Gallbladder is a small sac situated just under the liver and it produces bile juice that is essential for proper digestion of fats. The bile juice mainly contains cholesterol, water, bile salts and a pigment called Bilirubin. When the proportion of these contents is altered in the bile juice, gallstones start forming.

There are two basic types of gallstones:

1. Cholesterol gallstones: Made up of cholesterol (accounting for about 80% of cases)

2. Pigment stones: Made up of the pigment Bilirubin

3. Factors contributing to development of gallstones:

4. Obesity
   Its twice as common in females as compared to males
   People over age of 60 years are at higher risk

Fasting, diabetes, rapid loss can also lead to formation of gallstones in some cases
Many patients having gallstones may not have any complaint. However, some may experience pain in the upper abdomen radiating to the back. The pain may last up to 2-6 hours.

Remarks:
All the factors that form stone are present in the bile under normal circumstances; however, they are in a dissolved state. If there is increase in concentration of cholesterol or pigments, they crystallize and precipitate out as stones. Factors such as increasing age, pregnancy, obesity, liver disorders, infections can have impact on development of gallstones. Some studies suggest that genetics and heredity factors are at the root of this condition that makes one prone to have gallstones.

Suggestion about homoeopathic treatment:
When the stones are of a smaller size, homoeopathic medicines will help in possibly dissolving the stones. Homoeopathy medicines are effective in alleviating pain as well as chronic inflammation of gallbladder (cholecystitis) associated with the condition. Homoeopathy also helps to control further stone production activity. It the stones are bigger, multiple and impacted, it may require surgical intervention. In cases of Large and multiple stones, homoeopathy has no curative role to play.