Bile is an essential digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When we eat, bile is secreted in the small intestines to help with breakdown of fats and to aid in the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E and K. Think support for the immune system. 

95% of the bile gets reabsorbed back into the bloodstream through enterohepatic circulation once the bile reaches the last part of the small intestines. The rest of the bile, along with any toxins, is excreted in the feces. When bile is not recycled out regularly due to poor bile flow, the body gets poisoned from the inside. This is called autointoxication.

In addition to being involved in fatty acid metabolism and excretion of waste products, bile also has antimicrobial properties. This makes it a helpful agent in maintaining microbial balance and homeostasis in the small intestines and poor bile flow can be a contributing factor to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, aka SIBO, Helicobacter pylori infections involved in duodenal ulcers, as well as fungal and parasitic overgrowth. 

If you struggle with chronic infections, toxicity issues, immune dysregulation, part of the problem may be impaired or sluggish bile flow. Optimizing bile flow can be a huge part of resolving many health conditions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF IMPAIRED BILE FLOW:

Some common symptoms related to impaired bile flow include: 

• Constipation 

• Nausea 

• Bloating

• Belching 

• Abdominal pain 

• Floating stools 

• Light or pale colored stools 

• Bad stool odor 

• Right shoulder pain or pain between the shoulder blades

• Upper right abdominal pain, under the rib cage 

• Headaches and migraines 

• Skin rashes

• Acne 

• Itchy skin 

• Food and chemical sensitivities 

• Allergies 

• Fatigue 

• Mood swings

• Gallstones 

TRIGGERS THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH BILE FLOW: 

•  Poor diet - inflammatory, refined and processed foods 

• Stress and unprocessed emotions - in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the gallbladder’s emotions are anger, frustration, resentment, or even depression (which is considered anger turned inward). Suppressing these emotions can lead to an imbalance and eventually affect the function of the gallbladder. 

• Infections - due to parasites, viruses, bacteria or fungi

• Toxicants - such as glyphosate (an ingredient found in the weedkiller Roundup)

• Medications - including antibiotics, estrogen therapies (birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy), anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants. 

SUPPORTING BILE DUCT DRAINAGE AND BILE FLOW: 

• Castor oil packs topically over the liver / gallbladder (right upper quadrant of the abdomen)

• Manual liver and gallbladder compressions 

• Avoiding gluten, processed foods, and sugar 

• Apple cider vinegar at the start of meals 

• Binders such as fiber and charcoal to bind up toxins from the bile so they do not recirculate  

• Bitters such as dandelion root, chamomile, ginger, artichoke, beet tops, gentian, milk thistle, warm lemon water 

• Betaine HCl, digestive enzymes, ox bile, TUDCA, choline, taurine 

• Phospholipids in supplement form or from foods such as liver, egg yolks, beef, and poultry

• Coffee enemas

• Treating underlying infections 

• Working through unprocessed emotions

Disclaimer: this post is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Please do your own research and consult with your own personal licensed health care provider before making any treatment decisions.