Chinese Herbal Remedies for Gallstones

Gallstones develop from bile stored in the gallbladder. These pebble-like substances can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball, according to the National Institutes of Health. Gallstones primarily form as a result of hardening cholesterol, and one alternative to having the stones surgically removed is to pass them with the help of a Chinese herbal remedy.

Gold Coin Grass

• Also known as lysimachia, gold coin grass (GCG) is used by Chinese herbalists to treat gallstones. The passing of gallstones can be painful when successful, and often with larger stones they tend to get stuck. GCG is used to soften and crush the stones into tiny particles so they can be passed without incident, according to EasternHealingArts.com.

Chinese Bitters

• Chinese bitters is a common name for a blend of herbs used in a variety of health remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. The combination is typically gentian root (dragon gallbladder herb) and bupleurum root (hare's ear root) and is sometimes accompanied by the herb huang lian to extend the medicinal effects from the liver and gallbladder to the stomach and heart, according to DrShen.com. Chinese bitters maybe bought as whole herbs or powder to be dissolved in water, but this remedy typically calls for the tincture, which is an alcohol extract version.

Flushing the Stones

• According to WasternHealingArts.com, the flushing process begins by taking 1 tsp. of Chinese bitters each morning before breakfast for three weeks. Mix the bitters with water.

  For the following two weeks, begin taking 1 tbsp. of GCG each morning, a half hour before breakfast. This dosage should soften the gallstones and begin to break them up into a manageable size.

  Go back to the Chinese bitters for three more days, and then begin the flushing phase. Do not take GCG and Chinese bitters on the same day, as it may be too much for the liver and gallbladder to adjust to.

  The gallbladder flush phase suggested by SensibleHealth.com includes a diet of whole foods for one day. An hour before bedtime, drink a 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil mixed with a 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice on an empty stomach. Repeat every 15 minutes until 1 cup of oil and 1 cup of lemon juice has been ingested. Go to bed and lie on your right side immediately.

  The next morning, drink 4 cups of warm water with 2 tsp. of non-iodized sea salt and eat only soft-cooked vegetables and broth all day. Repeat the process for the next day if necessary. The stones should be passed sometime during the second day, according to SensibleHealth.com.