How to Get Rid of Gallstones Naturally gives the recipe for a gallbladder cleanse that allows the passing of gallstones easily and without surgery. Natural remedies do work!
Do you have gallstones, sludge or know someone who does? Maybe you just want to make sure you don't? This is for you!
UPDATE: Have you read this post and still have questions about how to get rid of gallstones using this gallbladder cleanse for passing gallstones? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom.
Have you ever had a gallbladder attack? Talk about painful! But there is hope - here is how to get rid of gallstones naturally!
Thankfully, I have found something that works like a charm, is not invasive and lets me keep my gallbladder! Plus, it doesn't hurt - yeah!
Can You Dissolve Gallstones Naturally?
The short answer is "YES"! It is possible and has worked for me and many others as shown in the comments.
Natural Remedies for Gallstones Without Surgery
My Experience
I had my first when pregnant with our 8th child and after an all-you-can eat pizza buffet - a high fat meat! It was no fun, in fact, it was quite painful!
As a nurse, I knew that I was a prime candidate for gallbladder surgery. Having cared for gallbladder patients, I knew that it was a difficult surgery and I did not want it!
In seeking an alternative to gallbladder surgery, my father introduced me to a gallbladder cleanse, also called a gallbladder flush.
I have continued to use the recipe that I will give below, as needed with success.
Until I started the GAPS diet, I would use the flush once a year or so. Once starting the GAPS diet, interestingly, my gallbladder attacks increased during the first 8 - 10 months or so.
During this time, I did the gallbladder cleanse monthly until my attacks subsided.
Whatever the reason, the GAPS diet seemed to accentuate my gallbladder problem. My gallbladder was not functioning properly and through the process of the GAPS diet allowing my digestive system to function properly, it is now much better. The need for a gallbladder cleanse is almost unnecessary.
You might also be interested in my how to get rid of bladder infections naturally guide.
Before I give the recipe ...
Did you know that nearly 1 million gallbladders are removed yearly?
Over 20 years ago, gallbladders were removed surgically and the recovery period was slow and painful.
The traditional "open" gallbladder surgery has almost completely been replaced with the introduction of laparoscopy.
Laparoscopy uses small instruments and a lighted tube equipped with a video camera, all inserted through tiny abdominal incisions. The recovery period is quicker and less painful with a laparoscopy making it the preferred method of removal.
Unfortunately, the number of gallbladder operations has risen 40 percent since the introduction of the laparoscopy!
Perhaps the doctors would prefer to avoid severe attacks so, the gallbladder is removed with vague symptoms like bloating and gas. This equals unnecessary surgery!
Laporascopic removal of the gallbladder while used commonly is not without risk!
Accidental severing of the bile duct, which can cause permanent liver damage, occurs in 1 to 2 percent of laparoscopies—three times more often than in open surgery!
Function of the gallbladder
The gallbladder is located just under the liver and has a very important role in the digestive process.
According to Wikipedia:
In vertebrates the gallbladder (cholecyst, gall bladder, biliary vesicle) is a small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy.
To put it another way, it emulsifies fats. Think of trying to wash greasy dishes without soap. It is almost impossible.
Why? Because soap emulsifies the grease. Similarly, the gallbladder stores bile and bile acids, which emulsify the fat eaten so it can be properly transported through the intestine into the blood stream.
Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs it to digest fat.
At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube--called the common bile duct--that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion. Under certain conditions the bile can harden into stones.
Types of gallstones
You may wonder how to get rid of gallstones naturally but, what about the different types of stones. Will one natural solution work for all types?
According to WebMD, there are two types of gallstones:
- Cholesterol stones made up of hardened cholesterol are usually yellow-green. 80 percent of gallstones are cholesterol stones. They are caused by too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or not enough bile salts or when the gallbladder does not empty as it should.
- Pigment stones made of bilirubin are small, dark stones. Their cause is uncertain although they tend to occur in people with cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia - these conditions cause too much bilirubin to form.
You can see both types in the photo below.
Either type of gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder can develop either one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or almost any combination.
