Do you have constant abdominal pain that seems to radiate to your back?

It’s possible that you have gallbladder pain.

This particular type of pain is commonly caused by gallstones.

According to Mayo Clinic, gallstones are hardened deposits that develop inside the gallbladder.

About 80 percent of gallstones are made of cholesterol but they can also be caused by too much bilirubin [1].

Try these highly effective home remedies for gallbladder pain that get to the root of the problem and ameliorate the pain.

Keep in mind that it’s a must to resolve this condition affecting your gallbladder before it worsens and results in complications.

READ MORE: 12 Effective Remedies to Get Rid of Gallstones

10 Natural Ways to Resolve Gallbladder Pain

1. Apple Cider Vinegar & Apple Juice

An apple a day keeps the doctor away would not have become a cliché if it weren’t true.

As you probably know, apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that keep a wide array of ailments at bay.

Some of the diseases that these fruits can ward off include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even some forms of cancer.

If you suffer from gallbladder pain, apples can also come to your rescue.

One of the quickest ways to relieve gallbladder pain is with apples, particularly apple juice and apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is naturally acidic, and thus, prevents the liver from producing cholesterol [2].

Apple juice, meanwhile, can effectively dissolve gallstones and ease gallbladder attack [3].

What You’ll Need:

• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 glass of apple juice

Recommended Directions:

• Mix apple cider vinegar with apple juice.
• Drink this concoction whenever you feel pain in your gallbladder.

READ MORE: 6 Tasty Ways You Can Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lose Those Extra Pounds

2. Carrot, Beetroot and Cucumber Juice

If you don’t like eating vegetables, gallbladder pain might finally change your mind (or appetite).

Up your intake of vegetables with the help of this juice made with carrot, beetroot and cucumber.

This combination has been found highly effective in combating pain in the gallbladder.

A beet root efficiently cleanses the liver and gallbladder [4].

A cucumber detoxifies the gallbladder while a carrot boosts the immune system with its high concentration of vitamin C [4, 5].

All these vegetables are good for your health, and at the same time, can help put an end to your pain and suffering.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 beetroot
• 1 carrot
• 1 cucumber
• Ice cubes

Recommended Directions:

• Squeeze juice from the beetroot, carrot and cucumber.
• Combine the three juices in a glass.
• Add ice cubes.
• Drink once a day to get rid of gallbladder pain.

3. Turmeric & Honey

Turmeric and honey seems like a powerful duo.

You’ve probably heard a number of times how turmeric is dubbed as the “queen of spices”, while honey is described as the “golden liquid”.

These nicknames have not been given without good reason.

Both herbal remedies are potent enough to resolve countless medical conditions, most of these have been proven scientifically.

In a 1992 study, it was reported that turmeric can lower cholesterol gallstones [6].

Turmeric’s active compound called curcumin helps the gallbladder flush out cholesterol [6].

Honey’s antiseptic properties can help fight the infection, and provide pain relief.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric

Recommended Directions:

• Mix honey and turmeric.
• Take this combination once a day.

READ MORE: How to Use Honey and Cinnamon for Cold

4. Lemon Juice

For many years, lemon juice has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments [7].

Limonin, an active compound in lemon juice, is said to dissolve cholesterol gallstones and finally stop gallbladder pain.

Another ingredient in lemon juice, pectin is known to lower cholesterol levels, and at the same time, reduce pain associated with gallstones [7].

This means that lemon juice is not just a reliable remedy, it is also an effective preventive measure.

Once you get rid of the gallstones, be sure to include this juice in your daily diet so you can prevent the condition from happening again.

What You’ll Need:

• 4 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 glass of warm water

Recommended Directions:

• Mix lemon juice and water.
• Drink once a day until pain subsides.

5. Pears

Like lemon, pears also contain pectin, which has been found to reduce cholesterol [7].

There’s good reason to believe that eating pears can surely help dissolve cholesterol gallstones.

A pear’s high dietary fiber content also aids in flushing out cholesterol before it forms into stones [8].

It doesn’t hurt either that pears are loaded with essential nutrients that benefit the health in more ways than one.

With plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein, pears can reduce the risk of many ailments including some types of cancer.

What You’ll Need:

• 3 pears, seeded and peeled

Recommended Directions:

• Slice pears into small pieces.
• Put pear slices in a pot of water.
• Put pot over medium heat.
• Cook for 20 minutes.
• Eat throughout the day.
• Do this for two weeks.

6. Psyllium

Psyllium is a form of soluble fiber typically used as a laxative [8].

This fiber, which is derived from the Plantago ovate herb, is often included in laxative products like Metamucil [8].

This herb is commonly found in India, but is now also being grown in other parts of the world [8].

It’s important to know however that its higher fiber content not only makes it a practical remedy for constipation, it is also a highly useful treatment for gallbladder pain thanks to its cholesterol-lowering properties [9].

Fiber promotes regular bowel movements as well as binds with cholesterol to prevent formation of gallstones.

Of course, this is just one of the many benefits that you’ll get from psyllium.

It can also lower blood sugar levels, and resolve hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome, among other ailments.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 tablespoon of psyllium powder
• 1 glass of water

Recommended Directions:

• Add psyllium powder to water.
• Drink mixture twice daily.
• Do this for one to two weeks until gallbladder pain disappears.

