How to Dissolve Gallstones

Medically reviewed by Michael Warner, MD

Last Updated: March 18, 2024 Approved

Experts agree that most people who have gallstones don't require treatment, but you may want to dissolve your gallstones if they're causing abdominal pain.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Gallstones develop in your gallbladder when cholesterol or bilirubin builds up in your bile, which helps your small intestine digest fatty foods. Research suggests that gallstones can range from about the size of a grain of sand to the size of a golf ball.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} If you're worried about gallstones, talk to your doctor to find out which treatment is best for your unique needs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Pursuing Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Download Article

1
Consider oral dissolution therapy. Your doctor may prescribe a course of ursodiol to dissolve your gallstones without surgery. These treatments are essentially bile acids in pill form. Ursodiol, in particular, is a popular treatment because it is one of the safest common drugs available.
- Oral dissolution therapy is most likely to be successful in treating small stones (less than 1.5 centimeters in diameter) with high cholesterol content. About 30 percent of gallbladder patients are candidates for this treatment.
- If you are suffering from pigment stones, you will likely need to pursue other treatment.
- Oral dissolution therapy is usually minimally successful and used only if the patient cannot undergo surgery. ^{[3]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  American Academy of Family Physicians
  Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities
  
  Go to source}
2
Pursue shock wave therapy. This therapy is often used in combination with oral dissolution therapy, although laparoscopic surgery is now so readily available that shock wave therapy is rarely performed today. This therapy, also called lithotripsy, uses sound waves to break gallstones into more easily dissolvable pieces.^{[4]
X
Trustworthy Source

Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source}
- This treatment works best on gallstones under 2 centimeters in diameter.^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source}
- Treatment will only be administered if your gallbladder is functioning normally. ^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Johns Hopkins Medicine
  Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital
  
  Go to source}
- This treatment is somewhat rare, as it is only available in a few locations.
Advertisement
Gallstones return in a majority of patients who pursue dissolution treatments. As a result, these treatments are no longer common. Typically they are used for patients who are physically unable to tolerate surgery.^{[7]
X
Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Exploring Alternative Remedies

Download Article

1
Treat your gallstones with plant terpenes. Scientific testing of a proprietary blend of plant-based compounds called Rowachol has produced encouraging results. A six-month course of treatment produced complete or partial dissolution of gallstones in 29 percent of a 27-patient research population.
- These plant terpenes appear to stimulate bile production by your liver and inhibit the formation of cholesterol crystals.
- Rowachol also enhanced the effectiveness of other solvent drugs.
2
Consider a gallbladder flush. Opinions differ regarding the efficacy of gallbladder cleanses and liver flushes. No scientific evidence exists that these treatments are effective^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}, but there are some anecdotal reports of success. Bear in mind that most of the “evidence” produced in your stool following a flush is not actually gallstone, but rather a byproduct of the treatment itself. That said, you may try various options:
- Fast 12 hours. Then, starting at 7 p.m., ingest 4 tablespoons of olive oil, followed by one tablespoon of lemon juice. Repeat every 15 minutes for a total of 8 treatment cycles.
- Alternatively, consume only apple and vegetable juice during the day. Then, around 5 or 6 p.m., ingest 18 milliliters of olive oil, followed by 9 milliliters of fresh lemon juice. Repeat every 15 minutes until you’ve consumed 8 ounces of olive oil.
- Gallbladder flushes often produce pain and diarrhea.
- By the next morning, you’ll typically pass soft green or brown spheres. Again, these are not usually gallstones, but rather the byproducts of the treatment.
This treatment may not eliminate existing gallstones, but it can ease spasms, increase your bile flow, and restore proper liver and gallbladder function.
4
Treat the symptoms of your gallbladder disease with herbs or homeopathic remedies. It’s important to note that these remedies will not eliminate your gallstones; rather, under the guidance of a trained professional they may mitigate your symptoms so you can better tolerate the stones already in your system.
- Green tea, milk thistle, globe artichoke, and turmeric can all support liver and gallbladder function. Again, consult a trained medical professional before undertaking a herbal regimen. Used improperly, these herbs may trigger a gallbladder attack or produce other unwanted side effects.
- Homeopathic remedies for gallstones include colocynthis, chelidonium, and lycopodium prepared in specific concentrations. Note that there is no evidence that homeopathy is effective.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Gallstones from Forming

Download Article

1
Follow dietary practices that have been demonstrated to prevent gallstones. A number of practices have been linked to lower incidence of gallbladder disease:
- Consume polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
- Eat plenty of fiber.
- Ingest caffeine as part of your daily diet.
- Follow a vegetarian diet.
- Avoid excessive intake of refined sugars such as sucrose and fructose.
- Some circumstantial evidence indicates eating large quantities of legumes can increase your incidence of contracting gallbladder disease.
- Consume a minimal quantities of alcohol.
- Consider eating several one-ounce servings per week of peanuts or other nuts. This has proven useful in studies involving female subjects, in particular.^{[9]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Harvard Medical School
  Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
  
  Go to source}
- Eat regularly; avoid skipping meals.^{[10]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
  Go to source}
Nutritional supplements containing vitamin C, soy lecithin, and iron have proven useful in preventing the development of gallstones.
Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of developing gallstones. While obesity is a risk factor for gallbladder disease, you’ll want to eliminate this risk factor slowly through careful weight loss. Slow, steady weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week is best.
Identifying and then avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions in your system can reduce your risk of developing gallstones.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Non surgical treatments for symptomatic gallstones are reserved for patients who decline or cannot tolerate surgery.

Thanks
Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones. If patients have gallstones and they are asymptomatic, very few doctors will provide any treatment.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 4