Ask the ND: Getting Rid of Gallbladder Sludge and Stones Naturally
Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Check out the updated version of this blog from 2021 here!
Are you experiencing gallbladder issues even after diet adjustments? The issue could lie in a sludgy or stone-ridden gallbladder. Thankfully, Naturopathic Doctor* Amy Neuzil has several natural tips to flushing and rebooting the gallbladder for maximum digestive function!
The key to getting rid of sludge and stones is to do these four things at the same time:
- Increase bile production – Stimulate your liver production of bile or actually take bile salts to make sure that lots of bile is flowing through the gallbladder and intestines.
- Liquify and move the bile – Keep the bile liquid and moving quickly so it can start to wash out the pre-existing sludge and stones.
- Shrink the stones – If there are stones there, then we have to make them smaller so that they wash out easily. If you suspect stones, I would suggest making an appointment with your doctor to see how many there are and how big they are.
- Dump the bile – Once bile gets dumped into your intestines it’s out of the gallbladder, but many times we reabsorb that same bile from our intestines to use again, because we’re just hoarders by nature. In this scenario you have to make sure as much bile as possible is actually leaving your body.
Increasing Bile Production – Choleretic
Increasing the amount of bile produced will help your body flush out gallbladder sludge and stones. Substances that do this are called “choleretics” and fortunately there are some great options out there, and lots of them are foods. My favorite foods that increase bile production are artichokes – you can actually feel your saliva production increase when you eat them, and that same response is happening with bile. Young beet greens and possibly the beets themselves help too. Herbal bile flow stimulants include chamomile, chicory, blessed thistle and many of the bitter herbs. In terms of finding products, I love digestive bitters before each meal (right now I’m addicted to some from Urban Moonshine – their citrus bitters are the bomb!) Another great way to go is Standard Process A-F Betafood, which makes everything nice and simple, or Panplex 2-Phase from Integrative Therapeutics which is a strong digestive complex with ox bile in it.
Liquify and Move the Bile – Cholagogue
Cholagogues promote discharge of bile from the system – keeping it moving downward out of your liver and gallbladder and into your small intestines. In terms of naturally eliminating gallbladder sludge and stones, this is key! Again, all of your bitter foods will stimulate bile flow so adding raw bitter greens like arugula and some of the bitter lettuces or dandelion greens will help. In terms of supplements, the digestive bitters are a great idea here too, or liver support products. Some of my favorites include Milk Thistle from Gaia Herbs, Lipotropic Complex from Integrative Therapeutics, or Livaplex from Standard Process.
Shrink The Gallstones
Shrinking gallstones can be tricky naturally, just because we can’t actually break things up; we have to just slowly dissolve them from the surface. This is a long prospect. Essentially we need things that are acidic enough to leech calcium out of stones – but be careful because they’re usually also acidic enough to leach calcium out of your teeth, so rinse your mouth out with water after you take them so the acid doesn’t stay on your teeth. My favorites are Standard Process Phosfood liquid – it’s super sour but works great to start shrinking stones. Apple cider vinegar before meals is a great strategy too.
Dump The Bile
We want to prevent the bile that your body is dumping into your small intestines from being reabsorbed. This means binding it to something like fiber so that you can’t reabsorb it at all. Consume fiber a couple of times per day between meals (with lots of water to also help you flush things through). I really like Fiber Plus Powder from Orthomolecular because it’s a good blend of soluble and insoluble fiber and tastes great (apple cinnamon), plus it’s a high dose in every scoop.
Now hopefully you have a better understanding of what you’re trying to do when you’re cleaning out liver and gallbladder sludge and stones, but if you have any questions or comments, just leave them here and I’ll get back to you. The natural methods do work, but if a stone gets lodged in a duct then that is actually a medical emergency and requires emergency surgery, so go to the ER if you need to. Don’t worry – if that happens, you won’t miss it. It’s excruciating pain and often jaundice. Otherwise, naturally eliminating your gallbladder sludge and stones is a great way to go. In general, incorporating more of the gallbladder and liver-friendly foods into the diet would help almost everyone.
by Amy Neuzil, ND*. Amy is available for consultation at Peoples Wellness Center North. You can visit her blog for more wellness entries.
*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.
This is great information, Dr. Amy! Fiber, fiber, fiber!
My parents are doing a gallbladder cleanse… what do you think of those?
