Is Gallbladder Removal Always Necessary? What Patients Should Know

Licensed acupuncturist Deborah Graefer shared why she thinks it’s important to save the gallbladder.

Gallstones cause sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen, often with nausea and vomiting.3dMediSphere/Shutterstock

When gallbladder problems strike, surgery is often presented as the fastest and safest solution. However, licensed acupuncturist Deborah Graefer believes that for many patients, gallbladder removal may come too soon—before less invasive options are even discussed.

“The issue isn’t that surgery is never appropriate,” Graefer told The Epoch Times. “It’s that functional bile restoration—through diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes—is rarely explored before surgery becomes the only option.”

A Small Organ With a Big Role

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile produced by the liver. Bile plays a crucial role in the digestion of fats, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and the elimination of toxins.