Cholacol - Gallbladder Support Supplement - Fat Digestion Supplement for Digestive Health & Bile Support - Gluten-Free, Non-Dairy & Non-Soy - 90 Tablets

I am posting this review in several places, for each product mentioned in this review, in hopes that it will reach the people that may be able to benefit from what I have found has helped me. I decided to post what has been key for me in recovering my digestive health after 5 years of exposure to black mold in an office I was in, and 3 years of treatment to detox the toxins that were circulating through my system under Richie Shoemaker's 7 step protocol for the treatment of mold illness: Enzymes. First, I realized that I had to have Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, SIBO. I have the symptoms. So I researched what to do about that and and found an nih study that showed that two herbal protocols are as effective if not more effective than the standard extremely expensive antibiotic protocol for the treatment of SIBO. I put myself on one of them, FC Cidal and Dysbiocide, 2 caps twice a day of each. Immediate improvement in my digestion. However, SIBO almost always comes back after the treatment, usually within 30 days. Why? Along the way of figuring out what to do about the SIBO, I started taking pancreatic enzymes. I had a test that showed I was low on pancreatic enzymes, even though I was taking them at the time. Why? Then I got a recommendation from my Health Coach, who uses a Life Biofeedback machine for energy balancing, that I should take Cholacol. Cholacol is gallbladder bile supplement. It is given to people who have had their gallbladder removed. So, Why? again, in that I have not had my gallbladder removed, but needed the supplement. More on that in a minute. It is not enough for me to just feel better, I have to know why. I will not rest until I figure out the answers. I found such improvement after starting the pancreatic enzymes and the Cholacol that I started taking Enzymedica Digest Spectrum. More improvement. So then I started researching enzymes in general. I found a book called Enzymes: Go with Your Gut by Karen DeFelice. In it she describes a protocol for taking 10 capsules per day of Enzymedica Extra Strength Enzyme Defense for 30 days to eliminate hidden viruses. I know that I have herpes simplex Type A, and would love to get rid of it, so I figured, What the heck, may as well give the protocol a try and see what happens. I started it two weeks ago. The stuff is awesome. Within 24 hours I was able to start eating things I had not been able to eat in literally years, am sleeping better, pain is almost non-existent. Also, two of my employees are out with a nasty virus, but although I also have the virus that has flattened both of them, I am not sick. I realized when I found out that they were sick that I have that virus, but for me I almost didn't realize that I had it because it has been so mild, just a runny nose for three days, and a slightly enlarged and tender lymph node under my jaw that cleared up in two days. They are both much younger than me (I am 65) and very sick. I'm not. So back to the puzzles of why SIBO comes back, and why I would need pancreatic enzyme supplements, and supplements of gallbladder bile when I haven't had my gallbladder out. This thought process took me several months this last year. I realized that the pancreas was not getting enzymes into my digestive tract and bile was not getting from the gallbladder to the digestive tract, so, therefore, it was likely that I had something blocking the flow of those products to the small intestine. I also figured out that the reason SIBO comes back is because the bile from the gallbladder controls the growth of bacteria in the small intestine, so without enough bile from the gallbladder, you can treat the SIBO, but it will come back because the bacteria will just grow back again because there isn't enough bile to control it. So finally I scoped out the connections between the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and small intestine, and discovered that stones are produced in the liver, then move to the gallbladder and the pancreas through the common ducts that connect those three organs, and the common duct that allows the pancreatic enzymes and bile from the gallbladder into the small intestine. I also had a dull ache, sometimes sharper, especially if I ate anything with sugar, carbohydrates (which convert to sugar) or fat, in the lower right quadrant of my back. Those are all symptoms, I found out, of gallstones. The allopathic response to gallstones is to yank out the gallbladder. Um, I don't think so. So I researched how to get rid of the stones that had to be blocking all those ducts through which the pancreatic enzymes and gallbladder bile should be flowing into the small intestine. I found Stone Free, and started taking that. That was also a huge help. Within 24 hours the ache in my gallbladder had eased substantially. Now I still have a very light pressure from my gallbladder, which I don't notice unless I think about it. Most people from middle age on will have stones in the gallbladder and that also block those common ducts that enable the bile and pancreatic enzymes to get to the small intestine. So most folks need to get cleaned out. Stone Free will do it. So for me, it has been the combo of several things. 1. Several different types of Probiotics including Hyperbiotics Pro-15, Perfect Pass and Culturelle. 2. Pancreatic enzymes and Cholacol. 3. FC Cidal and Dysbiocide to eliminate the SIBO. I am in the middle of my third course of it, and both I and my Health Coach dowse that I should continue to stay on it for now, so that tells me that the blockages are still present preventing enough bile from the gallbladder getting into the small intestine, that and the still present light pressure from the gallbladder. 4. Stone Free to eliminate the blockages for enzymes to get to the small intestine, supplementing with the pancreatic enzymes and Cholacol until I get everything flowing the way it should. 5. Enzymedica Digest Spectrum 2 caps taken with each meal. 6. Finally, the addition of the protocol of the Enzymedica Extra Strength Enzyme Defense, 5 caps twice a day on an empty stomach, for 30 days. Actually, I will probably stay on it for longer than that, but I will see what both my own dowsing and the Life Biofeedback machine have to say about that when I reach the end of the 30 days. that has finally allowed me to eat like a more or less normal human being. I still can't eat dairy products, but am otherwise eating pretty much what I want. Life is good. Hope that will be true for others that may read this post. All of the products and the book mentioned here are available from and have been purchased from Amazon.