Hi Jen,
I think the gallbladder cleanses are wonderful if it’s the right time for that person, but I think it’s a good idea to start with a few months of a gallbladder protocol first. I have seen people end up in emergency surgery if their body tries to pass a stone that’s too big and I certainly don’t want that for anyone! But, if we know there aren’t big stones, but only sludge or small stones I think the cleanse can be a great way to get rid of everything and start fresh. I really like the instructions that we have in the book The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse by Andreas Moritz. It’s very thorough and gives clear instructions as well as the reasons why this could be important.
Best,
Dr. Amy
After doing a flush with few stones produced, I had a horrible skin eruption that caused me to go to an MD. Usually I can find a natural cure, but not for this. He is a holistic MD, so advised doing another GB flush (imagine that!). Second flush–No stones, and the skin eruption from ankle to knee is even worse. Seven weeks now. Splitting, red, itchy, and oozing skin. I drink green smoothie every a.m., salads, veggies, fish, very little grain or sugar. Biopsy showed not bacterial, viral, or yeast–I assume he means candida. Ultrasound showed no gall or liver stones, blood tests for liver and blood all good. I don’t eat bad fat because it causes bloating and gas due to long term low-fat diet (stupid in previous decades). What is this? Dr doesn’t know. Liver or GB sludge getting in bloodstream–is that possible?? Toxins from liver after flush? Thanks in advance for your help.
It can happen that detoxifying in any way will show up on the skin with some kind of rash, but this sounds pretty severe! There are a few things that could be happening including an allergy or sensitivity to something you were having a lot of during the flush, a toxic skin reaction (from toxins liberated during the flush), or something entirely different that happened to start at the same time. For something like this, my honest advice would be to work with a practitioner you really trust who can help you to solve the puzzle. If your current doctor doesn’t have any good solutions then Peoples has a variety of great practitioners including myself (an ND), acupuncturists, chiropractors, clinical nutritionists and many more. – Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND*
Thanks Dr. Amy. I appreciate the advice! Hopefully, something will work. Denise
“go to the ER if you need to. Don’t worry – if that happens, you won’t miss it”. Won’t miss what? Your gallbladder? Removing your gallbladder invites many serious problems to your body. There are times when it must be removed to save your life, but I don’t understand how you can say “Don’t worry…you won’t miss it”. Instead it would be helpful to reference precautions to follow and how to live healthily without a gallbladder.
Sorry for the confusion! You will most certainly miss your gallbladder and I don’t encourage unnecessary removals of any organ or body-part, ever. What I was trying to say (although apparently poorly) was that you won’t miss the symptoms of a medical emergency in which gallbladder removal is actually a life-saving procedure. If a stone gets lodged in one of the ducts it is excruciatingly painful, usually causes sweating, nausea, vomiting and is most frequently confused with a heart attack. In situations like this, the risk of not having the removal can be life-threatening because if the gallbladder becomes infected or bursts into the abdomen, it can create a very rapidly progressing form of sepsis, which can be fatal. But no – most people do miss their gallbladders when they’re gone. Sorry again for the confusion. – Dr. Amy
I do not have a gallbladder, but my ND out me on Phosfood for liver cleansing. Could you recommend something to relax/dilate the biliary ducts? I’ve heard that black radish is helpful for this.
Hi Libby – The best thing I know of to dilate the biliary ducts is actually magnesium. In more dramatic liver cleanses people will use epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) but it has a strong effect on the bowels as well so I prefer to use magnesium citrate dosed “to bowel tolerance” meaning the highest dose you can take without getting loose stools. – Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND*
Dear Dr.,
I am 79 yrs old, 5 ft 7 in tall, weight 65 kgs, fairly active physically, Indian Army pensioner, had undergone CABG durin 1997 and presently under treatment for OA & BHP since 2009.
Recently during April 2015, I had 2 attacks of severe pain in my upper abdomen right side just below the rib cage besides fever, at interval of 1 week, and had to be admitted in Army Hosp for complete investigation. Ultrasound & X-rays of abdomen revealed that GB had ” SLUDGE “. During my stay in Army Hosp I had high fever also ( with shivering ) and at the time of discharge from Hosp, I was advised that it needed surgery to be done to remove GB. I am reluctant to undergo surgery at this advanced age. The investigation report is copied as under–
O/E : vitals stable, no pallor / icterus. P/A – soft, tenderness in RT Hypochondriac / epigastrium. No organomegali. No guarding / rigidity. Bowel sounds present. DRE-Gd 1 Prostatomegaly / rest NAD.
