Relieving pain and supporting the natural discharge of small stones
By David Lee, L.Ac.
Herbal medicine is used to safely and painlessly discharge smaller gall and kidney stones.
Gallbladder stones are hardened, pebble-like deposits of digestive fluid (bile) that form in the gallbladder, ranging from sand-sized to golf ball-sized. They are primarily made of cholesterol or bilirubin. While often asymptomatic (“silent”), they can cause intense upper right abdomen pain (gallbladder attack) after meals if they block bile ducts.
The usual treatment for gallstones is surgery to remove the gallbladder altogether. Only removal of the gall stones may result in a possible abdominal infection and even blood infection called sepsis. That is why gall bladders are routinely removed.
As a natural home remedy, a combination of olive oil, lemon, apple cider vinegar, milk thistle, dandelion, artichoke, and peppermint is used. But it is a very painful process.
Kidney stones are hard objects made of minerals and salts in urine. They form inside the kidneys.
Kidney stone treatment involves, for small stones, passing them naturally through hydration (2–3 quarts of water daily) and pain management with medication like ibuprofen or tamsulosin (Flomax) to relax the ureter. This is also a very painful process.
Larger or stubborn stones often require non-invasive shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) or surgical removal via ureteroscopy.
Herbal medicine formula Shi Wei석위(石韋), Hai Jin Sha해금사(海金沙), Dan Shen단삼(丹蔘), Jin Qian Cao 금전초(金錢草), San Leng삼릉(三稜), and E Zhu아출(莪朮) are the key ingredients to help discharge the gall bladder and kidney stones.
The stones must be small enough to pass through the bile duct or ureter. A daily dosage of 12–15 grams of the combined herbal ingredients, taken three times per day, is recommended. This formula is often effective in reducing pain within a few days, which helps patients continue taking the medicine consistently for at least one month, and up to three months if necessary.
These herbal medicines are also effective in helping prevent infection. Eliminating pain and preventing infection are a definite advantage! In many cases, it may take up to three months for the stones to be fully discharged. If sludge is present in the gallbladder, it can often be cleared more easily with this treatment.
For additional efficacy in discharging the stones, Chuan Xiong 천궁(川芎) for Soeumin, Huang Bai 황백(黃柏) and Chai Hu 시호(柴胡) for Soyangin, and Ge Gen갈근(葛根) and Huang Qin 황금(黃芩) for Taeeumin will make it more comprehensive.
Even if the stones are not completely eliminated, patients can often live relatively comfortably with minimal pain. The gallbladder may cause only minor discomfort, even when regular meals occasionally include oily or triggering foods. Likewise, kidney pain may subside for several months, with spasms occurring only infrequently and with much lower intensity.
In many cases, herbal medicine can be tried before considering surgery. If a conservative treatment with herbal medicine successfully facilitates the discharge of the stones, it may eliminate the need to resort to an invasive surgical procedure.
