Bear bile is a common remedy that is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is obtained directly from live animals contained in the cell, using a catheter that is inserted into the gallbladder.
Bears suffer from daily routines and are kept in very poor hygiene conditions, which often cause infections and cancers. To stimulate the production of bile, animals are fed mashed potatoes, which are devoid of many vital nutrients and vitamins.
The active ingredient of bear bile is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is synthetically produced in Western medicinal medicine to dissolve small gallstones and treat a number of liver diseases.
The healing properties of bear bile have been partially proven in clinical studies, but it can cause severe gastrointestinal upsets.
Ursodeoxycholic acid is a bile acid found in the human body in small quantities. Unlike other bile acids, it is water soluble. Bear bile not only blocks the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine, but also its release from liver cells into bile.
Taking bear bile reduces the amount of cholesterol in bile. The remaining cholesterol is distributed in the liquid and, therefore, more soluble. As a result, gallstones from cholesterol gradually dissolve and are excreted. Because of this mechanism of action, ursodeoxycholic acid is used to excrete gallstones.
The active ingredient prevents the destruction of mucosal cells. Ursodeoxycholic acid can slow or stop cirrhosis. It is believed that the protective effect is associated with the replacement of fat-soluble toxic bile acids with water-soluble non-toxic UDCA. Bear bile is also apparently involved in improving the outflow of bile from the liver and enhancing the protective response of liver and stomach cells.
Associations protest against this lucrative market due to inhumane animal welfare conditions. Extraction is carried out using a catheter firmly attached to the gallbladder of an animal in the cell. Bears are caught already at the age of one year; often the animal dies after the fourth extraction. More than 10,000 bears are detained in China and about 2,400 in Vietnam. A study conducted in 2008 showed that in 10 days more than 100 trainers attracted 1,500 South Korean tourists to try bear bile.
Bear bile: indications to use
Cirrhosis of the liver
Doctor's comment: a greenish-yellowish and slightly foamy liquid is a popular home remedy for cirrhosis. Patients drink bile juice diluted with water, ten milliliters three times a day. In Western medicine, bile matter, found in high concentrations in Asian black bears, is also used for other liver diseases. Clinical efficacy in cirrhosis has not been conclusively proven in any major study.
Gastritis
Doctor's comment: ursodeoxycholic acid can also be used in the treatment of a particular form of gastritis. In this disease, the inflammatory response is mainly associated with reflux of digestive juices from the duodenum to the stomach.
People prefer traditional medicines because of the mild side effects. However, a small number of side effects in most cases indicates a low effectiveness of the drug. Although traditional remedies can cause reactions, they are usually much lower than with modern drugs.
Vietnam is one of the few countries in whose health system that traditional methods play an important role.
With gastritis of any reason, prolonged use of bear bile is more likely to do harm than help.
Gallstones
Doctor's comment: The main indication of bear bile is gallstone disease. Bile, according to proponents of traditional medicine, can dissolve gallstones, reduce inflammation, as well as pain. According to legend, samurai drank bear bile before the battle to increase their strength. Ursodeoxycholic acid is used to dissolve gallstones from cholesterol.
The condition for therapy is that the stones do not exceed 15 millimeters and no shade is visible on the x-ray image. Bear bile can prevent the progression of cirrhosis if it is associated with chronic inflammation of the bile ducts.
Some studies show that ursodeoxycholic acid, found in bear bile (and to a lesser extent also in human bile), has the ability to dissolve cholesterol stones without noticeable side effects. However, most studies have shown that the use of bear bile does not have a beneficial effect on human health.
Bear bile: contraindicationsside effects and interactions
Bear bile should not be used during pregnancy because teratogenic effects have been identified in studies. Before starting therapy, pregnancy is excluded. Women of childbearing age are advised to take contraceptives during therapy.
Absolute contraindications for bear bile:
- hypersensitivity to ursodeoxycholic acid;
- acute inflammation of the gallbladder and biliary tract;
- acute or chronic liver inflammation (hepatitis);
- obstruction of the biliary tract;
- calcium gallstones (they give a shadow on the x-ray image);
- frequent biliary colic (spasmodic pain in the liver, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting).
Bear bile in rare cases is prescribed for children and adolescents. However, even children over 6 years old and adolescents under the age of 18 can be treated with drugs. The dose is established individually by the doctor.
Common side effects:
- diarrhea;
- calcification of gallstones;
- severe pain in the upper right abdomen.
In the treatment of bile-induced cirrhosis of the liver at a late stage of the disease, in very rare cases, a deterioration in the patient's health can be observed. The condition normalizes after the cancellation of bear bile.
Bear bile can enhance the effects of cyclosporine, but weaken ciprofloxacin and nitrendipine. Ursodeoxycholic acid usually interacts with drugs that are processed by the same enzyme (CYP450 34A).
Bile acid-binding drugs — colisteramine or colestipol — can reduce the absorption of bear bile from the intestines.
Liquid application
Doctor's comment: it was not found that bile products have any medical efficacy. The anti-inflammatory and choleretic effect claimed by Chinese herbalists is based on the placebo effect. A 2015 Cochrane Collaboration Review said: “These products have absolutely no health benefits.” Scientists carefully studied the effect of bear bile on health, but did not reach final conclusions.
UDCA is clinically effective, but its concentration in bear bile is too low for the manifestation of medicinal properties. The use of high doses of bile increases the likelihood of side effects.
Outdoor application
Doctor's comment: external use of bear bile is also ineffective and will bring little benefit. The studies did not reveal the positive effects of the oriental product on the skin.
Bear bile should not be used without a doctor's prescription.
If cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, gastritis, or other serious diseases occurs, a gastroenterologist should be consulted. Therapy of the above diseases should be carried out under the strict supervision of a medical specialist.
