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.
Stewart Johnson says
A Gentle Version:
Mix 4 Ounces Olive Oil With 3 Ounces Each Of Grapefruit And Lemon Juices And Drink Midmorning 4 Or 5 days In A Row. you'll Know You Are Finished When You Feel Sick (But Not Like You Might DiE). That's The Last day.
Dina-Marie says
Never heard of this - maybe someone else has had experience with it - did you pass any gallstones?
Lesley says
Here is a recipe from Sat Dharam Kaur, ND (The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women's Health): She advises NOT to do the cleanse if you are pregnant, have liver disease, if gallbladder is non functional, if you have large stones, or if you are very overweight. I have also heard of a woman doing the cleanse with large stones and ending up in ER. You can also apply castor oil packs to the area to soften the stones. For intolerance to apple juice such as candida, diabetes, hypoglycemia and ulcers, Andreas Moritz suggests cranberry juice or Gold coin Grass to soften the stones or 1/2 to 1 tsp powdered malic acid taken with 4-6 8oz glasses of water as a substitute for 32 oz of apple juice per day.
1. For 5 days before, drink 6 cups organic apple juice daily, and take 2 TBS of olive oil daily. Avoid all other fatty foods, nuts and oils. Drink 2 liters or quarts of water daily. Eat veggies, grains and legumes.
2. Two days before, take 200 mg of mag citrate 3x daily and Dioscorea (wild yam) tincture 30 drops 3x daily. (prevents spasms in the duct)
3. On day 6, take either 1 TBSp of disodium phosphate OR epsom salts in 1/2 c warm water after lunch. Repeat 2 hours later. For dinner, have 2 cups freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Before bed, drink 1/2 c extra virgin olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon or grapefruit juice. Drink standing up.
4. Go immediately to bed and lie on your right side with your right knee pulled up to your chest. The sooner you lie down the more stones will come out. If any cramping occurs, take 30 drops of the Diosccorea tincture.
5. The next morning take 1 Tbsp disodium phosphate or Epsom salts in 3/4 c warm water between 6-7 am. Repeat 2 hours later. In another 2 hours, you can eat, begining with fruit, then vegetables and grains. Later in the day, you can expect loose stools and look for small pea stones or tan stones floating in the toilet. you may feel a little unwell for a day or two after. Repeat in 2 weeks if needed.
Sorry for the long post! Great to see so many who have tried the cleanse, now perhaps my fear will be quelled and I will take the big step!
Dina-Marie says
Very similar except I think my version is a bit simpler and I know it works in its simplicity! No problem about the long post, it is good for people to have options. It is a big step to take - good luck!
Rebecca says
I am considering doing this cleanse but am very, very nervous. I have other issues with low blood pressure. Any ideas on how this cleanse affects blood pressure or any ideas on how I could find out?
Dina-Marie says
Rebecca, I am sorry and wish I did know but I do not.
Gloria says
Sunday 21, 2013
I am 65 and for the last 4 weeks have had pain under right rib. A friend had told me about cleanse so I did it yesterday. Did not eat yesterday and at 4 I starting the mixture every 15 minutes. I had placed in a blender 1 pint of olive oil with half a pint of lemon juice and a ounce or so of pineapple juice for taste. Mixed this and drank 2 ounces every 15 minutes. Did not get sick and Sunday morning passed 25 to 30 pea shaped green stones 3 different times. It is now 8:35 and the upper right quadrant pain is gone. Since the gall bladder is only 3 or 4 inches where are all these stones coming from?
Dina-Marie says
Gloria, it is amazing how many you can pass! When I have done the cleanse preventatively, there has not been as many stones passes. But when pain is the incentive to do it, I have passed a lot of stones - I think the gallbladder just gets so congested and filled with stones and we are signaled with pain. Glad it helped so much!
jen says
Can the olive oil be replaced with coconut oil? I'm allergic. Thanks!
Dina-Marie says
Yes, Jen, the point of the oil is to flush the gallbladder so I think coconut oil would work fine.
Glenn says
Hey Dina-Marie... Thanks for your commitment to this site and the information. Very much appreciated. I'm just at the end of a gall bladder attack that had me up at 0230hrs... I was getting dressed to go to the Emergency Room when I finally got some relief. I've been having problems with gallbladder for 3 years now and I DO NOT want to have surgery. I greatly appreciate the information and posts you have put here. Please keep the information and posts coming. Wishing everyone a pain free day!!
Dina-Marie says
Glenn, I am so sorry to hear about your attack - I know how painful it can be and am thankful you feel better!
Sonja says
SO thankful for your post. My 17 year old son had vomited on Tuesday, then seemed just fine except for very little appetite. He threw up again on Friday with very bad stomach pains. I decided to take him to the doctor to see what they thought. His usual doctor does not work Fridays, so we saw the one doctor available. She said it is probably just a virus and wrote a prescription for an anti-nausea medicine (which I did not fill as I figure it would just treat the symptom...but not remove the problem. Besides I bought/gave him Mylanta ...which helped temporarily--but only temporarily).