Symptoms of a Gallbladder Attack:
If gallstones lodge in any of the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestines, a gallbladder attack occurs.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms have a rapid onset and may include:
- Steady pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
- Pain in the back between the shoulder blades
- Pain under the right shoulder
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal bloating
- Recurring intolerance of fatty foods
- Belching
- Gas
- Indigestion
An easy way to determine if your pain is related to the gallbladder is to press down below on your last rib on your right side and lined up with your nipple - if there is pain there is a good chance that you have a gallbladder problem.
Curing Symptoms Not the Problem:
The removal of the gallbladder is a procedure called Cholecystectomy. Following is information about the surgery from the American College of Surgeons.
Of the 1 million cholecystectomys or gallbladder removals that are done yearly, it is estimated that only a few thousand actually need to come out!
Sadly, as many as half of the patients continue to have pain after the gallbladder is removed.
Rather than treat the symptoms, more care should be taken to heed the warning signals and determine why the gallbladder is not functioning properly.
One way to relieve congestion in the gallbladder is a gallbladder cleanse or flush.
Healthline states:
There is no scientific evidence to support these claims, however. The body is able to cleanse and flush itself.
Medical News Today states:
A 2009 paper states that although scientific evidence to support a gallbladder cleanse is minimal, anecdotal reports indicate it may be helpful for some people.
I am not a medical doctor and do not pretend to give medical advise. But, I do want to share what has worked for me and how to get rid of gallstones naturally. That is, passing gallstones using the following gallbladder cleanse.
Even with "minimal" scientific evidence that this cleanse works, if you are one (like me) that it works for, it is completely worth giving it a try!
The following recipe is one I have used since my first attack in 2002.
I use it when I begin to experience pain in my right side, just under my ribs. It is a pain that once you have, you recognize instantly.
While I normally do not have severe pain (because I do the flush before it gets too bad), I have procrastinated and had sever pain, nausea and vomiting - all of which have been relieved for me by the following cleanse and passing gallstones.
How to Get Rid of Gallstones - Passing Gallstones Naturally
Gallbladder Cleanse Recipe
Days 1 - 6:
Drink 1 qt of apple juice each day for 6 days. Drink the apple juice in addition to your regular diet.
There is no specific time that you must drink it - I drink it throughout the day.
The apple juice contains limonoid which helps soften any gallstones and alleviate any pain you are experiencing.
Here is a link to the brand that I use: 100% Apple Juice
On the 6th day:
Do not eat anything after 6 pm.
At 6 pm, take 1 Tbsp Epsom salt with a full glass of water. Mix the Epsom salt in the water - it takes a bit of stirring. I take a big breath and down it quickly!
Around 8 pm repeat 1 Tbsp Epsom salt with a full glass of water.
Then at 10 pm - mix and drink quickly, 4 oz. olive oil and 4 oz. lemon juice.
Go to bed and in the morning you will pass any gallstones you may have. I normally have varying sizes of bright green gallstones visible in the toilet. The Epsom salt acts as a laxative to quickly remove the gallstones from the intestinal tract.
Here are links to the products that I use for this natural solution:
- 100% Apple Juice
- Epsom Salt
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice - Fresh lemon juice can also be used but since I normally have the bottled on hand so I use it.
FAQ
In an effort to make it easier for you, here are some of the most common questions that I receive about how to get rid of gallstones naturally using this gallbladder cleanse.
Passing gallstones can be done without surgery and I know your questions are important. I want to help you as quickly as possible. Hopefully, this section will help you get the answers you need when you need them. If you do not find what you are looking for, please leave a comment.
Is this gallbladder cleanse safe?
I personally have done this cleanse multiple times without any problems. I consider it safe or I would not do it.
Can Natural Remedies Have Side Effects?
You can expect diarrhea as a result of the Epsom salt. That is to be expected as the Epsom salt is used for its laxative effect.
It has been suggested by some critics that a stone may become lodged in the bile duct. In my fourteen years of experience, no one has reported this to me nor have I read reports of this happening. The apple juice is thought to soften the stones so they pass without any problems.
When passing gallstones, do the stones pass through the urine or stool?
They pass through the stool. I normally begin passing them in the next morning with my first bowel movement.
