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    Gallstones (cholelithiasis, adjunctive care)

    Also known as: gallstones, cholelithiasis, biliary colic, gallbladder attack

    Gallstones cause episodes of right-upper-abdominal pain, often after fatty meals. Symptomatic gallstones are usually treated with keyhole gallbladder removal. Chinese medicine frames biliary colic as Liver-Gallbladder Qi stagnation or Damp-Heat, used only for symptom support between medical reviews — never to dissolve stones.

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    Lifestyle & Diet

    • •Recurrent gallstone attacks are best fixed with keyhole surgery — it's one of the most common and safest operations.
    • •A lower-fat eating pattern reduces attacks while you wait.
    • •Gradual weight loss helps; crash diets can trigger stones.
    • •Fever, jaundice or unrelenting pain means hospital, not the clinic.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    See sources
    • •Never claim herbs can dissolve gallstones — recurrent symptoms need surgical opinion.[,]
    • •Suspected cholecystitis, cholangitis or pancreatitis are medical emergencies.[,]

    When to reassess or seek care again

    See sources

    Track attack frequency and triggers. Confirm surgical referral for recurrent attacks; any fever, jaundice or unrelenting pain goes straight to hospital.

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    Sources & Further Reading

    Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.

    1. Gallstones — Healthdirect
      Healthdirect Australia · 2024
    2. Gallstone disease (CG188) — NICE
      NICE · 2014
    3. Gallstones — Gastroenterological Society of Australia
      GESA · 2024
    4. Chinese medicine practitioner safety standards
      AHPRA / Chinese Medicine Board of Australia · 2024

    Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.