Last winter I suddenly got a very upset stomach while away at a volleyball tournament. I thought I had food poisoning but as it went on for weeks and weeks I was convinced I had something seriously wrong with me. When I finally went to see my naturopath weeks later, I was shocked to find out it was actually my gallbladder! It had flared up one time before but that time my symptoms were very different – indigestion, a feeling like I needed to burp, and mild stomach pain. This second time my stomach was constantly swirling and I had to stay close to home. Obviously, that is NO FUN.
My naturopath suggested I get on a fat-specific enzyme and put me on a few other supplements. Within 2 days of being on the enzyme, I was 100%! Lipase is the specific enzyme that helps you digest fat. I regularly take Terrazyme from doTERRA but three Terrazyme have only 1,200 FIP Lipase but ONE Lypo Gold has 15,000! If you eat a high-fat diet, please make sure you are taking an enzyme with high amounts of lipase.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, all my symptoms were back. This time the enzyme wasn’t helping. I did get a lot of relief from this blend of essential oils. These oils are great for supporting your gallbladder.
I also got a lot of comfort and relief from this blend (you can purchase oils here):
One of our chiropractors recommended taking bile salts called Cholacol from Standard Process. They worked wonders, once again I was feeling great?
But again my symptoms returned after I had c0vid. After dealing with feeling like crap for several weeks I knew it was time for a gallbladder cleanse. My naturopath recommended the cleanse before I had c0vid, but then I was so sick we gave my body several weeks to recover. But I had finally had enough and it was time to go for it.
***Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This is simply what I chose to do, I am not recommending you do it. I highly recommend seeing a functional medicine doctor or naturopath for guidance but many do this cleanse, or similar, on their own.
Gallbladder Cleanse
What you will need
- Lemons (ideally organic)
- Epsom salts
- Organic, unfiltered apple juice
- Lemon & Frankincense essential oils
- optional: Alpha Ortho Phos (my ND gave me this) This is homeopathic and helps break down the stones
For 3 days:
- Drink 16oz of Organic, unfiltered Apple Juice between breakfast and lunch, and then lunch and dinner OR Malic Acid capsules or tablets if you cannot do the sugar.
- Twice a day, take a capsule of 3-5 drops each of Lemon and Frankincense
- Eat low-fat, gentle whole foods that don’t flare your gallbladder
- (Note: Some cleanses have you do this for 6 days)
Gallbladder cleanse day 3:
- Finish the second glass of apple juice by 4 pm
- Do not eat after 6 pm
- At 6 pm dissolve 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts in warm water and add 4oz freshly squeezed lemon juice & drink
- 8 pm – repeat the above
- 10 pm – Use the restroom. Then mix 1/2 cup warm water, 1/2 cup organic, unfiltered virgin olive oil, 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice. Drink it all, standing by your bed, within 5 minutes.
- Immediately lay down on your right side in bed. Do not move for at least 20 minutes. It’s ideal you stay in bed for the night
Gallbladder cleanse day 4:
- At 6 am dissolve 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts in warm water again and add 4oz freshly squeezed lemon juice. I added water and stevia to taste.
- Repeat at 8 am
- You should begin to have bowel movements. They will be watery with gallstones that float.
- You need to rest today and stay upright, take it easy, eat light, low-fat, healthy foods
- Gallbladder stones range from yellow, to bright green to dark green. The light green ones are the new stones, dark green oes are old stones and the yellow ones are calcified. The more you get out the better!
How I felt:
I did not feel as bad as I expected. I was tired from not sleeping well because I was stressing with anticipation – but this gallbladder cleanse was not bad at all! Everyone will have their own experience, but I was thankful it was mild. I passed stones of all colors and sizes, most were small but I had a few larger ones (less than 1/2″). There was no pain at all.
I’m on day 5 and still passing stones – I didn’t expect that but “better out than in! right?? I’m tired today so taking it easy, eating gentle foods like bone broth, bananas, and rice, and resting when I can.
After your gallbladder cleanse:
Ease yourself back into eating whole foods and continue to keep it healthy, with only healthy fats like avocado and coconut oil. Continue to take supplements to support your liver and gallbladder.
You’ll actually want to REPEAT this monthly until you have two cleanses where no stones are seen. You can make the problem worse if you just cleanse once and leave it. You can learn more from this book. I haven’t read it but it’s where the cleanse originated and I’ve heard only great things about it. I plan to read it soon!
If you try this out, let me know how it goes. Remember, listen to your body and always adjust as needed (and for legal reasons: always consult your doctor)
Keeping your gallbladder healthy after you cleanse:
- Avoid unhealthy fats like seed oils, soy, and canola and stick to small amounts of healthy fats like avocado and coconut oil
- Continue to take a fat enzyme when you eat fatty meals and bile salts also if needed
- Apply my Healthy Gallbladder blend before and after eating and at any sign of discomfort
- Eat fiber daily – insoluble fiber is especially very important to keep the gallbladder and liver clean (Ill be taking doTERRA’s yummy-tasting fiber every night !)
- Eat your fruits and veggies! Apples are a great choice for their malic acid.
- Avoid refined carbs and fried foods
- Consider cutting gluten and dairy
- Enjoy your coffee and tea – caffeine may help avoid gallbladder attacks!
~ Rachel
Vicki George says
Hi Rachel, this is very interesting! I know you previously ate a keto diet, and I read a few of your blog posts on it. Are you no longer eating low carb/high fat/protein, because of the gall bladder issues? Do you feel the keto diet may have contributed to your gall bladder problems? I am currently eating low carb, and moderate fat/protein, but staying away from bad oils as much as possible, but I do eat meat and full fat dairy. I have never had any gallbladder issues, but wonder if it might flare at some point, because of the fat in my diet. That has always been in the back of my mind since I started low carb 2 yrs ago. I also take Terrazyme daily, but probably need more lipase, as you mentioned. What are your thoughts on keto and gallbladder?
Rachel (author) says
Hi Vicki! I do think keto contributed but only because 1) I didn’t take the correct enzyme and 2) I got lazy at the end about being super strict on healthy fats and allowed more unhealthy fats in. My mom and sister have both had gallbladder issues and neither did keto so likely a genetic component as well. Plus being female and over 40 are also top risk factors.
Rachel says
Hello! I was wondering how you are doing with all this now? Blessings