This product is a life saver. I was misdiagnosed, which I have found only recently is common with chronic gall bladder malfunction, with bacterial infection. Over the last 25 years I've been eliminating foods from my diet due to excess gas and SEVERE diarrhea which have increased yearly. It started with onions then cabbage then cutting back on fried foods and finally ALL dairy products including probiotics. Over the last 9 months I've eliminated almost everything except crackers, rice, baked potatoes, white meat baked or boiled chicken and white fish baked or broiled also. These are all cooked with NO fat, butter, oil, margarine and definitely NO spices just salt only. After an ultrasound six months ago said it was definitely not the gall bladder I've been to 5 doctors trying to find out what it is. For the last two months I haven't been able to eat anything that hasn't literally ejected without digestion within 1-3 hours after eating. My accupuncturist, who provided the only relief I've found, suggested I try Bile Salts and especially Standard Process after being up every night for a week at 2 AM with severe diarrhea followed by severe Chills even after piling every blanket in the house on top of me. This would last for several hours during which I felt like it was surely my last night alive. I woke up every morning just OK but with no problems until I ate again. She said if the Bile Salts worked this indicated that my problem was either gall bladder or bile duct related. I ordered the Prime expedited delivery and got this in 2 days and began immediately with one pill after a meal which was suggested by the reviews here on Amazon. For the first time in months I was able to eat and remain pain free for at least half a day. This prompted me to tell a little lie to my Dr. that another Dr. said the Bile Salts indicated gall bladder problems so she sent me for a HIDA Scan which confirmed an 11% bile ejection rate for my gall bladder (Normal is 30-60%). I have now scheduled surgery and am thankful that these helped me discover my problem and also it appears that they will be helpful after surgery as well. I tried taking two pills after a meal after a week of taking these, but this seemed to bother me somewhat so have stuck with just one pill since this appears to work. Also, I only seem to be able to eat and take one pill twice a day. When I eat three times a day and take one pill each time I still experience abdominal pain and some diarrhea. I'm happy though since I had only been eating one meal a day during the last month. I'll try to post an update after surgery to tell you of my progress following surgery. I hope these "miracle" pills continue to work!

Helps to flush fat when gallbladder is removed

I had my gallbladder removed, so I take these to help break down fats. I wish they were coated, because the flavor is strong, and this can interfere with the flavor of the food I'm eating. Though, it does wear off in 15-20 seconds, as I eat. (The flavor isn't bad, just strong.) The tablet is a bit rough. So, for me, it's harder to swallow. But, it is a small tablet. I'd recommend a thin coating be added to the tablet to mask the taste and to help with swallowing.

Had my gallbladder removed about 30 yrs ago. Digestion has been marginal mmost of my life but got worse after the gallbladder was removed. After discovering the Cholacol every morning my stomach is empty and my body eliminates on a regular basis. They are bitter in taste at first but after all it is ox bile.

