Prevention Of Gallstones

PREVENTION OF GALLSTONES

Including Gallstone Diet

1. Do not overeat
2. Diet high in fiber - lots of vegetables
3. Avoid refined carbohydrates (including sugar and white flour)
4. Omega 3 oils and other polyunsaturated fats
5. Avoid saturated and trans fats
6. Eat moderate amounts of lean meats
7. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day
8. Exercise
9. Lose excess weight but slowly
10. Supplemental bile salts and bile thinning agents as found in the gallbladder products. In particular I would suggest the Bile Salts, Phos Drops, the Lemon Tea Kit and Liver and Gallbladder Detox Tinctures.

Call Doctor After Surgery If ?

WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN OCCUR?

While there are risks associated with any kind of operation, the vast majority of laparoscopic gallbladder patients experiences few or no complications and quickly return to normal activities. It is important to remember that before undergoing any type of surgery--whether laparoscopic or open you should ask your surgeon about his/her training and experience.

Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are infrequent, but include bleeding, infection, pneumonia, blood clots, or heart problems. Unintended injury to adjacent structures such as the common bile duct or small bowel may occur and may require another surgical procedure to repair it. Bile leakage into the abdomen from the tubular channels leading from the liver to the intestine may rarely occur.

Numerous medical studies show that the complication rate for laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is comparable to the complication rate for open gallbladder surgery when performed by a properly trained surgeon.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR ?
Be sure to call your physician or surgeon if you develop any of the following:

• Persistent fever over 101 degrees F (39 C)
• Bleeding
• Increasing abdominal swelling
• Pain that is not relieved by your medications
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Chills
• Persistent cough or shortness of breath
• Purulent drainage (pus) from any incision
• Redness surrounding any of your incisions that is worsening or getting bigger
• You are unable to eat or drink liquids

Recovery After Laproscopic Surgery of Gallbldder

Recovery is much faster and less painful after laparoscopic surgery than after traditional open surgery.

• The hospital stay after laparoscopic surgery is shorter than after open surgery. People generally go home the same day or within 1 day, compared with 2 to 4 days or longer for open surgery.
• Recovery is faster after laparoscopic surgery.
• You will spend less time away from work and other activities after laparoscopic surgery (about a week to 10 days compared with 4 to 6 weeks).

Risk of Laparoscopic Surgery of Gallbladder

The overall risk of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is very low. The most serious possible complications include:

• Infection of an incision.
• Internal bleeding.
• Injury to the common bile duct.
• Injury to the small intestine by one of the instruments used during surgery.
• Risks of general anesthesia.
  

Other uncommon complications may include:

• Injury to the cystic duct, which carries bile from the gallbladder to the common bile duct.
• Gallstones that remain in the abdominal cavity.
• Bile that leaks into the abdominal cavity.
• Injury to abdominal blood vessels, such as the major blood vessel carrying blood from the heart to the liver (hepatic artery). This is rare.
• A gallstone being pushed into the common bile duct.
• The liver being cut.
• More surgery may be needed to repair these complications.
• After gallbladder surgery, some people have ongoing abdominal symptoms, such as pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea (postcholecystectomy syndrome).

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is Best

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is the best method of treating gallstones that cause symptoms, unless there is a reason that the surgery should not be done.
Laparoscopic surgery is used most commonly when no factors are present that may complicate the surgery. Conditions that may require an open surgery instead of a laparoscopic surgery include:

1. Severe inflammation or infection of the bile duct (cholangitis).
   Inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis).
2. High pressure in blood vessels in the liver. This is caused by cirrhosis of the liver (portal hypertension).
3. Being in the third trimester of pregnancy.
4. A major bleeding disorder or use of medicines to prevent blood clotting (blood thinners or anticoagulants).
5. Scar tissue from previous abdominal surgeries. Scar tissue may make laparoscopic surgery more difficult.
6. A severe lung disease, such as emphysema, because the way the abdomen is inflated with air for surgery may make it harder to breathe.
   

Depending on the surgeon's experience and how severe your condition is, laparoscopic surgery also may not be an option if you have:

1. Sudden (acute) inflammation or infection of the gallbladder (although laparoscopic surgery is being done more often in this situation).
2. Active inflammation or infection of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
3. A minor bleeding disorder.
4. Gallstones in the common bile duct. A separate procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography that is done before or after the laparoscopic surgery can remove stones in the common bile duct.
5. Excessive body weight.

How Well It Works
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is safe and effective.1 Surgery gets rid of gallstones located in the gallbladder. It does not remove stones in the common bile duct. Gallstones can form in the common bile duct years after the gallbladder is removed, although this is rare.

Appropriate Candidates of Gallstone Surgery

Candidates for gallbladder removal often have one of the following conditions:

1. After a very severe gallstone attack.
2. After several less severe gallstone attacks.
3. After endoscopic sphincterotomy for common bile duct stones in patients with residual gallbladder stones.
4. In patients with cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).
5. In patients with pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
6. In patients at risk for gallbladder cancer (e.g., patients with anomalous junction of the pancreatic and biliary ducts or patients with certain forms of porcelain gallbladder).
7. In some patients with acalculous biliary pain (gallbladder disease symptoms without the presence of gallstones). Best candidates are those with evidence of impaired gallbladder emptying.
   

