Gallstones are solid deposits that form within the gallbladder, a small pear-shaped organ that sits beneath the right lobe of the liver. The gallbladder’s job is to store and concentrate bile, the digestive fluid produced by the liver that is released into the small intestine after eating to emulsify dietary fats. When the chemical composition of bile becomes imbalanced, its constituent substances can precipitate out of solution and gradually crystallise into stones. The majority of gallstones in the UK are cholesterol stones, formed when bile contains too much cholesterol relative to the bile salts and lecithin that normally keep it in solution. A smaller proportion are pigment stones, formed from excess bilirubin, the breakdown product of red blood cells.
Gallstones are extremely common, affecting approximately one in ten adults in the UK, and the majority cause no symptoms at all. When gallstones do cause problems, it is usually because they have moved into the narrow ducts that transport bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine. A stone in the cystic duct or common bile duct produces the characteristic biliary colic: a sudden and severe pain in the upper right abdomen, often radiating to the right shoulder, typically occurring after a fatty meal and lasting from thirty minutes to several hours. If a stone completely obstructs a bile duct, it can cause jaundice, infection of the bile ducts, or acute pancreatitis, all of which require emergency medical treatment.
I want to be clear before describing this programme about what it can and cannot do. It cannot dissolve existing gallstones or replace the medical or surgical management of gallstone disease when treatment is indicated. If you have been told you need your gallbladder removed, or if you are on ursodeoxycholic acid therapy to dissolve gallstones, please continue with your prescribed treatment and discuss any supplements with your surgeon or gastroenterologist before starting. What this programme can do is support the bile-producing, bile-flowing, and digestive environment that reduces the conditions in which gallstones form and help to manage the digestive discomfort and liver strain that accompany gallstone disease. Never take the bile-stimulating supplements in this programme during an acute gallstone attack or if you have been told you have biliary obstruction. Please consult your GP before starting.
The Programme Supplements
This 30-day programme works through six products that together support bile flow, reduce biliary inflammation, improve fat digestion, and maintain the hydration and pH balance of the bile. All six are taken simultaneously from the start of the programme.
Coral Artichoke is the most directly choleretic supplement in this programme: it stimulates the liver to produce more bile and improves its flow through the biliary ducts and into the small intestine. A well-flowing bile system is less likely to allow bile stasis, the pooling of concentrated bile in the gallbladder that is one of the primary conditions promoting stone formation. Artichoke also provides hepatoprotective support through its milk thistle content, protecting liver cells from the inflammatory burden of gallstone disease, and dandelion supports kidney function to assist with the systemic clearance of the toxins that biliary dysfunction allows to accumulate. Take one capsule twice daily with food. Do not take during an acute gallstone attack.
Coral Licorice Root provides deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract alongside ginger. DGL licorice has pronounced anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that help to reduce the spasm and irritation of the biliary ducts and the gallbladder wall that gallstones cause. The antispasmodic effect is particularly relevant for managing the biliary discomfort and digestive cramps that accompany gallstone disease between attacks. Ginger supports healthy bile flow and has mild choleretic properties of its own. Take one capsule twice daily with food.
Assimilator provides a comprehensive digestive enzyme complex including lipase, which directly compensates for the reduced fat digestion that occurs when bile flow is impaired by gallstone disease. When the gallbladder cannot effectively release bile in response to fat in the meal, fat digestion is incomplete, producing the bloating, heaviness, and discomfort after meals that are among the most common symptoms of gallstone disease. Assimilator significantly reduces this digestive burden and improves nutritional absorption from fat-containing meals. Take one capsule three times daily with food.
Coral-Mine supports the hydration of the bile itself. Bile that is adequately hydrated is less concentrated and less prone to the supersaturation of cholesterol that leads to stone formation. Coral-Mine water also normalises the acid-base balance of the body, supporting the optimal biochemical conditions for healthy bile composition. Drop one sachet into 1.5 litres of water and sip consistently throughout the day. Maintaining a high fluid intake is one of the most evidence-based nutritional interventions for reducing gallstone formation and progression.
Coral Lecithin provides phosphatidylcholine, which is one of the three primary constituents of bile alongside bile salts and cholesterol. In healthy bile, phosphatidylcholine acts as an emulsifier that keeps cholesterol in solution, preventing its precipitation into crystals and stones. When bile is deficient in phosphatidylcholine relative to cholesterol, the risk of cholesterol stone formation increases significantly. Coral Lecithin directly supplements this essential bile component, improving the cholesterol-solubilising capacity of the bile and reducing the conditions that favour stone formation. Take one capsule three times daily with food.
