(I) Emotional Regulation

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that emotional imbalance leads to liver qi stagnation, impaired dispersal and descent, and bile stasis—key factors in the development of inflammation and stones. Therefore, it is important to regulate emotions, avoid anger, and stay calm.

Appendix: Comprehensive Stone Removal Treatment Table

Time | > Measures 8:309:30 | > 200ml of herbal stone-removal decoction, taken orally 10:0010:15 | > 5mg of morphine, injected subcutaneously 10:25~10:30 | > | > 0.2ml of amyl nitrite, inhaled | > 40ml of 33% magnesium sulfate, taken orally | > | > High-fat meal (2–3 fried eggs) | > | > Electroacupuncture: Right Danyu (cathode) or Qimen, | > Taichong (anode), adjustable, 0.5 hours

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Changes in emotions such as worry and depression are detrimental to health. When one is in a cheerful state of mind, the body's qi flows smoothly, blood and qi are balanced, the liver's function of dispersing and draining is normal, and bile can be secreted and excreted normally, thus preventing the formation of conditions conducive to stone formation. Modern medicine holds that under adverse emotional states, the regulatory functions of the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system become disordered, leading to spasm of the sphincter of Oddi and the gallbladder, making it difficult for bile to be excreted and causing it to stagnate in the biliary tract. This situation, on the one hand, favors bacterial infection and results in cholecystitis or cholangitis; on the other hand, it can lead to bile concentration and changes in its composition, making it easier for deposits to form and stones to develop.

(2) Dietary Regulation

Dietary imbalance is a major factor in the development of stones; therefore, a reasonable diet is of great importance in preventing stone formation.

(1) Eat breakfast regularly. Some scholars have found that people who frequently skip breakfast are highly susceptible to gallstone disease. The reason is that fasting reduces bile secretion, lowering the bile acid content while keeping cholesterol levels unchanged, resulting in a high-cholesterol bile. If fasting lasts too long and occurs frequently, the cholesterol in the bile becomes excessively saturated, leading to the precipitation of cholesterol crystals in the gallbladder and the formation of stones. Regularly eating breakfast, however, can prevent this phenomenon.

(2) Eat less food high in animal fat and cholesterol, such as fatty meat, animal offal, egg yolks, and fish meal. Middle-aged and elderly individuals who tend to be overweight should especially follow this advice. Consuming these foods in excess can disrupt the metabolism of cholesterol and bile pigments in the body, increasing the cholesterol content in bile and thereby creating bile that is prone to forming stones.

(3) Eat less sugar and sweets. Some studies have shown that the more sugar consumed, the higher the incidence of gallstone disease. This is because excessive sugar intake stimulates pancreatic cells to secrete large amounts of insulin, which in turn increases cholesterol levels; when there is too much cholesterol, gallstones can form. Animal experiments have also confirmed this conclusion.

(3) Practicing Hygiene to Prevent Ascariasis

As previously mentioned, remnants of Ascaris worms and their eggs can serve as the core of stones, becoming another major factor in stone formation. Therefore, actively preventing ascariasis and regularly deworming the intestines are important measures for preventing gallstone formation.

1. Practice good hygiene: Actively promote awareness about the distribution, life cycle, and routes of infection of Ascaris worms; avoid consuming food contaminated with Ascaris eggs; cultivate the habit of washing hands before meals and after using the toilet; and strictly guard against the entry of pathogens through the mouth.

2. Proper disposal of feces: Untreated feces contain large numbers of parasite eggs and pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, various effective methods must be employed to ensure the harmless treatment of feces, particularly in rural areas.

3. Regular deworming: Regular deworming is an effective measure for preventing biliary tract infections and gallstone disease. If one is infected with Ascaris worms, early use of both traditional Chinese and Western medicines to effectively expel the worms is recommended, along with additional cholagogic and purgative drugs to thoroughly eliminate the worms and their eggs, thus preventing stone formation.