I started having diarrhea after the first dose of Epsom salt - is this normal?
Yes, this is completely normal. Epsom salt is used for its laxative effect to clear the intestines so the stones can be quickly eliminated before they are potentially reabsorbed through your intestinal walls.
How large a stone will this work on?
I cannot say how large is too large. I have never known the size of my stones while they are in my gallbladder. The apple juice works to soften the stones so passing gallstones does not cause any pain.
Will I get sick from this gallstone remedy?
I have never gotten sick from this cleanse. I normally feel full and gassy after the Epsom salt.
After taking the lemon juice/olive oil mixture, I do feel yucky but I have never vomited. (Even though I have wanted to!)
From the comments, there have been a couple of readers who did vomit after taking the mixture but again, I never have.
Can I use sea salt, table salt or rock salt instead of Epsom salt?
The other salts listed are forms of sodium chloride. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. They are two very different salts not to be used interchangeably.
Will Epsom salt raise my blood pressure?
No. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate not table salt which is sodium chloride.
Can natural remedies raise blood pressure?
The natural remedies that I have used will not raise the blood pressure. Of course, if you have an underlying condition or are in doubt, please seek the medical advice of your doctor.
What brand of Epsom salt do you use - will any do?
As long as there are no added fragrances, any will do - mine has the directions for laxative usage on the back of the package.
Here is the Epsom Salt that I use.
Pin It!
What about the sites claiming this gallstone remedy is a hoax and you are not really passing stones?
There are several online sites claiming this is a hoax and I have read them. But, I disagree and if you have a gallbladder attack and try this cleanse, I think you will too.
The apple juice provides relief from the pain almost immediately. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, traditional medicine stands to lose a lot of money if and when people begin to take responsibility for their health with natural solutions that work.
There are are several readers who have had their stones resulting from this cleanse analyzed by a lab and they were indeed gallstones.
Other readers who had ultrasounds before the cleanse showing gallstones and after the cleanse showing none. There is one reader who showed a decreased number of stones and was planning on doing another cleanse to get of rid them.
Are these really stones that result from the gallbladder cleanse?
Gallstones are not stones as in pieces of granite. There are two types of stones:
- Stones made of cholesterol stones
- Pigment stones made up of bilirubin. Like other fats, they float.
Do I take apple juice on the 6th day also?
Yes, you take it on the 6th day also.
Do I take the Epsom salt, olive oil/lemon juice mix only on the 6th day?
Yes, this completes the cleanse and is only done on the last day.
Is there an alternative to the apple juice - I don't want all the sugar?
I have never used anything else but a couple of readers report success with grapefruit juice and another with tart cherry juice.
What brand of apple juice do you use?
I use store bought that has no added sugar.
The brand that I use can be seen here 100% Apple Juice.
Can I juice my own apples?
Yes, but I have no idea how many it would take.
When do you drink the apple juice?
I drink it throughout the day - no specific time.
How much is 1 quart of apple juice?
1 quart = 32 oz = 4 cups = 0.95 liters
What type of olive oil do you use?
I use virgin olive oil. The flavor of extra virgin olive oil is just too strong for me.
This is the brand I use: Olive oil
Can I use other types of oil?
I have never tried it but I would think other healthy oils would be fine.
Do you use fresh squeezed lemon juice or store bought?
I have used both with success but, since I keep bottled lemon juice in the fridge, I normally use it.
This is the brand I use: Lemon juice
How do you get and keep the lemon juice/olive oil mixture down?
This, to me, is the most difficult part of the cleanse. It does not taste good but, if you mix it well, take a big breath and gulp it down, you can do it! After all, it is much easier than surgery! I then brush my teeth to get the taste out of my mouth.
How often can I repeat this cleanse?
I had a doctor say this could be repeated every 2 - 4 weeks for a time of healing. While on the GAPS diet, I did it monthly. Now I do it yearly as a maintenance, just to make sure nothing is building.
Can I do this cleanse while pregnant?
Passing gallstones with this cleanse can be done while pregnant. I have done it while pregnant without any problems. In fact, my first cleanse was when I was pregnant with our eighth child!
