The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Shanti (Tiruvannamalai, Ta India) on 10/27/2011
★★★★★
I have to agree with Stephen from Baltimore. Laying prone, crawling, rolling, hanging upside down, writhing, moaning and crying do nothing to relieve the pain of gallbladder attacks unfortunately.
Epsom Salts are really the only thing that has any effect in my case. I take 2 large tablespoons with hot water. Normally I put the Epsom Salts in capsules so I don't gag taking them (I can't stand the taste). If I'm lucky, the pain will subside over the next 2 hours. It doesn't always work, but usually it does. Of course Epsom Salts not only relaxes bile ducts, it is a powerful laxative, so be prepared for an obvious side effect. It's better than having gallbladder pain though!
Lavender Oil
Posted by Sherry (Kalso, Bc Canada) on 02/13/2011
★★★★★
Hi I wanted to say thanks for this suggestion. I have recently started having attacks and found out I have gall bladder sludge. I checked out this site and found the lavender oil to be something I could both afford and consume without gagging. I am amazed!! It really has cut the attacks and pain down to almost nothing!! I put a drop in a large glass of water and just sip it all the time!! An extra benefit has been the freshest breath of all time! Thanks again for a great idea :)
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Shanti (Bangkok, Thailand) on 12/25/2009
Ej, Hopefully you are feeling better by now, but I thought I would say what works for me. I have been having Gallbladder attacks several times a month for over 15 years. I won't go into the list of things I have done long term that have helped right now, but what definitely helps me when an attack is taking place is Epsom Salts. It is the most vile tasting stuff on Earth, so I put it in capsules and take at least 5, sometimes up to 20, depending on the severity of the attack. I am pretty sensitive by now to how much I need to take. It helps for sure. It also causes the runs, but it's MORE than worth it! It doesn't always work quickly (sometimes it does), but always eventually. The Epsom Salts allows the bile ducts to relax. I am like you, no stones come up on multiple tests and no other issues either, though I have done well over 50 liver flushes and got multiple stones and other CRAZY stuff out of my liver/gallbladder over the years (including parasites). All this has been part of what has worked for me. Now that I am posting I will also say that there is an Amazonian herb called Stonebreaker (Phyllanthus niruri) which is supposed to heal the gallbladder and help remove stones. It has had amazing success rates in studies. I ordered some of this and took it (about a table spoon of powdered herb) during attacks and it definitely seemed to help! This is not the prescribed way to use it. You are meant to use it long term, but I went overseas and didn't take it with me, so I can't report on its long term effects. I will do it again when I get back.
Over the years the severity of my attacks has reduced very substantially... I rarely have an attack these days that has me begging for death, but that used to be very frequent a few years ago.
ACV sometimes helps me a little bit, but not enough to write home about (during an attack). Hot tea with lots of honey is a great help always, if only to calm me down. I sometimes drink litres of this during an attack.
Here are a few other things that have helped during bad attacks:
- enemas
- charcoal
- magnesium tablets (from the pharmacy)
- HOT HOT baths
- massage of area and the same area on the back
- doing a Hulda Clark liver flush during the attack sometimes releases the spasm
- sugar seems to help so sometimes I eat cough lollies if I don't have honey on hand to put in herbal tea.
- hot coffee sometimes can help (I have had no luck with coffee enemas during an attack)
- lying on a very hot surface or using hot water bottles front and back.
- Sounds silly, but sometimes TV is a great distraction during an attack. I don't normally watch it at all, but during an attack the distraction can help the relaxing of the gallbladder area in my experience.
- lying on my left side so the gallbladder can drain is less painful than on the right side normally.
- I used to have a yoga teacher who could stop an attack in its tracks with some very skillful manipulation/massage. It took him about 5 minutes to release the spasm and I was all good! :) Sorry I don't have his details anymore.
I have tried the flax remedy above with no luck, but I know many have benefited from it. Flax tends to make my gallbladder flare up more, whether it's oil or gel or seeds/flour. But that's only me perhaps.
I hope some of this helps. I know the desperation of a bad GB attack and would have loved to have known all this 15 years ago.
