other day, I’ll put some geranium in a capsule and take it internally as well.  Geranium is the essential oil that helps with gall bladder issues, among other things.

 

The other night I felt another attack coming on just as I was going to bed around 10:30.  My chest started to hurt on the right side, under my ribcage.  I quickly applied 3-4 drops of geranium essential oil to the area.  I wandered around, closing up the house for the night (shutting off lights, the computers, TV, locking doors, etc.) and by the time I was done, the pain was almost completely gone.  I hopped in the shower and by the time I was done in there, I could hardly tell there had been any pain.  I applied a couple more drops as I climbed into bed.  The next morning… no pain at all.

 

 

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) has a wonderfully uplifting, calming, flowery scent. It is excellent for the skin, and its aromatic influence helps release negative memories. Used traditionally to support the circulatory and nervous systems, a great deal of its strength lies in its ability to revitalize body tissues.* Geranium has an approximate ORAC of 1,010,011 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

REGULAR – 52.30        SPECIAL – 48.00

 

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Gall bladder issues… Changes to be made.

 

Remember this post, about my prevented trip to emergency??

 

I had another attack.  Longer, but less intense.  Awful, awful pain.  I thought I was having a heart attack.  Nothing helped this time… except maybe the lavender in my bath water, but the help was very limited this time.

 

The pain started about 2AM.  I’d gone to bed around 11:30 but the children were up and other things kept me awake.  I finally got up at 2AM when my chest started to hurt again.  The pain was more gradual, not almost instantaneous like last time.  The pain was similar to contractions, only very high up and no break in between.  I tried warm beverages; I tried hot wheat bags.  Nothing really eased the pain.  Finally, I just went to bed at my husband’s suggestion, as he was staying up with me.  I hate being alone when I’m in that much pain.  It was probably close to 5AM at this point.

 

I didn’t sleep, not really.  I just laid there, got up once to reheat my wheatie.  And waited for morning.  The little ones were up around 8AM and so I got up and moved to the couch.  I called my midwife then.  When I got to talk to her I said my back hurt (because that’s what I was feeling at the time) and I explained to her what had happened both times.  Right away she said, I bet you had a gall bladder attack.

 

Since speaking with her, I have talked to others – nurses and friends – who have had gall bladder issues and they all say the same.  I have done some research and found foods that cause issues.  My diet needs to change a bit.  It will be good for the whole family!  More veggies, less fat.  Fewer red meats, less dairy.  These are all good changes.  And we are looking forward to the new way of eating.  The first immediate change I’ve made is to start my day with a large glass of warm water and half a lemon.  But now I’m nervous to eat… for fear the something I eat will set it off again!

 

I do not want to have surgery.  I need to keep this under control until the baby is born, at the very least.  My mom has had gall bladder issues as well but has prevented surgery by doing a cleanse a couple of times.  I don’t think cleanses are good for pregnant mommas, so I’m holding off on that and hoping that diet changes will make the difference for the time being.

 

I have a book all about essential oils (Reference Guide for Essential Oils), and one oil listed for gall bladder (and expectant mothers) is geranium.  It’s going on my list to be ordered later this month.

 

I’ll keep you posted on how this progresses.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,