3 Natural Remedies for Gallbladder Inflammation
Cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder that is commonly due to gallstones. Other more serious causes may be tumors or some infections. Therefore, medical treatment is absolutely necessary if you know or believe you suffer from one of these disorders. However, there are also some great natural remedies for gallbladder inflammation that complement medical treatment.
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3 Natural Remedies for Gallbladder Inflammation
In this article, learn about some interesting alternative remedies for gallbladder inflammation: lemon juice with olive oil, curcumin or milk thistle. Consuming these can aid treatment in milder cases of inflammation. However, it’s important to first and foremost consult your doctor before beginning any kind of treatment.
What is cholecystitis?
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, an organ that sits under the liver and under the ribs on the right side of the body. It contains bile, a substance that the liver produces and that participates in the digestive process, specifically in the digestion of fats.
However, in some cases, gallstones can form and cause inflammation when bile builds up. This causes severe abdominal pain. In addition, these stones block the ducts, which can be dangerous if not treated in time.
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Risk factors
Although anyone can suffer from cholecystitis, there are some factors that increase the risk of suffering from this gallbladder condition. For example, older women are at greater risk. However, other factors can influence the development of gallbladder inflammation:
- Pregnancy.
- Hormone therapy.
- Obesity and sudden weight changes.
- Diabetes.
Natural remedies for gallbladder inflammation
1. Lemon juice and olive oil
A homemade concoction of olive oil and lemon can be beneficial for improving gallbladder and liver function.
First, one of the simplest and cheapest natural remedies for gallbladder inflammation is lemon juice. Ancient treatments included this citrus fruit to dissolve gallstones, in some cases combined with other medicinal ingredients, such as olive oil.
Information on how to clean the liver and gallbladder with citrus fruits, olive oil, and magnesium salts can be found on some websites. However, this treatment carries certain health risks so you should not undertake it without medical supervision.
To take advantage of this in a healthy way, take a tablespoon of olive oil mixed with a tablespoon of lemon oil on an empty stomach every day. By doing this, you will facilitate the liver and gallbladder function in a gentle and natural way.
2. Curcumin supplement
Studies show that taking an oral curcumin supplement can be effective for the treatment of cholecystitis. The main ingredient in this supplement is turmeric, a natural anti-inflammatory.
Although more research is necessary for these types of treatments, it seems that curcumin can stimulate gallbladder contraction. This would help reduce gallstone formation and also facilitate the expulsion of existing stones.
In addition, this supplement has the benefit of not having any side effects, even with prolonged use. However, medical supervision is recommended to make a diagnosis, follow-up, and determine the appropriate dose.
3. Milk thistle
Milk thistle is a natural remedy that has been used since ancient times thanks to the benefits for liver and gallbladder health. You can either drink it in an infusion or take supplements.
Milk thistle is a medicinal plant that stands out for its healing properties that help improve liver function. In addition, it might even help regenerate the tissues of this organ if it is damaged. In addition, milk thistle can also help clean the gallbladder and help you pass gallstones. Therefore, it’s very beneficial if you have cholecystitis as it’s a natural and easy remedy for gallbladder inflammation.
- You can either mix milk thistle into the drink of your choice or take a supplement in the form of a capsule or pill. You can even find its concentrated active substance, known as silymarin.
Am I suffering from gallbladder inflammation?
Finally, it is worth mentioning that if you are suffering from biliary colic, it’s very important that you consider following these tips:
- Avoid eating until the colic passes.
- Drink a lot of water. You can also drink unsweetened apple juice.
- When you start eating again, avoid fatty foods and foods that cause acidity.
In addition, you should see a doctor immediately if the pain is very intense, if you start to vomit, or if you have difficulty breathing. Also, pay attention to your urine: If it’s dark brown, see a doctor immediately. Additionally, if your eyes or skin appear yellowish, seek immediate medical attention.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Rasyid, A., & Lelo, A. (1999). The effect of curcumin and placebo on human gall-bladder function: An ultrasound study. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.1999.00464.x
- Abenavoli, L., Capasso, R., Milic, N., & Capasso, F. (2010). Milk thistle in liver diseases: Past, present, future. Phytotherapy Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3207
- Sun, J. (2007). D-limonene: Safety and clinical applications. Alternative Medicine Review.
- Gupta SC, Patchva S, Aggarwal BB. Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials. AAPS J. ;15(1):195–218. doi:10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8
- Gaby, A. R. (2009). Nutritional approaches to prevention and treatment of gallstones. Alternative Medicine Review.
