Welcome to Part 4 in our ongoing series of Healthy Living A to Z, in which we go back and forth between summaries of natural remedies and illnesses/conditions. We do this within the space each blog and with the blogs presented in alphabetical order. We are now up to the letter G. Before trying any of the natural remedies presented here, be sure to discuss your possible use of them with your physician or other healthcare professional.
Natural Remedy – Glutathione
Almost every cell in your body produces glutathione, a requisite ingredient essential to almost all living beings, from bacteria to humans.
Found in two forms – reduced and oxidized – this natural oxidant has three types of non-essential amino acids: cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid, which serve as building blocks for proteins. Scientific studies have demonstrated that a healthy cell should have more than 100 times more of the reduced form of this supplement than its oxidized version.
As for what glutathione can do to benefit human health, the list is impressive. It includes kick-starting cell multiplication on one hand, cell death on the other; removing the toxic substance mercury from cells; aiding in the reformation of vitamins E and C; and contributing to the proper functioning of your immune system, as well as other key roles.
Another way of determining any natural remedy’s capacity for benefitting your health is knowing what a deficiency can mean. In the case of glutathione, reduced levels have been linked to oxidative stress, which can leave a person vulnerable to the onset or advance of numerous diseases. These include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, heart attacks, seizures, and diabetes. In short, glutathione can act as a protective covering for your cells, guarding them from possible damage to a molecule’s structure and function caused by the transfer of electrons.
Glutathione’s role as a protective shield against oxidative stress also makes it a good candidate to diminish ulcerative colitis damage, help mitigate autism spectrum issues, and even act as an anti-aging substance.
It is also important to note that naturally-occurring levels of glutathione, like other chemicals such as testosterone and collagen, tend to drop as we age. Case in point: glutathione safeguards the cells of the hippocampus from oxidative stress and fending off neurodegenerative diseases, referring to the part of the brain designated to regulate memory and learning.
Another anti-aging benefit of glutathione is its role in helping to keep your skin looking young by combating free radicals and oxidative damage.
Condition – Gallstones
Gallstones are hard, crystalline balls that form in the gallbladder and can range in size from as small as a grain of sand up to as big as a tennis ball. There are two types of gallstones. The first type, cholesterol gallstones, are made up mostly of undissolved cholesterol. The second type are calcium bilirubinate gallstones, which are made up of an overabundance of bilirubin, a pigment that develops when red blood cells break down.
Common symptoms produced by the formation of gallstones include noticeable pain in the upper right abdomen and the right shoulder (or between the shoulder blades), nausea, gray bowel movements, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your eyes are also yellowing and/or you are afflicted with fever or chills, in addition to experiencing intense abdominal pain, you should seek medical care immediately.
If in pain and showing any of these other discomforting signs, a quick visit to the doctor, an urgent-care facility, or a hospital ER to get a proper diagnosis should be your top priority. Depending on your condition and an examination, a doctor might recommend some sort of procedure to perhaps even remove the gallbladder, or treat them with natural remedies.
Following are several supplements or herbs that can help a sufferer of gallstones mitigate the symptoms and, over time, possibly even help flush out the gallstones through the body’s natural processes.
Artichoke. Extracts from this herb have been shown through research to promote the body’s manufacture of bile and assist in the function of both the bladder and liver.
Psyllium. This is a soluble fiber extracted from seeds of the Plantago ovata plant. Studies have indicated that psyllium hydrocolloid has shown effectiveness if protecting animals from the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
Magnesium. Recent research has turned up a link between supplementing with magnesium and a reduced risk of gallstones, which suggests that a magnesium deficiency can raise the odds of gallstone formation. According to a 2008 study, it was postulated that men who ingested added magnesium were less likely to experience gallstones.
Dandelion. A 2022 review of various studies concluded that the herb dandelion, which has been used in various treatments for centuries, possess some anti-inflammatory properties that appear able to alleviate the symptoms of some stomach problems, such as gallstones.
Vitamin E. One study involving more than 500 adults found that blood levels of this fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant are inversely linked to gallstones. Test results suggested study participants with gallstone disease had deficient levels of vitamin E in their blood while those with higher E levels were linked to a reduced risk of such a condition.
Milk Thistle. This medicinal herb has also been used for centuries to treat gallstones, which is powerful anecdotal evidence supporting milk thistle’s suitability for mitigating gallstones.
There you have it, our lowdown on how glutathione can help you with various conditions, and what you can do to help mitigate the symptoms of gallstones. Remember, be sure to discuss your use of any home remedy with your physician or other healthcare professional first.