When the pain of a gallstone hits, it is one of the most debilitating conditions known to mankind. In severe cases, when gallstones create a blockage, surgery is often the only solution. For less severe cases, here are 15 remedies for how to get rid of gallstones that you’ll want to try. First, what are gallstones and what causes them?
Most gallstones are developed from undissolved cholesterol in your gallbladder, but there is another, less common, type caused from a buildup of bilirubin (a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown) in your gallbladder. Those most at risk for developing gallstones typically include women, people over the age of 40, people who are obese, people who lose weight to quickly, diabetics, people who are less active and those with a blood lipid profile of high triglycerides to low HDL cholesterol.
Our list of 15 remedies for how to get rid of gallstones in less-severe cases includes 5 lifestyle changes to help prevent them and 10 treatments to help get rid of them or ease the pain, but these are not all inclusive cures. In severe cases, it is still best to contact a health care professional.
15 Remedies for How to Get Rid of Gallstones in Less-Severe Cases
Find Alternatives to Certain Medications
One of the first remedies for how to get rid of gallstones includes changing or finding alternatives to certain medications if you’re at risk for gallstones.
What to do:
- Avoid the use of birth control pills if at all possible and make use of other birth control methods.
- Avoid taking hormone replacement medications and seek alternatives for boosting hormones naturally.
How it works:
Studies show that those already at risk for gallstones who take oral contraceptives or are on oral hormonal replacement medications significantly increase their risk of developing gallstones.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight is another lifestyle change that must be included in how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Develop a healthy eating lifestyle which keeps you from becoming obese.
- Avoid weight “yo-yoing,” in which your weight is regularly going up and down.
How it works:
Overweight or obese people tend to produce more cholesterol in their liver. A healthy body weight helps control cholesterol production and reduces the risk of developing gallstones.
Get Moderate Exercise
Another key lifestyle change essential for how to get rid of gallstones is moderate exercise.
What to do:
- Walk, cycle or swim between 30 and 60 minutes three to four times per week.
- You can also engage in moderate aerobic, cardio or strength workout 3 to 4 times weekly.
- Be certain you give yourself rest days between workouts and don’t overdo it.
How it works:
Those who are more active typically reduce their risk of developing gallstones. In addition to reducing that risk, moderate exercise can also be an integral part of maintaining a healthy body weight.
Avoid Fad Diets and Rapid Weight Loss Diets
Though maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding being overweight and obese increases your risk of gallstones, avoiding fad diets and rapid weight loss diets is also a necessary lifestyle change in how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Decrease your weight through a healthy eating lifestyle and moderate exercise instead of fad, crash or rapid weight loss diets.
- A safe objective is a steady weight decrease of ½ pound to 2 pounds per week.
How it works:
Those who lose more than three pounds per week on a rapid weight loss diet tend to be at a greater risk for electrolyte imbalances and other deficiencies which tend to support the development of gallstones.
Anti-inflammatory Diet
The final lifestyle change in how to get rid of gallstones is maintaining a healthy anti-inflammatory diet.
What to do:
- Dump highly processed foods, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, fried and trans fat foods.
- Eat foods with plenty of fiber, especially vegetables.
- Make use of olive, coconut, flax and hemp oils in cooking and eat healthy fats like avocados and nuts.
How it works:
An anti-inflammatory diet helps keep estrogen and inflammatory response hormones in balance. Additionally, healthy fats flush out toxins and reduce the effects of triglycerides in your body.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a major contributor in how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Thinly slice 2 Tbsp of turmeric root and boil it in water for 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea into a mug, add lemon and honey (to taste) and consume 2 to 3 times daily.
- You can also consume 1 tsp of powdered turmeric mixed in 8 oz. of warm milk a couple times a day.
How it works:
The compound, curcumin, found in turmeric is not only anti-inflammatory, a digestive aid and an anti-oxidant, but it also discourages gallstone development.
Vitamin C
Another remedy for how to get rid of gallstones is found in taking vitamin C.
What to do:
- Increase your intake of citrus, green leafy vegetables, bell peppers, and other foods and herbs that are high in Vitamin C.
