If you are here, you already know that the sphincter of Oddi is a strategic muscular valve that regulates the movement of bile and pancreatic juice to the first part of the small intestine-duodenum.

What you probably don’t know is that the liver and pancreas are alkaline digestive glands. The pancreatic gland produces highly alkaline pancreatic juice and the liver creates alkaline bile. The alkalinity of bile and pancreatic juice is essential for digestive health. Unfortunately, modern food, sedentary lifestyle, chronic infections, environmental toxins, and stress cause our bodies to become acidic and super acidic.

Heartburn damages the pancreas and liver (bile) in many ways.

1. It causes the precipitation of very aggressive irritants such as bile acids.

Precipitated bile acids irritate the gallbladder and cause abdominal cramps or gallbladder attacks. 750,000 Americans lost their gallbladder each year. Many of them have acidic and congested bile.

2. Heartburn leads to premature activation of pancreatic digestive enzymes within this gland. Then pancreatitis occurs.

3. Bile acidification is a common factor in the production of bile sludge and gallstones.

4. The liver removes toxic substances through the bile. Congested acid bile cannot adequately soluble heavy metals, cholesterol, drugs, alcohol, bile pigments, and toxic metabolic substances. Therefore, they can irritate the bile ducts and the sphincter of Oddi.

5. Finally, aggressive bile acids, toxins, and gallstones corrode and irritate the sphincter of Oddi causing a spasm, an inflammation that doctors call sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD).

We now live in the age of pharmaceutical and surgical medicine, so it is not surprising that the typical treatment for SOD is the use of pain relievers, medications, which decrease pain and spasms. In some situations, SOD patients are referred to psychiatrists and receive appropriate treatments. If it doesn’t help, surgeons arrive on the scene with virtuous endoscopic manipulations, such as measuring the pressure within the sphincter (manometry) or cutting the sphincter. The pharmaceutical and surgical approach may lessen symptoms, but it does not address the root of the problems. Also, it is unsafe and expensive.

Speaking of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, it is critical to recognize the stage of this disorder. Relatively, it can be divided into three stages: functional, structural, and complete final failure of proper function of this muscle valve, especially after gallbladder removal. Let’s explain that.

If a person has attacks of pain in the upper right part of the abdomen and their imagination and blood tests come back negative, it is a functional stage. Many doctors consider this condition as biliary dyskinesia or sphincter of Oddi type III dysfunction. In decades of my medical experience, I am confident that no-drug, no-knife treatments are best suited for this stage. If we make the bile and pancreatic juice alkaline and easy to move and can reduce irritation and spasms, we can relieve pain and indigestion. Many physicians around the world have used an alkaline diet, Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water, herbs and nutritional supplements, abdominal manipulations, and even medical hypnosis for hundreds of years. I described this natural approach in detail in my books and articles.

If you received symptomatic therapy that only masks symptoms, aggressive, acidic bile and pancreatic juice, bile sludge, and gallstones continually damage the sphincter, leading to inflammation, scarring, and many structural problems. It can eventually cause more pain and indigestion. Imaging tests and blood tests confirm these damages. Constant spasms of the sphincter of Oddi cause high pressure and dilation of the common bile duct and pancreatic ducts that can be easy to verify by a non-invasive ultrasound test.

In the structural stage, due to the low activity of bile and pancreatic digestive enzymes, various gastrointestinal symptoms such as gas, bloating, belching, nausea, bile reflux, constipation, diarrhea and more occur. Even at the structural stage, complementary medicine with a focus on acidic, congested bile can decrease pain and indigestion.

However, in sphincter of Oddi failure after gallbladder removal and multiple endoscopic manipulations and cuts, alternative medicine methods retain their benefits. The main idea is to keep the bile alkaline and liquid. For this, we can use the alkaline diet, take Cellular Magnesium-Potassium, drink Karlovy Vary healing mineral water and herbal teas.

Drinking healing mineral waters is popular in European countries in many digestive and metabolic disorders. In the case of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water can alkalize the entire body and vitally the liver and pancreas to make bile liquid and alkaline. It can also dissolve gallstones, promote digestion and the elimination of toxins. The safety and efficacy of Karlovy Vary Healing Mineral Water was proven by 500 years of use and by many studies and medical articles.

Another ancient method of complementary medicine for treating SOD is acupuncture. Regular acupuncture can reduce spasms, pain, nausea, heartburn, constipation, or diarrhea. It is essential in the age of opioid abuse. Also, acupuncture can treat opioid addiction.

Abdominal manipulations also have a long history. By using them, we can decrease the blockage of the bile ducts, adhesions, improve microcirculation and open the passage of bile and pancreatic juice.

Stress, especially constant stress, is a common cause of muscle spasms and abdominal pain. In turn, it creates additional stress that creates a vicious cycle. The sphincter of Oddi is no exception. Approaches to stress relief for people with SOD may include acupuncture, massage, physical activity, taking herbs and supplements, and medical hypnosis.

The author of this article opposes self-treatment by using “miracle” liver cleanse, harsh diet, taking of dubious quality supplements or herbs. You never know what can be found in the jungle of the Internet. The practical way is to find the licensed physician or group of professionals for safe and effective alternative medicine treatments.

The information in this article is presented for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a licensed and qualified medical professional.