Can I do this cleanse while nursing?
I have done it while nursing without any problems.
Should I do a colon cleanse before the gallbladder cleanse?
I never have done a colon cleanse before doing the gallbladder cleanse and it still works great. Despite what others say, the colon cleanse is not necessary to do before doing the gallbladder cleanse.
After completing the gallbladder cleanse, do I need to lay on my right or left side?
I just lay down in bed and try to go to sleep. I find it more comfortable on my right side.
Do I have to go to bed after the olive oil/lemon juice mixture?
That is what the recipe says. It is easier to go to bed and go to sleep rather than stay awake and feel the effects of the Epsom salt. But, be prepared to get up and run to the bathroom for diarrhea! In my experience, passing gallstones occurs in the morning with my first bowel movement.
What type of diet do I eat during this gallbladder cleanse?
I eat a normal diet during the cleanse and afterwards. Our normal diet consists of low amounts of processed sugar, healthy fats, whole grains, fruits and veggies. Oh, and fresh raw dairy from our milk cow.
Ravie says
Hi Dina-Marie! Ive been diagnosed with multiple gallstones and having 1.1cm stone being the largest (according to the ultrasound). And the doctor said I should undergo the surgery but I was afraid so I hopped on the internet and read this cleance. I had my 1st cleanse last Dec. 2013 and pass out stones, they were dark green (if that were really the stones). Sadly, the pain attacks again last New year's eve. I just wanna ask if its normal to have the attack again? Im planning to my 2nd cleanse this week. Please, Ill be waiting for your response.. The pain was crazy!
Ravie says
I feel some pain (stinging pain) until now but its tolerable..
Dina-Marie says
Ravie, when I was on the GAPS diet, I did the cleanse monthly because of attacks but thankfully the diet has healed my intestines and digestion issues so that I have not had an attack in months.
Ravie says
Is it ok to do the cleanse twice a month?
Dina-Marie says
Ravie, I have only done it monthly. While I don't think it would hurt, I do wonder why you want to do it so often - are you having a lot of problems with gallstones. If so, I would encourage you to look into the GAPS diet and try to heal your digestion issues.
A plea says
Hello,
You should be aware that you are not a medical expert and are giving advice to people based on a hunch that is widely renounced not just by medical professionals. The advice you are giving could be life threatening! Please stop promising things that you cannot promise! It is a hoax! Those are not gall stones! Do the cleanse 10 times in a row and you'll get "stones" each time! You can't possibly have that many! Please, for your readers' sake, stop! Someone could be seriously injured by following your advice, however we lot intentioned it is!
Sincerely,
A worried reader
Dina-Marie says
Thank you for your concern and if you read the comments, as well as the actual post, I do say that I am not a doctor and am only sharing my experience and what has worked for me. If you take the time to read the comments, it has also helped many others! I have actually done the cleanse back to back with a day or two in between and I did NOT pass stones in the subsequent cleanses! I do understand your concern and yes, large stones could become lodged in the duct causing an emergency requiring surgery but I have addressed this issue in several comments stating that for me, I would be headed to surgery anyway so if I end up there because I am trying to pass the stones naturally and avoid surgery, I have not lost anything - so far that has not happened. The apple juice works to soften the stones and allow them to pass without pain. I am thankful that this cleanse has kept me out of surgery. Yes, traditional medicine would have you believe that the only treatment for gallstones is surgery or drugs, but that is not true. There is a comments in which the reader actually had the stones which resulted from the cleanse analyzed and they were indeed gallstones - so much for traditional medicine!
Concerned says
Read the post hun. She CLEARLY states she is no kind of medical professional but is sharing what worked for her. I don't believe you should be bashing her.
Dina-Marie says
Thank you, Concerned - I appreciate your encouragement!
Angie says
Hello Dina-Marie, I am sorry to bother you but have a few quick questions. thank you for your blog, i have been experiencing some of these symptoms and want to start right away. However, I am confused regarding how many days I need to do this. Do I just do this for one day, or several days? Also, if the stones are passing and they are a large size will they get caught in my intestines while leaving my body? Will they also be hard to pass as well? Please advise, thank you so much. Thank you, Angie
Dina-Marie says
Angie, the olive oil, lemon juice and Epsom salt are taken on the final day after drinking the apple juice for 5 days. The apple juice will soften the stones and all I can say is what I have done personally and I have not had a problem. The laxative effect of Epsom salt moves the stones through your system.
