Can traditional Chinese medicine remove gallstones

Traditional Chinese medicine usually cannot directly expel gallstones from the body, but may relieve symptoms or assist in treatment by means of traditional Chinese medicine conditioning, acupuncture and moxibustion, etc. The formation of gallstones is related to factors such as abnormal bile composition and weakened gallbladder contraction function. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment should be based on individual constitution differentiation and treatment. The core idea of traditional Chinese medicine treatment for gallstones is to soothe the liver and promote bile flow, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Commonly used formulas such as Da Chai Hu Tang and Yin Chen Hao Tang may help improve the state of bile stasis. Acupuncture and moxibustion at Danshu, Yanglingquan and other acupoints can alleviate the symptoms of biliary colic, but it is difficult to produce physical drainage effect on larger stones. Some traditional Chinese medicines such as goldenrod and chicken internal gold are believed to have the effect of promoting bile secretion, but there is a lack of high-quality clinical evidence to support their stone dissolving or stone removing effects. For cases where obvious bile duct obstruction, cholecystitis, or stones with a diameter exceeding 10 millimeters have already occurred, there is a risk of delaying the timing of surgery with simple traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Modern medical methods such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or laparoscopic cholecystectomy are still the mainstream approaches for treating symptomatic gallstones. During the use of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, regular ultrasound monitoring should be conducted to monitor changes in stones. If emergency symptoms such as fever and jaundice occur, immediate medical attention should be sought.

It is necessary to maintain a low-fat diet in daily life, avoid high cholesterol foods such as egg yolks and animal organs, and drink more than 2000 milliliters of water per day to help maintain bile dilution. Moderate exercise such as Ba Duan Jin and Tai Chi can promote the smooth regulation of liver and gallbladder qi, but vigorous exercise may induce biliary colic attacks. During the period of traditional Chinese medicine regulation, spicy and greasy foods should be avoided, and a regular schedule should be maintained to maintain normal physiological functions of the liver and gallbladder.