I wish you all the best!
Flax Seeds
Posted by George (Middlesex) on 02/20/2023
Well I bought flax seeds to use after having my gallbladder removed, pity I only found out now, as I was wondering no coffee after surgery, apple juice is fine but not from concentrate, so the dilemma goes on what to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink, but I did ask Google so I'll give it a bash, hope this reaches as I see most comments come from the states, this is a reply from the UK so thanks for the input, yes hospitalised twice with a Flare up of the gallbladder, hope other people take time to read the post you ladies have put on Google.
Many Thanks
George
Celery and Mint Leaves, Lemon Juice
Posted by Rossana (Toronto, Ontario, Cnada) on 07/01/2009
★★★★★
For gallbladder attacks, or when you feel it coming, boil water and in a 250ml cup add fresh celery leaves, mint leaves and 1/2 lemon juice and drink it gradually. This may cut down the pain from regularly 3 hours to 1 hour. I have been scheduled for surgery in August and had been using this as backup.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Lettuce
Posted by Eleana (Sweeden) on 03/22/2021
Do you know why? Why lettuce can make it worse? I eat a lot of veggies with lettuce - we just call it lettuce - It is mainly spinach and red cabbage and ruccula - which should be good because of the bitterness.
Orange Juice
Posted by La Saundra (Montgomery, AL) on 08/11/2006
★★★★★
At the first sign of a gall bladder attack/Biliary Colic, I run for the orange juice or an orange. Every cholestoral Rx I've been prescribed, so far, causes my attacks!
Chanca Piedra
Posted by mmsg (somewhere, europe) on 10/15/2023
Bill, or anyone else, would you know if chanca piedra would remove or minimize gallbladder polyps?
Chanca Piedra
Posted by M (Uk) on 08/31/2025
Dear Lynda,
So sorry to hear about your son. You might consider looking into spooky2 rise machines and their forums/website. There are kind people there also with knowledge of supportive suggestions also including use of the ride frequency generators. These are not a scam, plenty of testimonials from real people who have found health and healing.
In kindness
Peppermint Essential Oil, ACV
Posted by KB (Western Australia) on 06/20/2022
★★★★★
On the body over the pain area, rub peppermint essential oil to move the gallstones from the outside. It will penetrate into the body and help move the stones. I did this along with taking freshly juiced green apple juice and apple cider vinegar. Worked a treat.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Karen (Arkansas ) on 11/17/2018
Thank you so much. I will try the lecithin to keep on hand. I'm just 6 days from surgery, and eating moderately..so far-so good. No digestion problem yet, just getting all the poisons out of system from all the drugs from the surgery.
Tim's Gallbladder Protocol
Posted by Timh (KY) on 03/18/2015 2042 posts
ORH
I am constantly musing about you and your situation as it has many parallels to my own. This internet forum just linked us up whether or not or how much we enjoy it. I, like most people, especially folks here, suffer from personal pain and it effects our overall constitution; so by your admission I will place more emphasis on ridding the cynicism.
As for the gallbladder, the presence of gallstones can cause many problems, including: indigestion, esophageal reflux, acidosis, constipation, heart arrhytmia, to mention a few. Another interesting note, gallstones can cause fatty liver and visa versa, so one needs to address both. I have chronic fatty liver which requires periodic gallstone treatment. For fatty liver I take lots of b-vits, Carnitine, Methionine, TMG, and Triple Strength Lecithin. Two or three days without Methionine and I grind down to barely functional. Tonight I have realized that I must also get back (3-5 yr break) on the Choline/Inositol (it's on my get list now). These fat burning nutrients are a must for gallstone & fatty liver prevention.