Fernando says
Hello Dina-Marie,
Last week I suffered two gallstones attacks. I'm male, 43, and didn't know I had gallstones. The first attack was moderately short. It woke me up at 2:00am but by 4:00am I fell asleep again. By 7:00am there were no traces of pain and the episode was almost forgotten. Three days later I suffered the second attack. The pain in the center of the abdomen was terrible. It began at 7:00pm and lasted until 9:00am of the next day. I didn't sleep at all that night. It took me two days to recover. Then I saw a gastroenterologist. Ultrasound revealed my gallbladder is -literally- packed with small to medium-sized gallstones. The doctor said that surgery was my only option. So I travelled to a bigger city to visit one of the most prestigious gastroenterologists. I asked him if my gallstones could be flushed and/or dissolved. Given the fact that I'm a young adult and that my gallbladder is normal in size and thickness, I also asked him if it can be restored to normal functioning by some treatment that doesn't involve surgery. He answered no to both questions. Basically, his words were carbon copy of what the first doctor had said. Being surgery-averse as I am, I started researching alternatives... and here I am. Next week I'm going to do the cleanse. I already bought the Epsom salts. What I cannot find anywhere is natural/unsweetened apple juice. It is also not possible for me to do it myself. So here is my query: Can I replace the daily intake of 1 qt of apple juice with 3 pounds of apples? I mean, can I eat 3 pounds of apples daily for the 5 days before the flush instead of drinking a qt of juice?
For the record: I've been a vegetarian for the last 11 years and lost 85 pounds in 2002/2003. Now I have an ideal weight for a 43 yr. old guy. I've done (and still do) 90/120 minutes of daily physical activity for 11 years. And my gallbladder is packed with stones? Life's not fair!
Thank you.
Fernando
Dina-Marie says
Hi Fernando, I am not sure how many apples you would need to eat to get the same amount as the juice - could you juice your own just to make sure you are getting enough? I have been able o find unsweetened apple juice at a local health food store but I am sorry that I don't know the brand. The apple juice is important to soften the stones so make sure you get enough. Let me know how it goes!
Fernando says
Thank you very much for your response Dina-Marie.
I guess I will replace apple juice with malic acid. I may complement the malic acid intake with 2 or 3 apples/day.
Just for testing purposes, I ate a lot of apples (3 pounds) the first day and quickly realized that was not going to be sustainable for five more days so I stopped.
Thanks again,
Fernando
Dina-Marie says
Fernando, let me know how it goes!
Fernando says
Hello Dina-Marie, it's me again.
I've just done my first cleanse. From ultrasound, I knew beforehand that my gallstones were not big. My gallbladder was full of stones the size of grains of sand, chaff and bile sludge.
I followed the procedure to the letter and everything resulted as expected, except that the gallstones I passed were not visible to the naked eye. In my case, I passed dark green diarrhea 6 or 7 times throughout the day of the cleanse (the 6th day). I suppose all that dark green stuff must have come from the gallbladder. It cannot have picked that green color solely from the olive oil.
Takeaways from this first personal experience:
To me the process was totally painless. Not even abdominal discomfort was noticed.
The hardest part, by far, was the intake of the Epsom salts and the nausea that followed and remained for several hours. I didn't throw up though.
The best part was that it was all over by noon of the next day. The general relief that comes after the cleanse is very real. I also feel more energized.
As strange as it sounds, I'm looking forward to the second flush in 6 or 8 weeks.
As my gallstones are not visible, I don't know how many cleanses I will have do before I enter maintenance mode (two cleanses per year).
Have a nice weekend,
Fernando
Dina-Marie says
Fernando, I am glad it went so well and that you have relief!
Hema says
Fernando, do you get the Mott‘s Apple juice where you are? It‘s 100% juice, no sugar added. Good luck...from a another vegetarian. :) Hope it all goes well.