Investigation : USG Abdomen – overdistended GB with Sludge. Wall thickness 5.5 mm and Prostatomegaly. CBC – Hb 13.0 / TLC – 12300 / INR – 1.08 / Plt 310000 / cumm / T Bil – 0.8 / Urea- 27.8 / Creat – 1.0 / ALP – 50.2 IU 1 / Amylase – 47.4 IU / 1.
May I request for suitable advice regarding-
a. What food items, I should avoid.
b. What food items I must consume so that ” Sludge” can be washed away gradually
c. What kind of Home Remedies I can take which will help in removal of ” Sludge ” from my GB.
d. Any medicines of Ayurvedic or Homeopathic nature I should take to help flushing out of ” Sludge ” from my GB.
e. Any other advice ???????
Shall appreciate response ASAP.
With warm regards,
Bhupal Singh
Hi Bhupal,
The pain you’ve described sounds like it’s due only to the sludge, but I”m concerned about the fever and shivering – that sounds more like infection. If those symptoms persist then I think your doctor needs to sort out that part before anything else because an untreated infection could be dangerous. The sludge will respond well to a gallbladder friendly diet – low fat, avoid difficult fats for your body to digest like fried foods and trans-fats or hydrogenated oils, lots of fruits and veggies and foods that will support your liver and increase bile production like artichoke, beets and dark green leafy vegetables. Also get plenty of water. There are supplement protocols to flush sludge out of your gallbladder, but it’s best if you work with a practitioner to use any of the supplement protocols because they can help to find the best one for your particular situation and make the protocol safe for you. Please do talk with your doctor if you have any more of the fever, chills or shivering though because that isn’t typically a consequence of the sludge. – Amy Neuzil, ND*
What is the difference between standard process Betafood vs A-F Betafood? I read somewhere that A-F was good for LIver gallbladder overall but Betafood was better for stones. Do you know?
The products are very similar, and both contain the betafood (which is actually an extract from young beets that helps stimulate liver and bile production). The A-F Betafood also has some of the nutritive extracts from cataplex A and cataplex F because those are often deficient in people who have had gallbladder sludge or stones. I tend to use the A-F Betafood more frequently because it seems like people start feeling better faster with it, but it’s hard to say which would actually dissolve stones more effectively. Also they have a specific protocol for gallstones that includes the A-F Betafood so I’d still start there. I hope this helps! – Amy Neuzil, ND*
Thank you for the article. I was so glad to find this with actual steps on what to do. I have not had any real pain, just some slight unforgettable feelings. My biggest thing is I have noticed a oily film in the toilet when I do a bowel movements. It makes sense with what you said about the gallbladder not functioning right and fats not digesting. Is this a symptom of sludge or stones?
Hi Dr. I just find out I’ve sludge on mine gallbladder, what can I do to pass the sludge, also what to eat to build up the bile salt. Thanks
Should i be having loose stools with af betafood? Im usually constipated.
I’m in need of help, as I don’t know how to proceed.
I’ve done about 7 liver flushes and they were really helpful, but I had a problem with this last one. Turns out since my last ultrasound I developed a 1.4 cm gallstone. Now I don’t feel it’s safe to flush. My doctor prescribed Ursidiol but I’m very sensitive to drugs and would rather dissolve it naturally if there’s any chance of doing that.
Have you heard of before and after ultrasounds that show that Phosfood liquid or apple cider vinegar will really dissolve stones?
Thanks!
I have a stone that is 1/2 inch. Is that to big to pass?
I have been having digestive issues since my lithotripsy surgery for a kidney stone two months ago.
I been having a feeling of fullness a loss appetite , excessive gas loud belching when i eat anything gas at bed time.,weight loss however i am without any pain, stomach or gallbladder . had a ultrasound the test found sludges and three stones which a 5 years ago with no problem,
I am feeling somewhat better less gas a burping , able to sleep at night without gas. Had a hida scan last Friday result show a sluggish gallbladder 19% rejection rate no bile ducts clogged . Was seen by a surgeon that recommend that i should have my gallbladder removed , that i do not really needed even thou i do not have any gallbladder pain! I am taking a wait and see approach for now.
Been having gallbladder symptoms for a week now and been told I have sludge. Its draining me as the pain is pretty constant and they have told me I should have my gallbladder out to avoid any future flare ups. I don’t really eat a lot of fatty foods, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke , I don’t do drugs but I probably do eat too much things like biscuits.
