THE DOCTOR'S CORNER
The Headache Saga Continues
by Dr. Timothy Grondin

Last month we talked about morning headaches and how they usually indicate low thyroid function. The Broda Barnes thyroid test can help to confirm the presence of low thyroid activity. This month I wanted to talk about headache over the right eye. It’s actually quite common.

Now most people think headache around the eyes indicate sinus problems and that can certainly be true, but a headache developing specifically over the right eye usually means you have gall bladder trouble. To help confirm this, I’d ask you if you’ve got any symptoms of liver/gallbladder trouble like belching, bloating, gas or trouble with fatty meals – all signs of liver/gallbladder dysfunction.

Another little test you can do right now to see how your gallbladder is doing is to give your right thumb web a little squeeze with the other thumb and index finger. If it’s tender to the touch, you’ve probably got the problem I’m about to describe. It’s called biliary stasis, which means the bile that’s produced in the liver and concentrated and stored in the gallbladder is too thick and not flowing easily like it’s supposed to. We use bile to break down our fats correctly. It’s very important and it’s supposed to be the consistency of water. It’s supposed to flow effortlessly like water when you eat a meal containing fat.

If the bile is thick like molasses, then the gallbladder has to forcibly squeeze it out onto the fat, and it feels like you’re getting a cramp or an ache below your rib cage on the right side where the liver and gallbladder are. It hurts.

If you’ve got this biliary stasis (bile not moving) problem, it’s because you eat too much sugar and junk fats and not enough vegetables. This will wreck your gallbladder. If you say to me, “Doc, I don’t have a gallbladder,” then I’ll say it’s because you ate too much sugar and junky fats. Coffee and alcohol also wreck your gallbladder, but most people with biliary stasis are eating too much junk and not enough vegetables. Deep green leafy vegetables and beets! Now that’s the ticket.

As it turns out, deep green leafy’s and beets actually thin your bile, which helps to normalize your fat metabolism. And they will almost always get rid of the headache over your right eye. So here’s what you do. Two cups of deep green leafy salad once or twice a day and one half can of beets consumed throughout the day for two weeks …Headache gone. Nice and easy. Who knew you could fix something without a prescription…Crazy!

Ok, for those of you who can’t stand beets, there are supplements available to thin the bile. Standard Process Labs makes AF betafood; take two per meal and Biotics makes Beta TCP, take one per meal. Both are excellent supplements and I’ve been using both in the practice for 20 years.

Biliary stasis can usually be fixed within two weeks. Three at most. If this isn’t helping you by that point, you may have a more difficult problem like gallstones or some pathology. See your doctor.

Hope this helps! Yours in health,

Dr. Grondin

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If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, feel free to e-mail Dr. Grondin at docgrondin@advnet.net, or call his office at 810-984-3344.