Fernando says
Hema,
Mott's apple juice is not available where I reside. I'll definitely replace it with malic acid. If all goes well I'll be back here by the 3rd or 4th week of January and share my experience. I'm a bit nervous.
Fernando
Angela M says
For those needing an alternative to Epsom salt, magnesium citrate also is fine. It's natural and the same -- a laxative. You can get the liquid version in the pharmacy section ( it will be near the colonoscopy prep stuff and the laxatives). I personally use Natural Calm but you have to get that online or from a health foods store.
Dina-Marie says
Thanks, Angela!
Adelyn says
I am 23 years old and I have had attacks since I was 17. Recently the pains have been getting worse to the point where I need surgery because the medicine to calm the pain is 10 times stronger than morphine. I want to try the cleanse I was just wondering will it hurt when you pass the stones? Or what are the synthoms after you drink the Epson salt.
Dina-Marie says
Adelyn, I have not had any pain when passing the stones which I think is the result of the apple juice softening the stones. I have had diarrhea with the Epson salt but it is taken for the laxative effect to pass the stones out of your system quickly.
vipjames says
HI
I am scared to do a cleanse due to the fact many people are steering me away from it due to getting stones caught/stuck in the duct. This would most likely cause emergency situation. However i also do NOT want surgery. But we know this can not go ignored. I am in constant pain and feel lousy. It is changing my life and I need to decide what to do. In all your contacts with people on thism atter what have you found with stones getting caught in the ducts.
Thanks
Brenda
Dina-Marie says
Hi Brenda, you have a valid concern although I do not know of anyone who has had a stone stuck resulting in an emergency. The purpose of the apple juice is to soften the stones so they will pass. For me, I know that if I went in with an attack, I would be scheduled for surgery so I have nothing to lose. So far, all my stones have passed without any problems. You must decide for yourself if it is worth the potential risk - I feel that I have nothing to lose by trying to pass them naturally.
upasna says
Hi Dina,
for the first 5 days , do i need to drink olive oil n lemon juice before going to bed ?
I am on my 2nd day and i am having apple juice 4 times in a day.
please lemme know the quantity for each ingredient : olive oil, lemon juice, epsom salt ?
is epsom salt ok to drink ?
thank you
Dina-Marie says
Upasna, the lemon juice and olive oil mix is only taken on the final day of the cleanse.
upasna says
thank you Dina.
IS it ok if i take apple juice for 7 day and do the cleanse on 8th day ? because i have to out of station on my 6 th and 7th day .
please lemme know the quantity for each ingredient : olive oil, lemon juice, epsom salt ?
is epsom salt ok to drink ?
Jessica says
Upsana, if you go back and thoroughly read the post she clearly lays out the strategy as well as measurements of oil and lemon juice.
Angie says
A doctor told me I have sludge in my gall bladder. I have had trouble for years but lack insrance to see about having it looked at further. The last week or so I have been in pain constantly and looking for some kind of food or diet that will help me. I can't eat anything without having to live in my bathroom about an hour later. I want to try this cleanse...but I am scared to do the epson salt part of it...I already am having diarrea...so do i need the epson salt?
Dina-Marie says
Angie, the purpose of the Epsom salt is to make sure the gallstones are passed through your intestinal tract without being reabsorbed. If you are already having diarrhea, I would think you probably don't need it but I am not sure - sorry. I am not a doctor and can only tell you what I would do - If it were me, I would probably take a smaller dose, say 1/2 Tbsp.
Jessica fr Sweden says
Hello!
Im up for a removal of my gallbladder, I had no stones but the Mscan showed that my gallbladder is dysfunctional and its capacity is only 16%.
Have you any experience or heard of if a cleansing ever has helped in a situation like mine?
Dina-Marie says
Jessica, I don't know if the cleanse would help or not but you might think about the GAPS diet to help heal your digestive issues. If it were me and I were not having pain from my gallbladder, I would try to find ways to encourage its functioning before removal. My daughter-in-law has had online counseling from Biodynamic Wellness with wonderful results - they have recommended supplements that have helped her digestion while on the GAPS diet.