The majority of us believe that a significant health condition has symptoms that can be easily diagnosed. But that’s not the case! While some significant illnesses show signs that anybody can recognize, some disorders and syndromes are considered to be extremely difficult to detect. Gallbladder disease is one such condition that affects a large number of people, particularly the elderly and women. Gallstones in the gallbladder are undiscovered until they cause severe pain. Let’s take a look at what gallstones are and how they are caused before we get into the home remedies that can help you get rid of them. Keep reading!
What Are Gallstones?
Gallstones are hard, crystalline balls that are formed in the gallbladder from excess cholesterol or bile salts. These stones can vary greatly in size – from being the size of a grain to as large as a tennis ball.
What Causes Gallstones?
Gallstones are excruciatingly painful as the stones might get pushed into the tube. This happens when there is an excessive amount of cholesterol, and there is not enough bile secreted to saturate the cholesterol, which forms a crystal ball. However, stones can also be formed by bile salts too. In women, pregnancy-related hormonal changes and factors like obesity pave the way for gallstone formation. Besides, people relying on junk and fast foods are also prone to stones in the gallbladder. These gallstones go through the bile duct and may cause blockage in the duct, which sends bile to the small intestine from the liver. When this occurs, the gallbladder gets choked and the built up pressure triggers pain in the abdomen region (1).
How To Get Rid Of Gallstones Naturally
While surgery for getting rid of gallstones is quite commonplace, it is better if you take precautions to prevent their formation in the first place. Gallbladder surgery, also called cholecystectomy, can cause years of discomfort, including nausea and diarrhea. It can increase chances of contracting bowel cancer as well. Besides, the level of cholesterol in blood also shoots up post surgery. Let’s take a look at a few home remedies to get rid of gallstones.
Home Remedies To Prevent The Formation Of Gallstones
1. Foods To Avoid For Gallstones
While trying the home remedies for gallstones mentioned in this article, do remember that there are things you need to avoid to prevent gallstone formation. As a rule of thumb, doctors advise people to avoid eating any refined food to prevent stone development in the gallbladder. And those sweet delicacies you polish off during tea time? Well, those sugary snacks are to be avoided above all. Same goes for all fast foods made with artificial sweeteners and all white flour products.
2. Turmeric For Gallstones
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric • 1/2 teaspoon honey Eat turmeric mixed with honey every day to stay fit and healthy and keep gallstones at bay. Do this every day for a healthy gallbladder. Turmeric is used in cooking many dishes. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Having turmeric in foods can help enhance the solubility of bile. This will ensure that stones are not formed easily (3).
3. Milk Thistle For Gallstones
• 1 tablespoon milk thistle seeds • 3 cups water • Honey
- Crush the milk thistle seeds and bring them to a boil. 2. Let the herb steep in hot water for 20 minutes. 3. Strain the herbal tea, add a dash of honey and drink it. Drink two to three cups in a day. A herb with its origin in the Mediterranean region, milk thistle has been used as a natural remedy for liver cleansing as well as gallstone prevention for a long time. Its active component, silymarin, shrinks the gallstones and can also help relieve any pain (4). It is also possible to add the herb in the powdered form to juices and milk. You can also add the powder to your salad and snacks if you don’t like the taste of the juice.
4. Lemon Juice For Gallstones
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice • A glass of lukewarm water Add the lemon juice to the water and drink this first thing in the morning. Drink more glasses of lemon water throughout the day. Drink up to four glasses of lemon water in a day. Lemon juice is a rich source of vitamin C (5). Vitamin C supplements have been observed to offer protection against the formation of gallstones (6). Hence, drinking lemon juice daily may also help serve the same purpose.
5. Cranberry Juice For Gallstones
Cranberry juice Drink a glass of cranberry juice every day. Dilute it with some water if you feel the juice is too acidic to consume. Drink this juice every day to maintain healthy functioning of the body. This is a preventive remedy for gallstones and gallbladder problems. The dietary fiber present in cranberry juice lowers the cholesterol levels in the body, thus preventing the formation of cholesterol gallstones (7). For gallstones generating from accumulated bile salts, the acidity of the juice will ensure that enough bile flows through the system to prevent this accumulation. The antioxidants present will keep your gallbladder and liver in optimum health (8).