- You can also take a vitamin C supplement of up to 2,000 mg daily.
How it works:
Besides being a great way to keep colds and flu at bay, research shows that higher levels of vitamin C can cut gallstone risks in half.
Lemon Juice
Consuming lemon juice is another method included in how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Combine the juice of one organic lemon with 1 Tbsp. of olive oil and consume 2 to 3 times a day.
- Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning and 20 to 30 minutes before each meal.
How it works:
Lemon juice has properties very similar to stomach acid and bile, and is therefore beneficial in helping dissolve cholesterol.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of those super remedies that are included in so many lists. It is also included in our remedies for how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar in an 8 oz. glass of apple juice can put a stop to gallstone pain in 15 minutes (in some cases).
- First thing each morning, mix 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp of lemon juice in 8 oz. of warm water. Repeat this on a daily basis.
How it works:
Acetic acid in apple cider vinegar inhibits cholesterol production in the liver and also helps to dissolve gallstones that have already formed.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a soothing remedy for how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Add one teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves to a cup of boiling water.
- Allow the tea to steep for five minutes before straining out the leaves.
- Add a teaspoon honey (if desired) and drink the warm tea twice daily, especially between meals to get the best results.
How it works:
Peppermint stimulates the production of bile and other digestive juices which help in digestion and breaking down cholesterol. Additionally, the compound terpene, found in peppermint helps to dissolve gallstones.
Essential Oil Mix
There is also a mixture of essential oils that are beneficial in how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Blend 3 drops each of rosemary oil, lime oil and lemon oil in 1 Tbsp of coconut or olive oil.
- Massage the oil mixture into your upper abdomen on the right side after awakening in the morning and before going to bed at night.
- Placing a warm compress over the area for 30 to 45 minutes will help enhance absorption.
How it works:
Lemon and lime oils are excellent cleansers and rosemary is an anti-stringent and digestive aid. The medium chain fatty acids of olive and coconut as carrier oils add to the efficiency of the other two essential oils.
Vegetable Juice
Eating your veggies when you’re focused on how to get rid of gallstones, but you can also drink them to speed up the process and make sure you get plenty of their essential nutrients.
What to do:
- Peel and chop 1 beetroot and 1 carrot and place them in a blender or juicer.
- Wash and slice 1 cucumber and add it to the blender as well.
- Strain the juice into a pitcher and add 8 oz. of water and 2 tsp of lemon juice.
- Drink once or twice daily.
- Adding turmeric, moringa or cilantro can enhance its potency.
How it works:
Carrots are a great source of vitamin C. Cucumbers are an excellent liver detoxifier. Beetroot is great in supporting liver and gallbladder function.
Dandelion
That pesky yellow flower on your lawn, dandelion, is one of the best remedies for how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp of dried dandelion leaves.
- Allow the tea to steep 5 minutes before straining out the leaves, adding a little honey and drinking.
- Drink a couple times a day.
How it works:
The taraxacin found in dandelions is one of the best compounds available for bile production and metabolizing fat in the liver.
Castor Oil
A blast from the past, castor oil, is another effective remedy in how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Soak cheesecloth in warm castor oil.
- Squeeze out the excess oil.
- Place the warm, oil-soaked cloth over the upper right abdomen.
- Place a warm compress over the cloth for 45 minutes.
- Repeat several times a day as needed for pain.
How it works:
Castor oil reduces inflammation and pain associated with gallstones and helps minimize the size and number of gallstones.
Wine
Believe it or not, a little bit of wine is another addition to our list of how to get rid of gallstones.
What to do:
- Consume ½ glass of wine to quickly reduce gallstone pain.
- Prevent gallstone development by drinking ½ glass of wine daily.
How it works:
Consuming wine has not only been shown to get rid of gallstone pain within 20 minutes (in some cases), but it also reduces the risk of gallstone development by 40 percent.
Wrapping It Up
The debilitating pain of gallstones makes them a serious matter when it comes to finding relief. The best remedy for how to get rid of gallstones is to prevent them through lifestyle and dietary changes, but when they hit, make use of one or more of our remedies in order to get some much needed relief.
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