Now, for gallstones themselves, I must admit that I have not the energy & stamina to do a 2 or 3 day cleanse, fortunately consuming Menthol cough drops (usually 6 drops twice a day about once or twice per month) seems to work fairly well; I can feel things opening up and get some needed relief. I have also stumbled upon another treatment that also uses Menthol plus Eucalyptus, and Camphor in the form of Solonpas adhesive strips. In an attempt to eradicate likely Tapeworm Cyst in my liver ( I have two in each cheek or jaw area which is common in cattle and named "bovine measles". Also many older cows gone to butcher have diseased livers full of Tapeworm cyst). Anyway I placed two stripes directly over the gall and took a foot spa. I literally felt the gall opening and heard that gurgle noise. Next night I placed two more strips over the liver this time w/ nothing to report except some bad side effects from the chemical fragrance in the strips. For this reason I do not advise using them, but do encourage the same ingredience found in many otc heat ointment, cream, or gel for sore muscles and joints. Make yourself a compress with a big dab of this heat gel placed directly over the gall. These ingredience (Camphor/Menthol/Eucalyptus) literally melt cholesterol gallstones. Try 1 treatment per day for at least three days.
Back to a personal observation, I, like yourself as you have reported, face event upon event of bad health challenges and some near death in nature. Out of nowhere something just knocks me down, I make necessary adjustments (treatments & remedies) and come back around, seeming like yourself. So, it is good that you are open about your situation and myself & others can lend a helping hand as you also do the same for others.
On a serious note, aside from your humor and with the odds seemingly stacked against us, from what I have been learning lately, it is best to not reincarnate fallowing our departure from this body & earth. It is advised to not sign on to any agreements from what appears to be angles but are really malevolent creatures with great sorcery power that will erase your mind of previous lives and throw you back to earth in servitude of their dark agenda (slavery planet).
My apologies for being overly serious, maybe I am agitated from learning a fellow classmate was found in the cold creek dead, after several days missing. He had confessed to relatives of suicide. They found his vehicle at a pretty country church by the river with an open Bible. I feel so bad that he needed some help but I was nowhere to be found.
Lavender Oil
Posted by Anna (Evans, CO) on 09/06/2014
★★★★★
Wow. After supper last night my sister had another severe gallbladder attack. We already ran out of pain pills and after $4000+ in urgent care bills she decided she didn't want to spend that much again just for acetaminophen. After searching the web we tried the Apple Cider Vinegar/Apple Juice mixture. After 3 minutes she threw it up sending her into worse pain then before. We tried the ACV and apple juice once before to try to help with the pain and she had the same reaction, vomiting and worse pain. Then we saw the one comment about 1 drop of PURE ESSENTIAL OIL OF LAVENDER IN A TALL GLASS OF WATER SIPPED SLOWLY BUT STEADILY. She said it tastes terribly bitter but Praise the Lord, within 5 minutes the pain level went from 10 down to 7 and she stopped shaking from the pain. Thank you so much Jim for sharing your discovery of this use for Lavender oil. I hope the ACV and apple juice works for those of your reading this, but if not please try the lavender oil. I'm so glad we did!
Pickle Juice
Posted by Francesca (London) on 07/09/2023
Trying to avoid fat (the staying slim thing), is a killer for the gallbladder. And slows down bowel movements too, making everything feel worse. A teaspoon of olive oil with my lunch salad or sandwich really sorts things out on the gallbladder/digestive front for me. Then I try to manage the fear of being "fat ":-/ I know....I also use artichoke capsules, peppermint tea and chamomile in case of spastic attacks which come on if I am anxious or repress stuff, or eat a little too much.
Pickle Juice
Posted by M girl (Md) on 10/13/2021
For Tanzie…..you might research chance piedra on this site
Flax Seeds
Posted by Kim (Louisville Ohio) on 05/31/2014
★★★★★
The flax seed tea worked so well, thank you!
Triggers
Posted by Rebecca (Co, US) on 04/14/2014
★★★★★
I found that my attacks were brought on my a combo of stress (huge!!!! ), not drinking enough water, and eating a large meal late in the evening with lots of salad and dairy fats, my favorite combo. Too hard to digest. Under advice of a naturopath I take lecithin, vitamin C, fish oil, and GB 6 which is a chinese herb blend. I ditched dairy and coffee and drink green tea, which is a calmative, and I have been symptom and pain free for a year. And, I'm healthier than I've been in ages. My GB was the canary in the coal mine for me. I find that stress really triggers spasms. If I feel spasms coming on, I sip a little cider vinegar in juice, and I take a percocet which my primary doc prescribed in case of attack. In addition to helping with the sudden onset of debilitating pain, it has muscle relaxing properties that can help calm the spasming before it gets full-blown.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Erika (Atlanta, Ga) on 03/20/2014
★★★★★
I came across this site when looking for feedback on something I discovered by accident. I too have to watch fats in my diet because of gallbladder pain.