6. Coconut Oil For Gallstones
3 tablespoons coconut oil 1/4 glass apple juice Juice of half a lemon A garlic clove (optional) A small piece of ginger
Drink this every day for several weeks. If you are prone to gallbladder attacks, this remedy is perfect for you. Coconut oil contains essential fats that can be easily digested by the liver. The accumulation of unhealthy fats, cholesterol, and bile salts in the gallbladder can be prevented (9).
7. Castor Oil For Gallstones
1 cup castor oil Cheesecloth Plastic wrap/sheet A hot compress
Repeat this process thrice a week. Castor oil possesses anti-inflammatory and healing properties, which will reduce swelling in the area and also the pain you are experiencing (10), (11).
8. Herbal Tea For Gallstones (Green Tea For Gallstones)
2 teaspoons green tea leaves 1 cup hot water Honey Lemon
Drink two to three cups of green tea in a day. Green tea contains antioxidants that give your body energy and reduce inflammations. They may also be able to prevent gallstones, though further studies are warranted in that regard (12).
9. Coffee For Gallstones
A cup of hot coffee Brew a cup of your favorite hot coffee and drink it. Drink a cup of two every day to prevent gallstones. Research has revealed that drinking a cup of coffee a day can help ease gallbladder problems. It helps to prevent gallstones. Caffeine also stimulates gallbladder contractions and makes the passage of gallstones easy (12).
10. Vitamin C For Gallstones
Vitamin C is not only good for your immunity and skin, but is also effective in preventing gallbladder stone formation. When your body gets an adequate dose of vitamin C, it increases the breakdown of cholesterol to bile acids. As a result, the risk of stone formation in the gallbladder will be less (14). You can take vitamin C in many forms. If taking vitamin pills is not your cup of tea, eat fruits and vegetables like guava, kiwi, papaya, mango – all of which are full of this important nutrient.
11. Dandelion For Gallstones
1 tablespoon dried dandelion root 1/2 teaspoon honey A cup of hot water A pot
You may have this herbal tea mixture twice a day for optimal results. Dandelion is another useful natural remedy for gallbladder stones. Dandelion leaves help in bile excretion and fat metabolization. Taking the herb can also help in stimulating the gallbladder (15). People who have diabetes should ideally talk to a medical practitioner before trying out this herb-infused tea.
12. Beetroot For Gallstones
Beetroot Water
Drink a cup every day to relieve gallstone pain. High in fiber, carotenoids, and flavonoids, beetroot juice is known to lower blood cholesterol. Hence, cholesterol gallstones cannot form. It may also improve liver function (16), (17).
13. Radish For Gallstones
A radish Water
Drink up to five to six tablespoons throughout the day for larger gallstones. A tablespoon or two a day is enough for smaller stones. Though this is not a favorite vegetable for many, it is another good home remedy for gallstones. Radish, especially black radish, can help in the treatment of cholesterol gallstones (18). However, you should eat radish in moderation. Do not intake more than the recommended quantity in a day.
14. Peppermint For Gallstones
A few mint leaves (fresh or dried) A cup of warm water 1/2 teaspoon honey
It is advisable to have a cup of this tea between meals. Peppermint helps in digestion by stimulating the flow of bile and other digestive tract juices. It also contains a natural compound called terpene that can dilute gallstones. Regular intake of a cup of peppermint-infused tea can also help cure all gallbladder problems while also relieving pain from acute attacks (19).