7. Peppermint

Most people know peppermint for its ability to freshen up the breath.

Some are aware that it’s an effective home remedy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Apart from being a helpful cure for halitosis and IBS, peppermint also works for pain caused by gallbladder stones.

In 2011, a team of researchers from the Shanghai Jiaotong University in China reported that peppermint oil can stimulate bile flow and reduce cholesterol levels [10].

This was determined after they conducted a bile secretion test in rats [10].

The total bile acids, bilirubin and cholesterol were measured after oral administration of peppermint oil, and positive results were gathered [10].

Its active ingredient called terpene has also been found to effectively soften gallstones [11].

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves
• 1 tablespoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

• Boil water in a pot.
• Add peppermint leaves.
• Remove pot from heat.
• Let it steep for three to five minutes.
• Stir in honey.
• Drink tea twice a day for four weeks.

8. Castor Oil

If you don’t have castor oil at home, it’s high time that you do.

This herbal remedy, which has been used for years, is a potent antifungal and antibacterial, among others.

It can be used to ward off many kinds of infections, and health issues.

Marion Institute reports about castor oil’s physiologic functions, which include stimulation of the gallbladder, among others.

A 2000 study verifies the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil, which makes it ideal for treating gallbladder pain [12].

Its main compound ricinoleic acid (RA) neutralizes inflammation and reduces pain [12].

The compound’s pain-relieving activities closely resemble those of capsaicin, the major component in chilli pepper [12].

After an 8-day clinical trial wherein castor oil and capsaicin were applied on pain- and inflammation-induced animal subjects, it was shown that both compounds exhibited remarkable results in terms of analgesia and inflammation inhibition [12].

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of castor oil
• 1 piece of cheesecloth

Recommended Directions:

• Warm castor oil in a pan over low heat.
• After a few minutes, remove pan from heat.
• Transfer oil to a bowl.
• Soak cheesecloth in the oil.
• Squeeze to rid of excess oil.
• Press cheesecloth gently on the right side of stomach.
• Wrap a plastic sheet around your stomach, keeping the cheesecloth in place.
• Put a heat pad over the plastic sheet for 30 minutes to one hour.
• Do this three times a week until pain disappears.

READ MORE: 8 Benefits of Castor Oil For Your Hair + How to Use It

9. Dandelion Root

A member of the Asteraceae plant family, dandelion originated in Europe, but is now being cultivated in other parts of the world [13].

Its parts are consumed as food and medicine in many countries [13].

That’s because it’s packed with phytochemicals that exhibit “diverse biological activities” that are useful in different aspects of the human health [13].

In Korean folk medicine, dandelion has been the go-to solution for low energy and poor immune system [14].

In Mexico and other countries, it is touted for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties [14].

As if all these are not enough, dandelion is also an excellent way to finally get rid of gallstones.

Dandelion root contains a compound called taraxacin, which prevents congestion in the liver, and promotes proper flow of bile [14].

The Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Poland, meanwhile, explains that kynurenic acid, a type of amino acid that’s abundant in dandelion also supports bile production [15].

Detoxification and proper metabolism of fat in the liver prevents formation of stones in the gallbladder.

In a 2010 study conducted by researchers from Italy, the efficacy of dandelion along with other herbs such as artichoke, rosemary and turmeric as treatment for gallbladder disorders was tested [16].

Findings reveal that turmeric, artichoke and dandelion exhibited the most remarkable properties in protecting the gallbladder [16].

This suggests that dandelion root should be employed as a home remedy for gallbladder pain.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried dandelion root
• 1 cup of hot water
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

• Add dried dandelion root to the water.
• Cover and let it steep for five to ten minutes.
• Add honey to sweeten the mixture.
• Drink this thrice a day for two weeks.

10. Milk Thistle

Did you know that it has been more than 2,000 years ago when milk thistle was first discovered as a potent herbal remedy?

This plant, which belongs to the same family as dandelion root, is native to the Mediterranean region.

The first time it was recognized for its healing powers was back in the 40 A.D. when Greek physician Dioscorides made a report about it.

It is named as such because of the milk-looking white liquid that is extracted from the plant’s leaves.

Both the leaves and seeds are commonly made into medicine, consumed in various forms—pill, tincture, tea, powder and so on.

It plays countless beneficial roles for our health—as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatic, demulcent, cholagogue, and galactogogue, among many others.

If you’re suffering from gallbladder pain, you can use milk thistle as it helps cure gallstones by promoting proper functioning of the liver [17].

It contains a flavonoid known as silymarin that stimulates production of bile [18].

An increase in bile has been found to be effective in getting rid of gallstones.

Moreover, it is also an efficient detoxifier, which helps in filtering and flushing out harmful toxins from the body.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 tablespoons of milk thistle seeds
• 4 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon of honey

Recommended Directions:

• Crush milk thistle seeds using a mortar and pestle.
• Add crushed seeds to a pot of water.
• Bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Let it steep for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Strain tea.
• Add honey.
• Drink this tea three times a day for one week.

Bottom Line

Gallbladder pain can cause you great stress and suffering.

It can hamper your daily activities, and even affect important aspects of your life such as family relationships and work.

End gallbladder pain with these helpful and practical techniques.

Most of these home remedies require ingredients that can be found in your home.

READ NEXT: 10 Home Remedies for Bladder Infections (that Really Work)!