Recently I began having plain yogurt in the mornings mixed with a little honey (for flavor). I have been amazed at the positive impact it has had on my digestion and my gallbladder. Hope this helps.
White Vinegar in Orange Juice
Posted by Elizabeth (Fenton Michigan) on 12/27/2013
★★★★★
OMG! My husband looked this up but I refused. About 1/2 hour ago I was ready to leave Disney to go to the ER. My son mixed 1 spoon full of white vinegar with some apple juice and my pain went from a 12 to a 6!!!! I'm on my second small glass and am able to type this. I'm absolutely flabbergasted!! I was ready to go to ER! I just can't believe it stopped excrutiating pain that quick. So, if you think you need this.... Please try! It really worked
White Vinegar in Orange Juice
Posted by Chad (Pennsylvania) on 06/21/2013
★★★★★
My wife had a severe attack and the pain was killing her she said worse than giving birth and we didn't have any apple juice or Apple Cider Vinegar and it was late so no stores were open but I did have two oranges and some white vinegar so I made her some fresh squeezed oj with white vinegar and within 5 minutes the pain was gone. It was absolutely amazing. Thanks for all the different posts, it was a life saver.
Apple Juice
Posted by Steve (Las Vegas) on 09/03/2013
For a severe gallbladder attack I have found that nothing works faster than a TBSP of epsom salt in an 8oz glass of warm water with a little of your favorite juice mixed in to make it taste better. Lie on your right side immediately after drinking with your legs pulled up. You should feel relief within 30min or less. Be sure a bathroon is never too far away because it will clean you out. A full liver/gallbladder cleanse is something you want to plan for soon. Recipes are on google.
Pickle Juice
Posted by Charity (faithville, Us) on 05/14/2022
Cody this is not much information to reply to. Ginger will soothe the gut and little lemon in water. If you are low on salt it can make you nauseas. If you are low bile from producing cortisol from stress~ you will not be able to digest food.
Not sure what you eat but certain foods need different things to break them down. Bromelain, papaya tabs, bile, Hydrochloric acid, microbes from Kefir, magnesium shortage will affect valve in esophagus, and it won't close.
Copper shortage can allow parasites to grow in stomach ~as can low acid. B vitamins are normally created in the gut but if you have an unhealthy gut, it may be hard to absorb a supplement, nutritional yeast is full of B vitamins. If this is auto immune, you may be low water and mineral balance may be off, creating histamine response. Stones are painful, chance Piedra nickname is stonebreaker. Baking soda can be taken ~ dose on box says how much for stomach and immune issues. The liver requires healthy fats to create bile to absorb food. Stress will stop digestion. Soy lecithin granules remove bad fats from organs and feed brain choline and inositol for memory. L taurine removes msg and helps our bodies recover from toxins. Hope you find solution.
I start most days with milk thistle and tall glass of water and end most days with a tall glass of water. Leave water out for an hour uncovered to dissipate chlorine. Sometimes relationships can cause nausea. Could be a bowel blockage in that case an enema or colace, store brand is less expensive. Virus can cause nausea- lysine and zinc. I usually hit any cold like problem with hydrogen peroxide on a q tip in each ear until the fizzle stops and then repeat.
That is a small list of things I have tried, depends on what is the root of the issue. Only you can know that.
Ted's Remedies, Digestive Problems (earthclinic.com)
Probiotics
Posted by Icia (Manila, Philippines) on 01/18/2012
★★★★★
I found out I had gallstones about 5 months ago. I had to change my lifestyle completely, as a teenager that sucks big time.
