Product Warnings
Ingredient Safety
Why Do Some of Our Products Have a Gallbladder Warning?
You may notice that some of our products recommend consulting a healthcare professional before use if you have had your gallbladder removed. This precaution is included because certain formulas contain herbs that can influence the production or flow of bile.
These ingredients are intentionally included for their many benefits to liver and digestive health. However, the way the body stores and manages bile changes after gallbladder removal. Because individual tolerance can vary, we recommend speaking with your healthcare provider before using products containing these ingredients.
Understanding Bile and the Gallbladder
Bile is a digestive fluid made by the liver that helps the body digest and absorb fats. Normally, bile is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder until it is needed. When you eat, particularly a meal containing fat, the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine.
After the gallbladder is removed, the liver continues to make bile, but there is no longer a gallbladder to store and concentrate it. Instead, bile flows more continuously from the liver into the small intestine.
This is important because some herbs naturally influence how bile is produced or released. These ingredients are often described as cholagogues and choleretics.
An ingredient that promotes the release and movement of bile into the digestive tract.
An ingredient that encourages the liver to produce more bile.
Some herbs can have both actions.
Why Does This Matter After Gallbladder Removal?
Without a gallbladder, bile is no longer stored and released in larger amounts when it is needed. Instead, it enters the intestines more continuously.
For some people, increased amounts of bile reaching the colon can contribute to loose stools, urgency, abdominal discomfort, or bile acid diarrhea. Because choleretic herbs may encourage additional bile production, people who are already sensitive to changes in bile flow after gallbladder removal may experience increased digestive discomfort.
This does not mean that everyone without a gallbladder will have a problem with these ingredients. Many people adapt well after gallbladder removal. However, because responses can vary considerably from person to person, we include the warning as an added precaution.
Why We Use These Herbs
The herbs associated with our gallbladder warning are included for much more than their effects on bile. Each has a long history of use for supporting liver function, digestion, antioxidant defenses, and the body’s natural detoxification processes.*
Globe artichoke contains naturally occurring compounds, including cynarin, that help support healthy bile production and flow. This bile-supporting activity can help promote normal fat digestion and overall digestive function.*
Artichoke also provides antioxidant compounds that help protect cells from oxidative stress and support healthy liver function. These combined benefits make it a valuable herb for supporting both liver and digestive health.*
Turmeric is best known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Its naturally occurring curcuminoids help protect cells from oxidative stress and support a healthy inflammatory response.*
Turmeric can also help support healthy liver function and normal bile production and flow, providing additional support for digestion and the body’s natural processes for handling dietary fats.*
Milk thistle is one of the most recognized herbs for liver support. Its primary group of active compounds, collectively known as silymarin, provides antioxidant support that helps protect liver cells from oxidative stress.*
Milk thistle also helps support healthy liver cell function and the liver’s natural ability to maintain and renew healthy tissue. In addition, it may support normal bile production and flow, making it a well-rounded ingredient for maintaining healthy liver function.*
Dandelion root has traditionally been used as a bitter digestive herb to support both liver and digestive function. Its natural bitter compounds help stimulate digestive processes and support normal bile production and movement.*
Because dandelion can influence both the production and flow of bile, it is considered both a choleretic and a cholagogue. It also provides antioxidant plant compounds that help support the liver’s natural protective processes.*
Burdock root is a traditional herb valued for its support of liver function and the body’s natural elimination processes. It contains naturally occurring antioxidants that help protect cells against oxidative stress.*
Its bitter constituents may also help support healthy digestive secretions and normal bile flow. Together, these actions make burdock a useful ingredient for supporting healthy digestion, liver function, and the body’s natural detoxification pathways.*
Why We Include the Warning
These ingredients are included in our formulas because they provide meaningful support for liver and digestive health. The gallbladder warning does not mean these ingredients are inherently harmful for someone who no longer has a gallbladder.
Rather, gallbladder removal changes the way bile is stored and delivered to the digestive system. Because several of these herbs can influence bile production or flow, they may affect individuals differently after surgery.
Our goal is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for your individual health needs. If you have had your gallbladder removed, we recommend consulting your physician or other qualified healthcare professional before using a product that carries this warning.
They can help determine whether the formula is appropriate for you based on your individual health history, digestive tolerance, medications, and other factors.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.