Zaferan provides turmeric root extract combined with phosphatidylcholine for enhanced curcumin bioavailability. Curcumin has well-documented choleretic properties and stimulates gallbladder contraction and emptying, reducing the bile stasis that allows stones to form and grow. It also has direct anti-inflammatory effects on the gallbladder wall and bile ducts, reducing the chronic low-grade inflammation that accompanies gallstone disease and impairs normal biliary function. Take one capsule once daily with food. Do not take during an acute gallstone attack.
Dietary Recommendations
Diet has a direct and significant influence on gallstone formation and symptom management. Eliminate fried food, fatty meat, full-fat dairy, fast food, and processed foods, as high fat intake is the most consistent dietary trigger for both gallstone formation and biliary colic. Keep fat intake moderate rather than eliminating it entirely, as a very low fat diet paradoxically reduces gallbladder emptying and can encourage stone formation through bile stasis. Eat small, regular meals rather than large, infrequent ones, as regular eating promotes consistent gallbladder emptying.
Increase dietary fibre from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as fibre reduces cholesterol reabsorption from the gut and lowers the cholesterol load arriving at the liver for bile production. Drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water daily, predominantly as Coral-Mine water. Avoid alcohol, which increases bile cholesterol saturation. Maintain a healthy weight, as obesity is the strongest modifiable risk factor for cholesterol gallstone formation, but avoid rapid weight loss through crash dieting, which dramatically increases gallstone risk by mobilising large amounts of cholesterol into the bile.
Please attend your scheduled medical appointments and ultrasound monitoring as advised by your GP or gastroenterologist. If you experience a sudden severe upper right abdominal pain, particularly after eating, with or without nausea and vomiting, stop the programme and seek urgent medical attention. If you would like to discuss whether this programme is appropriate for your situation, please reach out through the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all six products?
Coral Artichoke and Coral Lecithin are the two most directly relevant to the bile chemistry of gallstone disease and are the products I would always prioritise. Coral Artichoke stimulates bile flow and liver function, while Coral Lecithin directly improves the solubilising capacity of the bile. Assimilator provides the most immediate practical benefit for the digestive symptoms of impaired bile flow. Zaferan adds meaningful choleretic and anti-inflammatory support. Coral Licorice Root addresses the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory needs of the biliary ducts. Coral-Mine provides the hydration foundation throughout.
Why register with Coral Club rather than buying at full price?
Anyone can purchase Coral Club products at full price without registering, so there is no pressure to do so. However, registering as a member through my link gives you a permanent 20% discount on all orders. Registration is completely free, there is no subscription, and the discount never expires. Your first order simply needs to be placed within 30 days of registering to activate membership. You can register here: https://coral.club/7695779.html
Can this programme dissolve my gallstones?
No, and I want to be direct about this. The supplements in this programme support bile flow, reduce inflammation, and improve the chemical environment of the bile, which may slow stone formation and help to prevent new stones from developing. They do not dissolve existing gallstones. The only medical approach that can dissolve certain types of gallstones is ursodeoxycholic acid therapy prescribed by a gastroenterologist, and this is only effective for small cholesterol stones in a functioning gallbladder. If you have been offered this therapy or surgical treatment, please continue with your medical plan.
I have been told I need my gallbladder removed. Should I try this programme first?
Please discuss this question directly with your surgeon or gastroenterologist. If you have been advised to have cholecystectomy, it is because your specialist has assessed that the risk of leaving your gallstones untreated, including the risk of complications such as acute cholecystitis, biliary obstruction, or pancreatitis, outweighs the risk of surgery. This nutritional programme is not an alternative to surgery in that situation. It may be appropriate as supportive care while you are waiting for your procedure, but please confirm this with your surgical team.
I have gallstones but no symptoms. Is this programme beneficial as prevention?
Yes, this is the situation in which this programme is most clearly appropriate. The majority of gallstones are discovered incidentally and never cause symptoms. Supporting bile flow, improving lecithin-cholesterol balance in the bile, and maintaining excellent hydration are the most practical nutritional strategies for reducing the conditions in which existing small stones grow larger and in which new stones form. All six supplements in this programme are well suited to the preventive management of asymptomatic gallstone disease, alongside regular monitoring with your GP.