15. Pear Juice For Gallstones
1/2 glass pear juice 1/2 glass hot water 2 tablespoons honey
Drink this thrice a day. The blend of honey and pear juice can be very effective for avoiding gallstone development. Pear is a pectin-containing fruit. This pectin binds to cholesterol and eliminates it from the body (20). [ Read: Home Remedies For Red Eyes ] It is far more prudent that you prepare your body to prevent gallstone formation. For this, there is no need to become a medical expert. You can resort to the proven home-based and natural remedies that we have listed above and keep them at bay. Gallbladder Disease Signs & Symptoms When the gallstones travel into any of the ducts attached to the gallbladder, it can result in a gallbladder attack. Symptoms of this are as follows:
Pain in the upper abdomen or upper-right abdomen, which is constant and can also increase and lasts from an hour to several hours Pain under the right shoulder and in between the shoulder blades Vomiting Nausea Bloating Flatulence and belching Indigestion (1)
Where Do You Get Gallbladder Pain? Gallbladder pain is experienced in the upper or upper-right part of the abdomen. What Does The Gallbladder Do? The gallbladder forms an important part of our digestion process. It is a little pear-shaped pouch located behind the liver. It is responsible for storing the cholesterol-rich bile secreted by the liver, which helps to cut down fatty foods. What To Eat With Gallstones? To stay healthy and avoid gallstone formation, you need to follow the right kind of diet (21).
Ensure that you eat foods that are low in cholesterol and fat and high in fiber. Fiber-enriched foods keep the digestive system in good shape, and a low-fat diet prevents cholesterol development in the gallbladder. For cooking foods and snacks, you can replace cooking oil with olive oil as far as possible. It contains higher amounts of monounsaturated fat and is healthier for the stomach, liver, and gallbladder. You may also use canola oil for the same reason. To reduce intake of saturated fat from foods, eat low-fat dairy products and lean meat portions. To ensure gallstones do not form in your body, make sure your platter remains full of vegetables. Studies have shown that vegetarians are less prone to gallstones when compared to hardcore non-vegetarians. Vegetables are responsible for reducing the cholesterol in the bile, thus curing gallstones. Having a bowl of salad rich in green vegetables can help cure gallbladder problems. You can try various other types of A single red bell pepper has 95mg of vitamin C, the essential vitamin required to get rid of gallstones. Adding red bell pepper to your meal will help you get the essential nutrients to avoid bladder problems. Follow the tips mentioned above and make changes in your diet accordingly.
How To Relieve Back Pain After Gallbladder Surgery? Having back pain after gallbladder surgery is common. This pain should slowly start fading away as days go by. You can use a simple warm compress to ease this pain. If the pain does not subside even after a few weeks and is causing discomfort, please consult your doctor as this might indicate post-operational complications. Can Gallstones Damage The Liver? When the gallstones are lodged in the bile ducts, the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder is obstructed. As a result, excess bile starts accumulating in the liver and damaging the liver cells. This can lead to cirrhosis, a condition that involves deterioration and malfunctioning of the liver (1). How Do You Test For Gallbladder Problems? There are various diagnostic tests that the doctor can advise you to get done for gallbladder problems. These tests will generate reports that present a clear image of the gallbladder and associated organs. Below listed are the common tests that are conducted (22).
Abdominal ultrasound – can easily detect small gallstones Abdominal X-ray – good for detecting gallstones containing calcium deposits Abdominal CT scan – to detect ruptures and infection that are caused due the stones MRI scan – to detect stones lodged in the bile ducts Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) – good for detecting stones blocking the bile ducts and also removing them while performing the test Cholescintigraphy or gallbladder radionuclide scan – radioactive dye used to detect blocked ducts and inflammation
Now that you know how to get rid of gallstones naturally, what are you waiting for? It is always advisable to check with a doctor if you are suffering from any gallbladder problem. There are medications available to cure it. There are also non-surgical processes to dissolve the stone. The final option is surgery if the condition is beyond the reach of medication. For acute gallbladder problems, the only cure is surgery. They say prevention is better than cure. And, we agree! Who would want to live through the agony of gallstones only to be followed by an invasive surgery? Do your gallbladder a favor and start following these tips. Do you suffer from any gallbladder problems? What do you usually do to get relief? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below. Can drinking water remove gallstones? Drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water each day may help prevent the formation of gallstones. However, there is no evidence to suggest that drinking water can remove gallstones that have already formed in the gallbladder. Can apple cider vinegar help with gallbladder stones? Anecdotal evidence suggests that drinking apple cider vinegar can help dissolve gallstones due to its acidity. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding this matter. Also, remember to dilute ACV with water before drinking it if you want to try this remedy. Is ginger good for gallstones? There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that ginger can help get rid of gallstones.
