Gallstones can cause symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and pain on the right side of the abdomen or in the back.
They can vary in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Gallstones that are very big, can only be removed with shock wave therapy or surgery, but small stones can be removed with natural remedies, as long as you have the approval of your doctor or gastroenterologist.
To help get rid of the stones, it’s important to have plenty of fluids. You should get into the habit of drinking 100 ml (or 3 oz) of water each hour so that you drink 2 liters throughout the day. This can help the stones to move through the gallbladder to be excreted through the stools.
The following are home remedies for removing small gallstones:
1. Black radish juice
Black radish is a root that contains substances that prevent cholesterol from accumulating in the gallbladder, helping to prevent and get rid of stones that form there. It can also be used to decrease the amount of fat in the liver.
Ingredients:
- 3 black radishes
- 1 glass of ice water
- 1 teaspoon of natural honey
Preparation method:
Wash the radishes, place in the blender with ice water and honey, and blend until completely smooth. Then pour into a glass and drink twice a day.
2. Dandelion tea
Dandelion is a plant known for fighting digestive issues, mainly acting on the liver. It is also a potent diuretic that increases urine production. Dandelion tea can also be used to help get rid of gallstones, as it also stimulates the bile flow.
Ingredients:
- 10 g of dry dandelion leaves;
- 150 ml water;
Preparation method:
Boil the water and add the dry dandelion leaves, cover the pot, and let the mixture sit for ten minutes. Then strain and drink. This can be taken up to three times a day.
3. Artichoke
Artichoke is a plant popularly used to treat health problems like anemia, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, and pneumonia. Some studies show that the plant can also be used to get rid of gallstones.
Ingredients:
- 2 to 5 ml of artichoke extract
- 75 ml (2.5 oz) of water
Preparation method:
Dilute the artichoke extract in the water and take up to three times a day.
4. Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil found in the leaves can help eliminate gallstones. This type of oil is best consumed as tea.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of dried whole or ground peppermint leaves or, two or three fresh leaves;
- 150 ml (6.5 oz) of boiling water.
Preparation method:
Place the peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water. Let the mixture infuse for five to seven minutes and then strain. This tea should be drunk three to four times a day, preferably after meals.
5. Milk thistle
Milk thistle is a natural remedy that is used for liver disease and for gallstones, as the main compound of this plant is silymarin. You can buy the extracts of this plant in natural health stores in capsule form, but you can also take milk thistle as tea.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of crushed milk thistle fruit;
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation method:
Boil the water and add the crushed milk thistle fruit. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes, strain, and drink three to four cups a day.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric is another medicinal plant that can be used to get rid of small stones. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, it can also help to fight pain and gallbladder inflammation. The curcumin present in the plant also helps to regenerate tissues after surgery.
How to use: Consume 40 mg of curcumin daily in capsule form. This quantity is able to reduce the gallbladder volume by 50% in just a few days.
References:
- Lopes, A. S. N.; et al. Composição Química e Atividades Biológicas do Óleo Essencial de Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae). Rev. Virtual Quim. 12. 2; 1-14, 2020
- AMARAL, Francesca Guzzetti . Efeito de extractos aquosos de Plectranthus barbatus e de Peumus boldus na acção do etanol e na absorção conjunta de colesterol em linhas celulares. Dissertação de mestrado em bioquímica, 2011. Universidade de Lisboa.
- LIN, Song-Chow; et al. Hepatoprotective Effects of Arctium lappa Linne on Liver Injuries Induced by Chronic Ethanol Consumption and Potentiated by Carbon Tetrachloride. Journal of Biomedical Science. 9. 5; 401-409, 2002
- SCHUTZ, Katrin; et al. Taraxacum—A review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 107. 313–323, 2006
- CHAN, Yuk-Shing; et al. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacol. 19. 245-254, 2011
- AGÊNCIA NACIONAL DE VIGILÂNCIA SANITÁRIA. Farmacopeia Brasileira. 2018. Available on: <http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/documents/33832/259456/Suplemento+FFFB.pdf/478d1f83-7a0d-48aa-9815-37dbc6b29f9a>. Access in 16 Dec 2019
- AMERICAN BOTANICAL COUNCIL. Milk Thistle fruit. Available on: <http://cms.herbalgram.org/expandedE/MilkThistlefruit.html>. Access in 16 Dec 2019
- RAKEL, David. Integrative Medicine. 4.ed. Elsevier, 2018. 450-456.
- GRIGOLEIT, H. G; GRIGOLEIT, P. Pharmacology and preclinical pharmacokinetics of peppermint oil. Phytomedicine. Vol. 12. 612-616, 2005
- CLARE, Bevin A. et al. The Diuretic Effect in Human Subjects of an Extract of Taraxacum officinale Folium over a Single Day. J Altern Complement Med. Vol.15, n.8. 929-934, 2009
- CASTRO-TORRES, Ibrahim G. et al. Raphanus sativus L. var niger as a source of Phytochemicals for the Prevention of Cholesterol Gallstones. Phytother. Res. Vol.28. 167-171, 2014
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.tuasaude.com by Manuel Reis where all credits are due.
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