The doctor told me to take Buscopan (Over the counter med) when I get an attack, it works SOMETIMES. Its main job is to relax the gallbladder, but then since it is a tablet it takes a LONG time to work, sometimes it never does. :/
When I feel a bit full after a meal I immediately drink YAKULT (a probiotic drink), I dunno why but 90% of time I drink this, I don't get an attack whether I eat something a bit fatty. :) So I hope it works for others too!
Apple juice ACV: I will try this next time I get an attack!
Thank you! :) Hope it works for me! :)
Garden Greens
Posted by Lynn (Gulfport, Fl) on 12/21/2011
★★★★★
Having had horrible gall bladder and attendant reflux episodes, I read about dandelion greens and beets and beet greens. I had dandelion greens coming up all over my yard, and started picking/cooking them. I had let them grow, so they were tall stalks when grown. I would eat them every day, at least a small plate full. I cooked and ate beets and beet greens from the store and took herbs (nettle) in capsules. I felt better in two days, but kept it up for two weeks. That was a year ago. I am having some twinges now, and started back on the herbs and beets with saurkraut (I don't like drinking vinegar). The relief is instant, and water helps. Keep the fat in the diet low until the condition improves.
Garden Greens
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 06/06/2013
My mom used to cook dandelion greens and would add a little olive oil and lemon juice to make them taste better.
Ted's Lemon Bicarbonate Formula
Posted by Edlon (Memphis, Tn) on 04/02/2010
★★★★★
after going to the dr.s and being told my gall bladder needed to be removed i tried teds lemon bicarb cure and it worked for me! i used limes instead of lemons and used a 1/4 tsp of baking soda twice a day at first. now i take it once a day or every other day. my gall bladder attacks weren't s bad as i've read and heard about other folk's. anything is worth trying before letting the dr.s cut on you. am glad i found E.C. and ted's help. thanks for being here.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kelly (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 12/24/2009
To EJ from Middleborro, Ma (12/23/09) something that helped me lessen the pain of a gallbladder attack was to put 1 tbsp of flax seed in a pan w/ 2-1/2 c,of water and boil for 5 minutes. Then pour the top off(containing flax seed oil) and sip. I added a little cinnamon and truvia to taste. It really helped! Also, check out gallbladderattack.com for further info on diet changes. You don't need to grind the flax seed to get the oil out, just boil it for tea, or put a tbsp. of flax seed with a cup of water in a clear jar in the fridge and by morning the water(pure water) will have leached out the oil and will be ready to use( not for cooking). can be used on food as an addition(oatmeal salads,etc.) as a source of omega-3 fatty acids (as there is in fish). gallbladderattack.com has alot of good info for sufferers. they might be able to help you identify triggers as, they can be different from person to person. I felt like I was having a heart attack with mine. don't give up on a naturopath. Google your area and find another one. You may have just gotten one with an attitude (just what you need when you are sick huh.) I hope this helps. Many Blessings.
Flax Seeds
Posted by Jeanne (New York, NY) on 10/25/2009
Kelly's flax tea recipe caught my eye just in time. I just finished my first cup of flax seed tea after eating a very rich Indian dinner earlier tonight, which was starting to give me shooting gall bladder pain! I added half a cinnamon stick to the tea after it had boiled and a half teaspoon of blackstrap molasses since I don't like stevia's after-taste. Yummy! Too soon to tell if it has worked or not, but I think I will make a habit of drinking this regularly. My skin feels softer already. Thanks Kelly!
P.S. I did not grind the seeds before boiling them.
Ted's Lemon Bicarbonate Formula
Posted by Sandra (BD, WI) on 01/24/2008
★★★★★
I have tried Ted's lemon and baking soda mix (juice of 1 lemon and 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water)' morning and night for two days. I started with diarrhea and then due to pain in the upper right quadrant, started to think it might be related to gallbladder.(I was diagnosed with a slow emptying gall bladder) I think I may have disrupted by acid/base balance by over eating oranges and grapefruits around Christmas and then eating quite a bit of fruit as well. I do get some relief from the pain, but diarrhea is still with me for two plus weeks. I will stay with this treatment for a few more days.
