Surgery is the most common treatment for gallstones, hard deposits formed by cholesterol or bilirubin and calcium salts in your gallbladder. If you're considering a lime juice cleanse as an alternative remedy, discuss your plan with a qualified medical professional. Ingredients added to some cleanses could put you in a coma or kill you.
Unproven Alternative Remedy
A cleanse aimed at dissolving gallstones typically includes drinking a half cup or more of olive oil and a fruit juice, such as lime, lemon, grapefruit or apple juice. But no evidence suggests that the concoction will do anything more than give you diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upset, according to Dr. Michael Picco, an internist and gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic. He says that the theory that oil and juice will break up gallstones is not supported by reliable research.
Added Ingredients
Some recipes for gallbladder cleanses, generally attributed to various naturopathic doctors, suggest that you add herbs to the lime juice and olive oil. Do not add herbs to your cleanse mixture without researching their possible side effects. Some recipes also include Epsom salts, chemically known as magnesium sulphate. Do not ingest magnesium sulphate without discussing risks with your doctor. Overdoses can prove fatal.
Lime Oil
Lime oil, rather than lime juice and olive oil, is another alternative treatment for gallstones. Lime oil contains D-limonene, which can be extracted from the rinds of limes and other citrus fruits. A September 2007 article in “Alternative Medicine Review” highlighted D-limonene’s potential for dissolving gallstones. J. Sun, the article's author and a researcher at an Idaho diet supplement manufacturer, said that D-limonene dissolves cholesterol. Since D-limoenene can dissolve cholesterol in your bloodstream, it should also break up cholesterol-filled gallstones, according to Sun.
Treatment Options
Traditional treatment for gallstones includes shock wave therapy, oral medications and drugs injected directly into your gallbladder. These methods do not always work and, if successful, make take up to two years to dissolve your gallstones. Gallstones may return. Safe home remedies for treating symptoms of gallstones include exercising, eating less red meat and more fiber. If you choose surgery to remove your gallbladder, the procedure is minimally invasive, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If gallstones cause you extreme pain, fever or jaundice, seek immediate medical treatment. Gallstones may be blocking a gallbladder duct, a potentially life-threatening condition.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Gallbladder Cleanse: A 'Natural' Remedy for Gallstones?; Michael F. Picco; February 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gallbladder Disease; February 2010
- “Alternative Medicine Review”; D-Limonene: Safety and Clinical Applications; J. Sun; September 2007
- MedlinePlus: Laxative Overdose
- Cleveland Clinic: Gallstones -- Digestive Disease Institute Overview
Member Comments