Fact Check: Can Consuming kulthi dal water continuously for 15 days help in removing gall stones?

A recent Instagram post claiming that Kulith dal (horse gram dal) water continuously for 15 days will remove stones is False.

Claim

In the latest Instagram reel, it is claimed that consuming kulthi dal or kulith (horse gram dal) water continuously for 15 days helps in removing stones. In the reel posted by podcastshaala, the user says to drink kulthi dal water. He suggests heating kulthi dal (in water) and consuming the water for 15 days. The user states this will remove stones. The user points out that kulthi dal generates a lot of heat in the body, so it should not be consumed for more than 15 days in a row. The user claims that in 15 days stones are removed from the body if this is done. In the video, the user is not talking about specific stones but when the user is talking, simultaneously there is a representational picture of a gall bladder with stones with caption Gallbladder stones written below. The post can be accessed here. 

Fact Check:

This claim is FALSE. Gallstones cannot be removed with any home remedies and removal of gall stones requires surgey.

Gall Stones

Gall Stones also known as Cholelithiasis, are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder, a small organ located just beneath the liver, stores bile a digestive fluid released into the small intestine.  

There are three main pathways in the formation of gallstones:

Cholesterol supersaturation occurs when the liver produces more cholesterol than the bile can dissolve, leading to the precipitation of excess cholesterol as crystals. These crystals become trapped in the gallbladder mucus, forming what is known as gallbladder sludge. Over time, these crystals may grow and form stones, which can occlude the bile ducts and result in gallstone disease.

Excess bilirubin, a yellow pigment formed from the breakdown of red blood cells, is another factor in gallstone formation. When certain hematologic conditions cause the liver to produce too much bilirubin during the breakdown of hemoglobin, this excess bilirubin can contribute to the formation of gallstones.

Gallbladder hypomotility, or impaired contractility, is a condition where the gallbladder does not empty effectively. When the gallbladder fails to contract and empty bile properly, the bile can become concentrated, leading to the formation of gallstones. (1)    

Can Gall Stones be removed?

The treatment for gallstones is surgery to remove the gallbladder. Gallstones are typically removed through surgery because there is no duct through which they can pass naturally. The gallbladder is not an essential organ, which means you can live normally without a gallbladder. (2) 

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests increasing intake of high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, peas and whole grains like brown rice, oats, and whole wheat bread, to help prevent gallstones. Additionally, it's recommended to reduce the consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugars. Incorporating healthy fats, like fish oil and olive oil, can promote regular gallbladder contraction and emptying, while avoiding unhealthy fats, often found in desserts and fried foods, is advised to further support gallbladder health (3)

Health Benefits of Kulthi Dal (Horse Gram Dal)

Kulthi Dal (Macrotyloma uniflorum) also known as horse gram dal is a highly nutritious yet underutilized legume with considerable medicinal potential. It is a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Recognized for its medicinal value in traditional medicine studies have highlighted its bioactive properties, such as anti-diabetic, anti-obesity and antioxidant properties.

Horsegram exhibits high levels of antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. It is rich in various natural beneficial compounds such as phytic acid, dietary fiber, and phenolic acids. The bioactive chemicals help in treating a variety of conditions, including albinism, asthma, bronchitis, colds, throat infections and fevers(4)  

Does Consuming kulthi dal water continuously for 15 days help in removing gall stones?

In the reel, the user does not specify the types of stones but there is a picture of gall stones mentioned in the reel implying that the user is talking about gallstones. 

Gallstones are removed through surgery because they are often located in the gallbladder, where there is no duct for them to pass through naturally. When stones are confined to the gallbladder and not obstructing the bile ducts, surgical removal of the entire gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is typically required to prevent further complications. (5) Further gallstones cannot be dissolved as they can be removed only by surgery. 

Kulthi dal can help in promoting gut health but there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to support that consumption of kulthi water continuously for 15 days helps in removing gallstones.

Dr Sachin Choudhary, MBBS, MS (General Surgery), FMAS, FIGS, Assistant Professor (General Surgery), Army College of Medical Sciences said, "Kulthi dal is beneficial for digestive health due to its high fiber content and diuretic properties, it cannot dissolve or remove gallstones from the body. Gallstones are solid deposits that form in the gallbladder and typically require medical intervention, such as medication or surgery, for removal. Kulthi dal water may support digestion, but it cannot address the underlying issue of gallstones. Gallstones cannot be removed without surgery. If you experience symptoms like pain, nausea, or jaundice, it's crucial to seek doctors' advice rather than relying on home remedies alone. Maintaining a healthy diet is important for health, but when dealing with gallstones, traditional remedies should not replace proper medical treatment."

Dr. Uddhavesh Paithankar, Consultant Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital, Gurugram added, "This is completely false as there are no medical trials to prove that consuming water from this dal would remove gall stones or any other stones from the body. If it were true wouldn’t the pharma companies be manufacturing this compound in bulk and selling it like hotcakes? Spreading such false news not only creates doubt regarding the medical community in mind of patients but can also be detrimental due to the volume of fluid consumed per say would be too much for the body to handle."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

Gallstones generally cannot be dissolved through diet or non-surgical methods. Surgical removal, such as cholecystectomy, remains the treatment for gallstones. There is no medical consensus or scientific evidence linked with the consumption of kulthi dal or kulith (horse gram dal) water continuously for 15 days helps in removing gall stones. Hence This claim is FALSE

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470440/
2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/treatment
3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/eating-diet-nutrition
4. https://www.ijfans.org/uploads/paper/666aeaa45f8b4ff7afe4d8c8ae7ccda6.pdf
5. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/treatment