Preventing or Excreting Gallstones

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.