I have adjusted my diet and bought a load of fresh fruit and veg, am eating things like chicken and very lean red meat and started all that this week.
Issues is I am not seeing any difference yet and wonder how long it might take to settle down. My operation is scheduled for 3 weeks time and I really don’t want it due to other medical conditions.
Save your Gallbladder, it is important to have. BUT if you have large stones then it can be a danger. So lay off the bread (wheat…not good for you) Keep up with your (hopefully) organic veggies and fruits and make sure you use Kale because it is a great flush out for your gallbladder. Best to you.
I read an article about a gallbladder flush in which the individual said 370 small stones were flushed out along with alot of grit. Question: How does someone know the exact count and can determine “grit” was also removed? I assume the stones, grit and sludge are eliminated from your body during a bowel movement; am I correct? I have been doing apple cider vinegar and warm water drinks before meals. My #2 seems greasy oily and floats. Is that normal?
Hi..my mom is85 years old; she has gallstones; she’s taking Meds for :blood pressure; diabetes. Thr Dr won’t do a surgery because of her that and her age also. I wanna do a cleanse for gallstones .wich im working on i did some research;but the problem is she in severe shoulder pain!!is there anything to ease her pain at all.please help me. Thank you.
Is it right shoulder pain? That can be directly attributed to gallstones. She should stay away from dairy and eat more apples and apple juice. Are you familiar with Andrea Moritz’s gallbladder cleanse? https://www.truthseekerz.com/andreas.moritz.-.the.amazing.liver.cleanse.pdf
Of course she should consult her dr, but these things help me exist with my gallbladder and a lot less pain. I hope she finds relief.
how long should we be doing this natural cleanse??
What is your opinion on taking efa’s in the form of hempseed oil knowing that the gallbladder is compromised and is scheduled to be removed in 3 weeks? Should I stop taking the efa’s? Does the oil cause more of a sludge affect.
Hi, I have been swollen & in pain for 2 1/2 yrs.
I have done every test possible & even swallowed a pill camera, they still really don’t know what it is.
1) it could be caused by my bad dis functioning gallbladder. 1 1/2 yrs ago it was at 15% function as of 2 wks ago it’s 8% function.
I have sludge build up and they want to remove my gallbladder. They say there is no guarantee that will stop the pain.
2) they also think it might come from my hernia surgery & that the mesh could be clinging to the intestines/bowels. That’s another story.
Please help……is there anything I can do to remove sludge safely & to have a better % functioning gallbladder. By the way, i don’t have gallbladder pain in right side or nausea
natural medicines are the best option if it comes to dealing with
health ailments. We are providing some advices on how to have a disease free life
with organic medicines.
Hello fellow Amy,
A 6 months ago I started a keto diet with some co-workers. I experienced the typical week of flu like symptoms but then quickly fell into max ketosis. I really enjoyed the diet and food. I lost 1-3 pounds a week experienced more energy, better mood, more mentally alert, better skin and good sleep. I am 50 years old and have acid reflux which I treat twice daily to keep under control. After about 2 months I started having a lot of abdominal and chest pain. I thought I was having heart problems. Friends suggested it could be my gallbladder and stones. I stopped the high fat diet and after a month the symtoms cleared. I had never experienced issues with my gall bladder before so I read up on it. My symptoms matched perfectly with GB issues and stones. I do not have health insurance but I have seen naturopathic doctors in the past and prefer holistic remedies. My work schedule is crazy and I do better with supplements than maintaining a good diet. Since stopping the keto diet I have gained even more weight back. Is there anything I can do so that I can go back to my keto way of eating but maintain a healthy GB and Liver (and appendix and spleen). I don’t ever want to have to have surgery to remove any of my organs if there is something I can do to maintain them. My energy levels are poor and my immune system is shot. I really need to get my health back on track. I miss keto. Thank you for any assistance you can lend.
Oh Dear, I am on a Keto diet and I could not imagine going back to my old ways! If you are incorporating sugars back into your diet that is draining your energy and it will compromise your immune system plus feed cancer cells!! Also if you are now back to eating breads that can play a role in wrecking your tummy (gluten) YECKS!! What do you treat your acid reflex with? Have you tried organic (with the mother) apple cider vinegar? I have seen great results with this. Take about 1 tablespoon when you feel that acid reflex feeling and see what happens, it surly cannot hurt you! I wish you best health.