In November of 2012, he was diagnosed as having kidney stones, and the ultrasound revealed he also has gall stones. (So strange as there is no family history of this, and he eats a well-balanced diet most of the time!) The strange coming and going of the vomiting, the fact we are all eating the same foods at meals, and the fact I finished off his sandwich for lunch on Wed. and did not get sick, led me to believe he must be having gall stone troubles rather than a virus.
I had him fast from 2PM onward yesterday, did the recommended treatment last night, and followed up with one Epson salt-water this morning (which made him throw up a little...so perhaps it is best to not drink this epson water in the morning). He has passed about 60 stones as of 9AM ("uncomfortable but not painful" he says, and I'm looking forward to his feeling like himself again soon!! Thank you, Dina-Marie
Dina-Marie says
Sonja, I am so thankful he is better! I know the pain which causes the vomiting and it is not fun! I have not take the Epson salt in the morning so not sure about that but I did do another cleanse in a month which did not and although I did not pass nearly as many I did pass some so that might be helpful to him or at least at the beginning of further discomfort. I have also had kidney stones (like my father) but there is no history of gallstones in my family either!
olivia says
I have had pain for nearly 13 years. I cant get a diagnosis. SO far, US has turned up nothing and I will not do the radioactive dye.. ..But it is classic, pain under the sternum, slightly to the right,worsens after fatty foods, horrible bloating, pain radiates to upper part of back or shoulder blades, stool is light colored and floats. I tried the flush a few years ago. I became so sick from it that it took days to get over it. I could not even finish the flush, unfortunately. HAs anyone else had this response? The nausea was unbelievable.
Also, I have heard other people (other than Dan) and websites say that it is impossible to pass these stones this way and what people are seeing is the olive oil forming into little "soap" balls. I have no idea as I am not a doctor what is going on but I also know that the surgery to remove GB is BIG business so ther is a reason to make this flush look like nonsense . Has anyone had an Ultrasound and seen the stones and then had another US after the flush and they are gone? Or has anyone who does not have stones tried the flush and found the green balls, anyway.
Sorry, lots of questions. I want to try it again as I am in so much pain this week (attack) but I am scared of how painful and gross it was the last time I tried it.
THanks for your site. It is a great resource and easy to follow.
Olivia
Julie says
Hi, just a word of truth to the skeptics. 13 years ago I was at a wedding reception and ate a few pieces of cheese. Within 20 min I was doubled over in pain. I ended up in the ER that night, 6 weeks pregnant and unable to run any tests. They did assess as a gallbladder blockage and I spent the rest of my pregnancy eating tuna and very little of anything else. Determined to not have surgery I tried this cleanse (several months after delivering) and passed numerous large and small stones. I had told my Dr I was doing it and he told me not to bother it wouldn't work. I told him I had done it and was very successful. He said it must have been something left over in my intestines. He asked me to bring a sample if I did it again and he would have them tested to prove it was not gallstones. So I did it a month later to prove him wrong. I collected a sample (it's not a nasty diarrhea type cleanse) and took them to my doc. He was amazed! He said they looked just like what his medical journals said and he even had them send off to a lab. yep, gallstones. I did eventually give up the fight and have surgery 2 years later but wish I never did. It has taken me 10 years to get my system right so that I don't have to go to the bathroom every time I open my mouth to eat ANYTHING.
Here I am now getting the "recipe" for my husband to do this weekend. He goes for an ultrasound tomorrow to see if his pain is from a stone(s). We are pretty sure with his symptoms. We already eat very low fat and very healthy so I am not sure there is much more we can do there. We'll see how this works on a different family member. He has already begun drinking apple juice with apple cider vinegar to reduce the pain and inflammation and that is helping.
Thanks for posting the recipe, it sure helps!
Dina-Marie says
Julie, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to the skeptics. My Dr. was encouraging that this cleanse would work and suggested that I also get a sample and have the stones analyzed - I never did. So, I really appreciate your comment and hope your husband will also find relief!
Michelle says
I had a gallbladder attack for the first time a few months ago. I recently had an U/S done and found out I had "small shadowing gallstones". I'm not exactly sure what that means and if they would be small enough to pass if I did the gallbladder cleanse. My GI dr said that he had no intentions on removing my gallbladder untill he knew how my gallbladder was functioning. The HIDA scan came back showing that it is functioning at 14%, not exactly the result I was hoping for. Has anyone ever completed this cleanse knowing they have gallstones and their gallbladder function is low? I am never in pain and have not had any attacks since that 1 incident about 5 months ago.
Dina-Marie says
Michelle, hopefully someone will be able to help you with this - I am sorry that I do not know.