Surgery is not the only method to remove gallstones from the body. For some natural ways to flush them out, scroll below.
When your bile is not flushed out from your gallbladder properly, it crystallizes and forms hard, stone-like crystals, called gallstones. The size and amount of gallstones vary from person to person. You can have just a few, or maybe hundreds. They can be small and grainy, or the size of a golf ball. The causes of gallstones are varied and their symptoms are not always apparent. Pain in the abdomen and back is observed and some people may have these stones, but not feel anything. While surgical removal is a standard treatment, certain home remedies exist that can naturally flush them out. Read on, to learn steps and techniques, on how to flush gallstones naturally.
Natural Ways to Flush Out Gallstones
Detox & Cleanses
A cleansing juice or mixture can help flush the gallstones, or at least soften them for easy passing. Natural ingredients like grapefruit, lemons and extra virgin olive oil, are used in most cleanses. Even if you do not have gallstones, you should perform a liver and gallbladder cleanse at least once a year, to flush out toxins. Apple and citrus foods help flush these stones naturally. Drink apple juice (unsweetened, preferably homemade) for 2 days. On the second day, at night, mix 3 ounces of freshly squeezed lemon and 3 ounces of dark olive oil. Do not drink the mixture, all in one go. Every 15-20 minutes, drink a little, until it finishes. The next day, it will be possible for you to pass the stones.
Herbal Supplements
Various herbal and dietary supplements are used to flush toxins, and help get rid of gallstones naturally. Some of them are:
- Peppermint-oil supplements help in dissolving small gallstones and reducing nausea.
- Choleretic herbs are particularly useful and brewing them into a tea, is a good way of intake. They are turmeric, dandelion root, milk thistle (Silybum marianum), globe artichoke, Quebra Pedra and green tea.
- Lecithin, flaxseed oil, taurine, magnesium and vitamin C are other supplements. Some are found in foods as well.
- Oregon grape, concentrated mint oil capsules, rosemary, wild yam are some of the rarer herbal supplements.
A word of caution, you may be allergic or sensitive to some herbs, or if you are taking other medications, they might not interact well. Always take the prescribed dosage and consult a physician.
Diet & Nutrition
What you eat makes an impact on every part of your body. So why should the gallbladder be an exception? Diet tips on how to flush gallstones naturally are:
- Try to avoid eating packaged, canned or processed foods.
- Eat natural and organic food and food products, like raw leafy vegetables, instead of gravies and bakes.
- Cut down on cholesterol and fatty foods. Most gallstones are composed of cholesterol, so limiting your cholesterol intake, helps in prevention as well.
- Take in more fibers. Fibers help in flushing and digestion. Try to eat at least 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables. Eat a high-fiber cereal for breakfast, instead of some sugary mix.
- Drink coffee. 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day, help in reducing the risk, and flushing out existing gallstones.
- Drink water, a natural flusher of toxins and gallstones.
- Reduce your fat intake, to reduce weight, but not drastically. Some fat is needed for the gallbladder. Diet sensibly, don’t follow extreme dieting measures, like crash diets.
- Reduce the size of each meal, but eat more frequently. Eat small snacks or meals in the middle of the day, rather than hogging down at one meal.
- What to eat: Vegetables, fish (salmon, tuna), wine (½ a glass per day), legumes, nuts, oat bran, fruits, whole-grain breads, pastas, rice and grain products.
- What not to eat: Milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, hydrogenated oils, vegetable shortening, pastries, cakes, red meat, sausages, processed meats, hummus, creamy sauces (mayonnaise), gravy, guacamole.
Instead of going cold turkey on the above “not to eat foods”, find a compromise. Choose low-fat spreads and in less quantity. Bake, boil or steam, instead of frying. Dairy is good, when it’s low fat, skim milk, low fat cheeses, etc. Opt for healthy snacks, like granola bars, crackers and rice cakes. Skinless chicken and turkey breasts, or lean cuts of red meat are acceptable.
The above steps are all alternative and should not be used as a substitute for actual medications and help. Please consult a physician or doctor, before trying out any home remedies. Gallstones are an example of unhealthy buildups in the body, and is your body’s way of warning you about its functioning.
