How to Treat or Cure Gallstones

Treatment depends on whether stones cause symptoms and whether there are complications.

Silent stones

Stones found by chance without symptoms usually need no treatment. Doctors advise healthy habits and prompt review if pain starts.

Stones that cause symptoms

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: keyhole removal of the gallbladder. It is the standard treatment and is usually done as day surgery or with a short stay. Most people recover in about a week.
• Open surgery: used when keyhole surgery is not safe or fails
• Stones return if only the stones are removed and the gallbladder stays, so removal of the gallbladder is preferred

Living without a gallbladder

Bile still reaches the intestine, so digestion continues. Some people have loose stools after very fatty food for a few weeks.

Duct stones

ERCP, a scope procedure, removes stones from the bile duct, followed by gallbladder removal in many cases.

Non-surgical options

• UDCA tablets may dissolve small cholesterol stones in select people over many months, with frequent recurrence
• Shock wave therapy is rarely used now

Ayurvedic view

Ayurveda describes stones as Ashmari and uses diet and herbs in classical practice. Evidence in modern medicine for dissolving gallstones is limited, so these are an adjunct at best and never a substitute for surgery.

Seek urgent care

Fever, jaundice, severe pain over 5 hours or repeated vomiting needs same-day care. Call 112 or 102.

Before surgery

Your surgeon will check blood tests, an ultrasound and fitness for anaesthesia. Ask about the expected recovery time, diet after surgery, and warning signs such as fever, worsening pain or yellow eyes after the operation.