Amazon and Proline, it is despicable that you offer this very well-known product without advising the customers that this is very old stock! Thinking I'd be getting fresh product, I ordered four bottles from this supplier via Amazon. (Mistake!) Soon thereafer, when I developed diahrrea, I worried that something was wrong with my health. I didn't know that my health was fine, but my bile stimulator supplement was letting me down. It took awhile to figure out. Fresh Cholacol is probably the best product on the market for those of us who no longer have gall bladders. This outdated product, however, is just a shadow of the fresh product. What Amazon had sent me had dark spots on the tablets, and it tasted horrible on my tongue. What helped to wake me up was a Dec. 2011 customer review here complaining that the product they'd received was outdated. To give myself a basis of comparison, I then acquired Cholacol from a distributor authorized by Standard Process. (FYI, Standard Process prefers to sell to medical practitioners. When I phoned them, they said that they definitely did NOT authorize Proline to sell their products on Amazon. Apparently, they have this practice to keep up their standards and performance.) My new tablets were free of the ugly dark spots which were on all Proline tablets. The taste of the new tablets was neutral, and didn't thus prompt gag reflexes. In response to my question, Standard Process advised that these outdated supplements wouldn't make me sick, but they also wouldn't perform in the ways I needed. At this point, I consider myself to have been ripped off by the purchase of four bottles of Cholacol from this distributor on Amazon. I came here simply to warn others. This purchase is a sorry exception to an otherwise good Amazon experience over a number of years. Potential future customers, please note that the Cholacol sold here is NOT the same as you'd get from a Standard Process authorized supplier. Cholacol is a terrific product. Do not confuse it with the outdated stuff dumped on unwitting customers here. UPDATE: 9.28.12 After I posted the review above, Amazon temporarily halted sales of this product, which I considered to be good business practices. After awhile, a new provider was found, and since I had named the old provider (ProLine), I left my review the same. I did end up switching to a different Cholacol supplier, however. Now it's come to my attention that Proline, who supplied my products at the time of this review, is back on the job. I have to presume that they are satisfying Amazon's standards, as based on customer reviews made since I made mine. (If not, I'm sure that customers will notice digestion issues, and hence will write here about that!) Due to Amazon's due diligence, and due to Cholacol's over-all excellence, I changed my original one-star rating to a five-star rating. The new rating points to my good experience of the product when it's fresh. Here's a related update regarding Standard Process and their product distribution practices. As my review indicates, I'd spoken with Standard Process before publishing my comments. At that time, Standard Process thanked me for alerting them to a vendor they had not authorized (ProLine). Back then, they said their practice was to offer their products primarily through doctors (for the sake of customer education). Just recently, however, I interacted with an Amazon customer whom I had referred to Standard Process, to get her questions answered. She later indicated that she had contacted Standard Process, and moreover, that Standard Process had sold her Cholacol directly. My update is that it now appears their policies have changed since I wrote my review, and that they've expanded the range of their merchandise venues.

This product was recommended to me (for my daughter), by a teacher that my family knows. She (like my daughter), has had her gallbladder removed, and has IBS. She swears by the product, saying it helps her digestive symptoms greatly. When I asked her where we could get this item, she said she could only find it online. I searched online, and Amazon was about the only reliable place I could find to order from. After reading previous mixed reviews, some positive, and some not positive....which said they got expired products that had dark spots on the tablets....I decided to take a chance, and ordered it. While waiting for the product to be delivered, I called the Standard Process main 1-800 number and was told that their products are only available through professional health providers. They then gave me the number for Standard Process West, which could give me a list of providers in my area. Standard Process West was able to give me the names of several providers, all in a town only 30 miles away. Most of the providers were chiropractors or acupuncturists. I visited one of the provider's offices, and they were very helpful, and I purchased Cholacol and A-F Betafood. Both items come in a sealed bottle, which is inside a box. The expiration date is stamped on the box(in this case it said 6-13). We promptly opened the Cholacol, and it seems very fresh, clear of any dark spots. Upon returning home, I found my shipment of this item from Amazon had arrived. The expiration date on this box says 6/14. However, when we opened the bottle, the tablets are riddled with dark spots, and the edges are dark as well.???? This seems suspicious to me.... While the item was shipped very quickly, I think I will stick with the provider I found close to me, as I know they are authorized, the product seems fresh, and the cost is less. As far as effectiveness of the product, I will have to do an update, as my daughter just started taking this product today. I am curious to see if there will be any differences in the quality of the A-F Betafood that I ordered (when it arrives) versus the authorized provider.

LOVE THIS PRODUCT, and felt it was time for a review as it's been a game changer for my health. I have suffered with chronic allbladder and digestive issues, for most of my life. I'm 40 years old and into natural health. I have suffered from many debilitating gallbladder attacks constantly, and have also experienced the most TERRIBLE stubborn constipation--UNTIL NOW. This product is the difference between night and day for me. I take 2 pills with each meal, and my digestion is SO MUCH BETTER and so are my bowels. I also take Fen Cho by Standard Process as needed, for a nice synergistic effect-but the Cholacol I can't live without. My acupuncturist said that for patients who have had their gallbladder removed, they need to stay on this for life. I have my gallbladder, but it's not functioning very well. Last night I made the mistake of having some cheese with my dinner. Immediate swelling of the gallbladder, I usually avoid cheese but have been feeling so good lately. I took 2 extra cholacol shortly after the attack started-and id definitely helped. Today I woke up moved my bowels and feeling much better, digestion back to normal. Anyway I wanted to take the time to write a review on this product since I have been on a healing journey for over 20 years, yet no one could seem to figure out my gallbladder issue- this has stopped the attacks, and pain, and allows normal good digestion and bowel health. I take a few other supplements as well, but this one I can't live without. I plan to continue to work on healing my gallbladder so that it's fully functioning and I don't need to rely on supplements anymore, but meanwhile, I'm grateful to have found this product and grateful for how much help it provides.

Fast delivery for a fair price and is working very well