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The term "colic" refers to any type of pain connected to the contraction or spasm of a hollow organ, that is, one that has a cavity, such as the intestines, the urethra, the bile duct, the gall bladder, etc. The problem is often caused by gravel or bile sediment or the thickening of the pancreatic fluid.
Therefore, there is kidney or urethral colic when the urethra becomes irritated and consequentially contracted due to the presence of sand, a stone or even gravel; abdominal colic occurs when a large air pocket is created in the stomach and causes pain (a person who suffers from colitis will probably have colic after a bowel movement that was too rapid); thus the colic is caused by a persistent contraction of the irritated colon.
As far as liver colic is concerned, we must remember that stones cannot form inside of the liver, but within the gall bladder. This organ is the small sack that collects bile, located just under the liver, within the bile duct which is the canal that joins the liver to the gall bladder and then to the intestine. The bile produced by the liver also passes through the bile duct.
The expression "liver stones" is therefore incorrect and should rightly be called "gall bladder stones" because liver colic is actually colic of the biliary passages.
In reality, all of the areas in which colic can occur can also be afflicted with a frequently occurring colic that is substance-free. This means that the organ in question, the gall bladder for instance, becomes contracted under the influence of other factors and causes painful symptoms like the ones that occur for a stone, even though there isn't even a trace of it. Sometimes there is just a bit of gravel and the surrounding urethra start to cramp excessively and cause pain.
Generally, the causes of these contractions can be found in the conditions of the Nervous system. The human body always tends to respond to situations of danger, fear or tension by contracting or cramping its organs or muscles.
Regardless of this consideration, "liver x-rays" or cholecystographies were once one of the most frequently performed and objectively least effective examinations for confirming the generic presence of "Stones". Fortunately, the ultrasound came into use although even this instrument is not always able to detect gravel or sediment.
This condition is also linked to the fact that every hollow organ's purpose is to transport substance. The gall bladder, for instance, sometimes transports bile that is a bit thicker than usual; if a person is relaxed and calm, his bile duct is also relaxed and elastic; if a person is angry and tense, on the other hand, his bile duct swells and even thickened bile causes the same pain as a big stone.
There are extremely effective ways of treating colic with natural methods in order to reduce the pain as well as to help to correctly interpret the gravity of the symptoms.
For example, if a simple case of gravel (sand produced by the kidney: the kidney's equivalent of thick bile) can cause the same discomfort as a reasonably sized kidney stone, it would certainly be useful to have the means to make the pain and small calculi pass quickly, leaving the x-rays and long suffering to only those who really need surgery or special therapies.
Almost all colic can be resolved with the following treatment.
Homeopathy
Aside from the remedies described in the section on the Nervous System (with special reference to Ignatia, Actea racemosa, Nux vomica, Nux moschata and Argentum nitricum which are useful for restoring balance to the spasm of hollow organs) two remedies are especially effective in an emergency situation.
Colocinthis 7 CH: take three granules every 5-10 minutes, gradually reducing the dosage as soon as the pain starts to subside, or you can use a single dose at 200 CH: this remedy is to be used when there are pains that give a sense of constriction and spasm that begin suddenly and improve slightly with the application of local heat and the folding the chest to the thighs, thereby bending the pelvis. This is the product to use if the colic began because of anger.
Magnesia fosforica: use the same dosage as for Colocinthis: it's actually quite similar, but differs because the pains change location and range quickly and frequently. It's a good idea to always keep these remedies on hand in case of need.
Depending on the causes of the colic, additional remedies can be used. Also see the sections on Abdominal gas, Cystitis , Indigestion, Stomach Ulcer.
We can also mention Belladonna, a remedy to be used when the abdomen is hot and swollen and overly sensitive to any sort of jolt or even vibration. Bryonia can be used if the pains improve when the patient is completely immobile and general pressure is applied to the painful area; it worsens when the area is touched with the fingers or when heat is applied. The patient also feels very thirsty and has dry lips. Bryonia is the remedy for acute appendicitis which generally has these characteristics.