I been having dull pain in my left an right upper quadrant more so to the right i did a scan earlier on and it shows something of a sludge in the gallbladder, i try A-F beta food did not really work for me. I have a bottle of tge moonshine bitters can i take both of them? Thank you for your time.
I believe I have gallbladder sludge, I’m waiting on my test results of my ct scan & hida scan. I’m in a lot of pain daily, especially in my mid-back, Shoulder blades & it radiates to my chest & right/left sides of my ribs. I’m eating mainly whole foods of lean protein, (chicken/fish/turkey) fruits & veggies & some good fats such as olive oil/coconut oil. I’m thinking of getting a fibre supplement however most are made with rice & gluten. I have an allergy to both. Is there one you recommend to take that doesn’t have gluten or rice?
Oh yes yes yes!!! It is called Organic Whole Psyllium husks, so much better for you then the stuff you are taking, give it a go!
Oh sorry your not taking as of yet!! So really check out the Organic Whole Psyllium Husk!!
My teen was diagnosed with sludge and is symptomatic. They just want to watch her but I want to fix the problem not wait for it to get worse. How long do you recommend doing each of these steps?
Thank you for such a wonderful informative article on removing gallbladder sludge excetera. My brother is having a lot of trouble with his gallbladder now and is considering having it removed. I sent him the link to the site hopefully he will try these things before he goes to that extreme. What are your feelings on gallbladder removal. He had an x-ray and they did not mention stones but said it was full of sludge. Thank you in advance for your reply.
My gall bladder was removed 5 years ago. I have had back pain off and on since then which was attributed to what doctors thought were kidney stones, but never found one blocking or moving. Last November had back pain and a CT scan revealed enlarged hepatic duct. Doctors recommended an ERCP when they could not determine what was enlarging the duct. I had the procedure done and it set off a severe acute case of pancreatitis. I spent a week in the hospital to recover from that. In January the stent was removed with more sludge in the duct. A month ago I started having pain in my right upper quadrant and my back again. A recent CT has revealed that the bile duct is enlarged more than it was last November. The doctor is recommending another ERCP. I am very confused and worried. I was wondering first what could be causing the blockage again and if a liver/gallbladder flush could clear the sludge from the duct. Please if you have any advise I would love the help cause I don’t think constant ERCP’s are the answer and I have to get to the reason why this is happening so I can resolve this issue. Thank you
Great article! My stool tests have shown that I am not digesting fats well, so i had an US to determine, yes, there is sludge in the gallbladder. I don’t have pain, the main symptom is excessive gas. I am gluten and sugar free, eat a very pure diet of fish and veggies (lots of kale, arugula, etc), sometimes some turkey, occasional quinoa or mochi. Enjoy a paleo bread made with almond and flax meal. A little bit of sheep cheese. The gas occurs no matter what I eat, and even if the meal has no oil or ghee in it. i can have gas upon arising even before I drink hot water with apple cider vinegar. I’m super anxious about this, as I am a massage therapist, of course the anxiety no doubt makes the gas worse. Currently I am using Lipotropic complex and Li dan pian, may include SP A-F best food. I DO have a lot of fiber in my diet, including a smoothie with hemp and a fiber supplement. How long should it take for me to get results? I would so appreciate your help!! PS My bowels are “perfect” in color and shape, 2 a day.
I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver and sludge in my gallbladder. Would it be OK to take both Integrative Therapeutics – Panplex 2-Phase and Integrative Therapeutics – Lipotropic Complex. I have also purchased a citrus bitters.
can you drink high protein drinks, such as Premier Protein if you have sludge?
Hi Dr Amy,
Thanks for such an informative article. Shame on TX for not allowing ND’s. Such a disservice to the people. God bless you and keep you.
Natural Grandma
I went to the Emergency Room Lastnight was having pain and they did a Ultrasound. The Doctor came back and said that he seen some Sludge in my Gallbladder no Stones. So what can i take to help with the Sludge in my Gallbladder. This is the first time this has happened to me. Thank you for your Cooperation.
Amy, I do not have a gall bladder, but my dr.dsid they found sludge and gall stones in my bile duct and said by duct was dialated… recommended a ERCP….
Csn I not do this naturally!
I am 20 weeks pregnant and found out I have fatty liver and gallstones operation is the last thing I want to do. How can I dissolve these stones naturally in pregnancy and get my liver functioning better?