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| - Last Updated on August 31, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims mixing Kalanchoe pinnata plant with honey treat gallstones. We fact checked and found the claim has missing context, hence Half True. There is scant scientific evidence that shows the Kalanchoe pinnata plant treats gallstones. Whereas honey might have a positive impact against gallstones.
The Claim
A Facebook post talks about the benefits of the Kalanchoe pinnata plant. Among all other points, the post claims to mix the plant with honey to treat gallstones.
Fact Check
What is Kalanchoe pinnata plant?
Kalanchoe pinnata plant (or pattharchatta in Hindi) is a succulent native to Madagascar. In India, the plant is recognized for its curative properties to treat eye pain, stomach disorder, jaundice, cuts, wounds, pain, fever and diarrhoea. Advocates claim that the Kalanchoe pinnata plant can treat fatal diseases, including cancer. We could not find credible medical papers for such a claim. We even found a social media post that seems to have a missing context as it claims the Kalanchoe pinnata plant can treat cancer.
What are gallstones?
Gallstones are hardened digestive fluids deposits that look like stones formed in the gallbladder.
The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called bile between the meals when there is no fat to be digested. However, when we eat food, gallbladder contracts to squeeze out the bile through the bile duct into the small intestine. Besides bile, the gallbladder also stores cholesterol and bilirubin (which makes urine yellow and stool brown). Due to some chemical imbalance, these stored compounds in the gallbladder produce stones.
Can gallstones be cured completely?
Yes. Gallstones stuck in the gallbladder can only be treated through surgical procedures including endoscopy, laparoscopy, cholecystectomy or open surgery.
But gallstones range from the size of a sand grain to a golf ball. So, small gallstones may leave the gallbladder and pass into the bile duct to reach the small intestine and stool.
We asked Dr Sharad Malhotra, Gastroenterologist, to suggest if doctors recommend natural remedies as stated in the claim along with the treatment. To this, he said “Gallstones occur because of supersaturation of cholesterol or infection in bile. Since no food elements will change the bile composition, no food can be offered as a cure for gallstones”.
Can Kalanchoe pinnata plant with honey treat gallstones?
Maybe. There is some available research that shows the plant contains essential nutrients and properties with no known adverse reactions or toxicity to humans and can reduce the severity of the condition. But we have no studies that can show optimal dosage safe for regular human consumption.
Dr Malhotra explains, “Gallstones can range from the size of a sand grain to a golf ball. So, small gallstones may leave the gallbladder on its own and pass into the bile duct to reach the small intestine and stool. So, with the available evidence, it is difficult to confirm whether the plant is effective against all sizes of gallstone.”
In context with honey, we found a research published in 2020 that shows honey can break the Salmonella typhi biofilm to expose the gallbladder for treatment or to be passed through the stool on its own. But we also found another research published in 2014 that shows eating too much honey can cause food poisoning to cause dizziness, vomiting, nausea, convulsions, palpitations, headache or even death.
What can be the dangers of trying to cure gallstones through home remedies and not seek medical advice?
Gallstones often do not cause symptoms and won’t necessarily cause any problem to most people. However, gallstones often block the tubes that carry bile. This scenario can be life-threatening as it can cause infection in the bile duct, pancreas or liver. Also, once people have had gallstones, they are at a higher risk of having them again. In this case, it can be dangerous to not seek medical attention and keep trying out home remedies.
Dr Malhotra, further informs, “Trying to treat gallstones with home remedies without understanding the underlying cause can leave the condition untreated. This can cause cholecystitis and induce potentially life-threatening complications, including spread of infection throughout the body and build-up of pus.”
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