Gallstones
are formed of an accumulation of crystallised cholesterol and bile. The
condition is found most often in women who are over 40, overweight and have had
children. Gallstones can also affect diabetics, the obese and the elderly. The
general symptoms are: jaundice (skin turns yellowish); clay coloured stools;
and dark urine. The following specific symptoms can occur within a few hours of
eating a heavy meal containing fats or fried foods: severe right upper
abdominal pain that may radiate to the shoulder and back; vomiting; and nausea.
The main
causes of gallstones are as follows: liver dysfunction causing the production
of abnormal amounts of cholesterol and bile; insufficient amounts of fibre in
the diet; a deficiency in vitamin C having a negative effect on the body’s
ability to convert cholesterol into bile acids.
Conventional
medicine has responded to this problem with surgery to remove the gallstones
and/or the “non-essential “ organ the gallbladder. Other methods such as
dissolving the gallstones have been tried but with limited success. Any surgery
carries risks associated with it; and removal of the gallbladder does not
address the reasons why the stones formed in the first instance.
The best
approach to gallstones is to prevent their occurrence by mainly paying
attention to diet. Avoid foods and beverages containing high amounts of
saturated fats such as dairy products, meat products, fried or scrambled eggs.
Avoid adding sugar as well as purchasing sugar-laden foods and soft drinks. Avoid
stress because it can have a bearing on the overproduction of cholesterol by
the body.
Foods and
drinks which help the function of the liver are cabbage, avocados, lemons,
watercress, artichokes, eggplant , asparagus , black radish, chicory, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, pineapple, cherries,
strawberries, grapes, walnuts, green tea and dandelion tea. Foods which contain
high fibre contents are legumes, whole grains, wholemeal or rye bread, brown
rice, wholegrain pasta, wheat or oat bran, potatoes with their skins and
apples.
The
following food supplements can be employed to prevent gallstones: lecithin, 1200 mg. capsules, six times
daily; 1 or 2 multiple digestive enzymes
with each meal; a multi-vitamin and
mineral tablet once a day; vitamin C,
500 mg capsule, four times daily; fish
oil, 180 mg EPA, 8 capsules daily; and psyllium
husks, as directed on the label, to make up for any deficiency in dietary
fibre
The
following herbs, for the reasons stated, can help prevent gallstones: buckthorn breaks bile down into its
component parts; hydrangea prevents
stone deposits; parsley is good for
liver functions; silymarin (milk
thistle) rebuilds liver cells; cascara
sagrada helps the body rid itself of gallstones; and chervil aids both digestion and circulation.
If you fail
to prevent stones from forming by paying attention to diet as outlined above,
there is something you can do about it without going under the knife in a
hospital. You can employ a simple flush to rid yourself of most gallstones
unless they are in the very large category. To execute the flush, you need to have
ready 450 grams (16 ounces) of olive oil and 12 lemons. Do the following:
1. On the day of the flush, do not eat
anything in the afternoon.
2. At 9 pm, take 4 tablespoons of olive
oil followed by 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
3. Repeat 2 at 15 minute intervals until
10.45pm, and then stop.
4. Go to bed at midnight and lay on the right
side.
Bowel
movements over the next few days should rid the body of the stones unless they
are very large. The bile duct actually expands, and is lubricated by the oil
dislodging the stones causing them to move into the intestines and out of the
body with each bowel movement.
Medical experts
commenting on gallstones fail to promote the flush as an alternative to surgery
despite the evidence that it is a safe method of dealing with the problem applicable
to the vast majority of cases.