A good homeopathic composition that can be used during colic is R 37 Reckeweg. This remedy is to be used at the dosage of 6-7 drops that can be used in a repeated manner as in the case of Colocinthis, which is one of its components.
Trace elements
In the case of acute colic, whether it is renal, gall bladder or pancreatic, use a mixture of oxyprolinates such as that contained in Oximix 4+, or as an alternative, Oxyprolinated Magnesium at a dosage of 3 to 5 teaspoons per day for the 2 to 3 days in which the discomfort lasts.
Phyto therapy and drainage
In case of abdominal colic one may use an infusion of Mint or Anis, but if there is doubt about the colic or if it is surely renal or biliar, there is an interesting natural product called Depur that has recently become available on the market. This product is composed on herbs and minerals and performs a draining and cleansing action. We usually recommend 3 tablespoonfuls in a generous glass of room temperature water, in the morning before breakfast and in the evening before dinner. The product may be used for as long as 6-8 months. In an acute phase, however it may be used up to 6-7 times per day in order to aid in the expulsion of gravel.
Other available preparations are Soluzione Schoum and Risolutivo Regium.
The first product is composed of a mixture of hydro-alcoholic extracts of Fumaria, Ononide and Piscidia but has the defect of being alcoholic. However, its action is aimed at helping any possible calculi to descend and at stimulating the organs in question to resume their proper functioning. The dosage for this preparation is 6 to 15 small glasses (or sips) per day, evenly distributed throughout the day. In short, one drinks a half of a bottle per day for the two or three days in which the discomfort lasts.
The second, on the other hand, is composed of various phyto-therapeutic remedies. This product has an excellent draining action and is used in the dosage of 2 tablespoons in a glass of water to be taken in the morning and evening for long periods if necessary. In cases of acute colic, the dosage may be increased by 2 tablespoons per day until the spasms and pain subside.
These phyto-therapeutic compositions are also quite useful for salivary duct calculi and have a general detoxifying action that effectively stimulates the liver.
Peppermint essential oil can be used for colic in the dosage of 8 drops 2-3 times per day, in the same way that Melaleuca essential oil is used (see video )
Notes
Our recommendation is extremely strict: if a patient must stay in bed because of colic, he should drink only tea sweetened with honey or sugar for at least one day. After that, he may begin to introduce some carbohydrates (toast, crackers, rice, potato). Wait for two days before returning to a normal diet.
For a few days the patient must avoid cooked or raw fats or eggs in case of biliary colic. In the case of renal colic, reduce milk, cheese, yogurt, bread, tomatoes, chocolate, tea and meat.
These restrictions must be implemented for only a few days after which the patient's doctor will recommend an appropriate diet.
Wellness points
Consult the comments on Superficial Acupuncture in the section on Wellness Points.
With the help of an instrument that is formed by a needle topped with a thicker portion that forms a handle or head, we can treat biliary and renal colic wherever we may be.
The medical therapy for colic usually involves the use of antispasmodics; these medicines tend to keep the hollow organ from contracting and causing pain. Although this method can sometimes stop the pain, it has the harmful effect of impeding the descent of a stone, if present, and therefore prolonging the period necessary for recovery.
Superficial acupuncture, on the other hand, attempts to stimulate gall bladder or urethra contraction in order to expel the calculus. In other words, we try to "guide" the colic towards a rapid conclusion which of course comes about when the stone moves into the intestine or bladder. This technique must be performed according to precise stimulation methods.
The illustrations below indicate the areas of the skin that must be stimulated in case of biliary, pancreatic or renal colic. In particular, it shows the precise direction in which the stimulation must be performed.
Hold the needle and handle parallel to the skin. Lightly press the point onto the skin almost as if to lift it, stimulating the area without pricking it. Beginning from the starting point of the lines on the illustration, proceed downward until the stimulation becomes perceived as painful. It's likely that that point of the skin corresponds to the point of the urethra or gall bladder at which the spasm or calculus is located.