(4) Other Preventive Measures

1. Actively control bacterial infections: This includes treating bacterial infections in the intestines and other systems to prevent bacteria from entering the biliary tract and causing cholecystitis. Also, actively treat biliary obstruction to avoid bile stasis, which can promote bacterial growth and lead to inflammation of the biliary tract or secondary stone formation.

2. Practice family planning: Because frequent pregnancies can increase cholesterol levels in the blood and disrupt the metabolism of cholesterol and bile pigments, they can become factors contributing to stone formation.

3. Strengthen physical exercise: Some studies have found that obese individuals who lack physical activity and often work at a desk are prone to gallstones. Therefore, it is important to maintain regular exercise and avoid excessive obesity, especially for middle-aged and elderly people.

4. Keep bowel movements regular: Frequent constipation is one of the major causes of cholecystitis and gallstones. Therefore, preventing and correcting constipation and maintaining regular bowel movements are essential. In daily life, one should move more and sit less, develop a habit of regular defecation, and keep gastrointestinal function normal. Diet should include more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in dietary fiber, such as bananas, apples, radishes, Chinese cabbage, and celery. Staple foods should be a mix of refined and whole grains, avoiding frequent consumption of refined flour. If constipation does occur, it should be treated promptly.

5. Avoid rapid weight loss: According to research, among those who lose weight quickly through dieting, about one-third develop gallstones within four months. The reason is that rapid weight loss leads to bile stasis and increased glycoprotein levels, which promote the formation of the core of gallstones.

6. Drink plenty of water: Adequate fluid intake can reduce the viscosity of bile, facilitating its smooth excretion and keeping the biliary tract clear. Generally, it is advisable to drink more than 1,500 ml of water per day.

7. Quit smoking: Smoking can stimulate the vagus nerve, increasing gastric acid secretion and causing gallbladder contraction, which may trigger biliary colic.

(5) Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention

(1) Use 60 g each of Sichuan big green leaves and moneywort, steep them in water as tea, and drink continuously for 3–4 months.

(2) Use 30 g each of corn silk and artemisia, steep them in water as tea, take one dose every two days, and continue for 4–6 months.

(3) Use 30 g of moneywort and 20 g of fresh reed root, steep them in water as tea, take one dose every two days, and continue for 4–6 months.

(4) Use 30 g each of fresh reed root and raw oyster, decoct them in water and divide the dose, taking one dose daily for three months.

You may choose any of the above formulas or dietary remedies that suit your taste and stick to them over time; with persistence, you will surely see results.

Chapter 10 Acute Pancreatitis

Section 1 Overview

Acute pancreatitis is a chemical inflammation caused by the digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas digesting the pancreas itself. It is a common acute abdominal condition, and its incidence has been increasing year by year in China. The disease mainly affects young and middle-aged adults, especially those with gallstones, chronic biliary tract infections, or biliary ascariasis; women are more commonly affected than men. The main cause of the disease is a sudden increase in pressure within the ducts, leading to rupture of small pancreatic ducts and overflow of pancreatic digestive fluids into the interstitial spaces of the pancreas. There are also cases where trauma to the pancreas causes duct rupture and subsequent disease; and some cases are triggered by impaired blood supply to the pancreas. The primary pathological changes in acute pancreatitis are pancreatic congestion, edema, and even hemorrhage and necrosis. Therefore, clinically, acute pancreatitis is classified into edematous and hemorrhagic types based on these pathological changes. Both types present with acute onset, severe illness, rapid progression, and a tendency to develop complications, especially the hemorrhagic-necrotic type, which has a high mortality rate. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, significant progress has been made in the treatment of acute pancreatitis due to extensive research on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine approaches for treating acute abdominal conditions, resulting in markedly improved therapeutic outcomes. The non-surgical (i.e., medical) cure rate for edematous acute pancreatitis exceeds 95%, and the mortality rate for hemorrhagic-necrotic acute pancreatitis has also decreased significantly.

Section 2 Diagnosis