Now we will try to "open" the spasm by moving downwards with the needle for about a centimeter and making several "upward" stimulations from the new point to the point at which pain was previously felt.
After several passages, stop and begin the slow "downward" stimulation passage again. The point at which pain was previously felt is usually passed without discomfort, but pain is felt in a lower area and the process described above must be repeated there.
Usually the colic subsides after a bit of treatment on the stomach. This therapy can be repeated whenever necessary and is especially effective if performed together with the natural treatments discussed here.
An example
Imagine you're performing superficial acupuncture stimulation during a biliary colic. The areas to be treated are those shown in the illustration below.
By gently pricking and raising the skin as explained above, at a certain moment you will get to the point that is painful for the patient even though the pressure on the needle has not been varied.
When this "painful point" is reached, stop stimulating by removing the needle from the skin but remember where the point is located. Now begin stimulating again, but in the opposite direction, that is, in an upwards direction starting from an area located two or three centimeters under the area where pain was felt. Stimulate from this area to the area where pain was previously felt
This maneuver is used to "open" the gall bladder from underneath and thus facilitate the descent of any possible stone. Immediately repeat the stimulation in the "downward" direction, starting from the point at which you stopped when the pain was felt most intensely.
Continue in this way until a pain is perceived again as explained with regard to the first illustration in the sequence. At this time, stop again and continue as explained with regard to the second illustration, this time, however, from a different area of skin, which is probably lower.
The treatment is concluded when the patient no longer feels intense pain when all of the area concerned is stimulated.
 VIDEO Treatment of abdominal colic: the three different routes
Biliary or liver colic
In the case of biliary or liver colic the area of skin to be treated in correspondence to the gall bladder and bile duct is shown in the illustration. The needle must follow the line to the right (or left if you are looking at it) of the central line of the body and deviate to the side only when you come to the navel. The final zone is difficult to define as it varies from person to person, so the most painful area must be carefully sought by delicately pricking around the identified point.
VIDEO | Biliary colic: acupuncture route
Pancreatic colic
In the case of pancreatic colic, the areas to be treated are practically symmetrical to those described for the gall bladder, at least up to the navel. Remain on the left side (the right side if you're looking at it) of the body's central line. When you have reached the navel area, go back along the same area that was described for the gall bladder and follow it in the same way to the end of the zone.
VIDEO Pancreatic colic: acupuncture route
Renal colic
The areas to be treated for renal colic, or during the transit of gravel, are the ones shown in the illustration. If the colic is on the other side of the body, the zones to be treated are on the exact opposite side, that is, on the other side of the stomach.
The direction to follow with the needle is made up of four segments; the most
difficult one to find can sometimes be the second, which is also the longest
line. It is located exactly on the border of the rectus abdominis muscle, that
is, the one that forms a "six-pack" on people with well-developed
abdominals. This segment passes into the third once it reaches the line of
the pubis, almost in line with its side angle. The fourth and last segment
is opposite to the others, that is, it "goes back up" and ends just
a few centimeters after having passed the line of the pubis, this time exactly
in the center.
VIDEO; Renal colic: acupuncture route
Traditional medicine
This therapy is extremely simple and can effectively help to reduce the pain: you must simply emerge yourself in a bath tub filled with water that is as hot as you can stand. The hot bath has an intensely relaxing effect on the body in general (which is certainly beneficial) as well as on the spasms that cause pain.
You must take two precautions: you must not do this when you are home alone and it's better to make 6 10-minute immersions instead of one hour-long continuous bath.
The reason for this is that, if you already have colic and then you plunge into very hot water, you may have a drop in pressure; you won't feel it while you're in the water, but it could cause you to faint when you stand up.
Doctor Attilio Speciani
Clinical Allergist and Immunologist
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