Timing of Surgery.

Cholecystectomy may be performed within several days to weeks after hospitalization for an acute gallbladder attack, depending on the severity of the condition.

1. Emergency gallbladder removal within 24 to 48 hours is warranted in about 20% of patients with acute cholecystitis. Indications for surgery include deterioration of the patient's condition or signs of perforation or widespread infection.
2. The timing and type of surgery in patients with acute cholecystitis whose condition improves and have no signs of severe complications are under debate. Previously, the standard was open cholecystectomy between 6 and 12 weeks after the acute episode. Some evidence now suggests that early surgery performed between 72 and 96 hours after symptoms have lower complications than surgery performed after that.

Open Surgery of Gallstones

Open Procedures versus Laparoscopy.

Until the early 1990s, open cholecystectomy (the removal of the gallbladder through a wide abdominal incision) was the standard treatment. Now, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (commonly called lap choly ), which uses small incisions, is the most commonly used surgical approach. First performed in 1987, lap choly is now used in most cholecystectomies in the United States. In fact, about 700,000 people now have their gallbladders removed each year -- 200,000 more than before the introduction of laparoscopy. Of concern, then, is a significant increase in its use in patients who have inflammation in the gallbladder but no infection or gallstones and in those who have gallstones but no symptoms.

Laparoscopy has largely replaced open cholecystectomy because of some significant advantage:

1. The patient can leave the hospital and resume normal activities earlier than with open surgery.
2. The incisions are small, and there is less postoperative pain and disability than with the open procedure.
3. Laparoscopy has fewer complications.
4. It is less expensive than open cholecystectomy in the long term. The immediate treatment cost of laparoscopy may be higher than the open procedure, but the more rapid recovery with lap choly and fewer complications translate into shorter hospital stays and fewer sick days and so a greater reduction in overall costs.
   

Some experts believe, however, that the open procedure still has a number of advantages compared to laparoscopy:

1. It is faster to perform.
2. It poses less of a risk for bile duct injury, which occurs in only 0.1% to 0.5% of open procedures, compared to about 0.3% to more than 2% with laparoscopy. (It has more overall complications than laparoscopy, however, and laparoscopy bile-duct injury rates are declining.)

The type of surgery performed on specific patients may vary depending on different factors.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

ERCP can be used to find stones in the bile duct, as described in the diagnosis section. When stones are detected, the doctor can widen the bile duct opening and pull the stones into the intestine. This is commonly done when the gallbladder is being removed laparoscopically or when a stone is found in the duct long after gallbladder surgery. If a patient is too frail to undergo gallbladder surgery, it also may be performed to relieve symptoms from a bile duct stone, even when other stones are present in the gallbladder.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

If your doctor has suggested surgery to remove your gall bladder, you have probably heard about an innovative procedure called laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, or ‘Lap chole’ for short. The procedure is a “Less invasive” type of gall–bladder surgery that you might consider if your surgeon feels you are an appropriate candidate. Since incisions are extremely small with less invasive procedures, discomfort after surgery is reduced and recovery is shortened.

About the Lap Chole Procedure

To remove the gallbladder, the surgeon makes four tiny incisions in the abdomen–one near the navel. Unlike the seven – inch incision required for open surgery, these four incisions do not traumatize muscle tissue, so patients experience much less pain after surgery and usually can resume normal activities within one week.A thin tube or “Tracer” is inserted in the navel incision. Through this tube, the surgeon inserts the laparoscope, which consists of a small video camera and light source. The camera sends actual images to monitor allowing the surgeon to “See” inside the body.Trocars are placed in the other three incisions. The surgeon uses these openings to insert the instruments necessary to perform the procedure. Instruments called “Graspers” for example, hold the gallbladder in place. A device using a laser beam or electric current detaches the gallbladder while sealing tissue to control bleeding. Finally, the gallbladder is withdrawn through the trocar near the navel. While each case has unique characteristics, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, takes about an hour, and requires a 24–hour hospital stay.Immediately following the surgery, patients can expect to have symptoms, such as nausea, while the body recovers. A diet free from fatty food is recommended for the first week following surgery. Within a week, patients will also see the surgeon for a check–up. Full activity can be resumed as soon as patients feel comfortable.

Cholecystectomy

Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Despite the development of non-surgical techniques, it is the most common method for treating symptomatic gallstones, although there are other indications for the procedure, including carcinoma. Each year more than 500,000 Americans have gallbladder surgery. Surgery options include the standard procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and an older more invasive procedure, called open cholecystectomy. A cholecystectomy is performed when attempts to treat gallstones with ultrasound to shatter the stones (lithotripsy) or medications to dissolve them have not proved feasible.

Surgical removal of the gallbladder, a procedure called cholecystectomy, is the most widely used therapy for gallstones, although this procedure is now mostly done laparoscopically. Though in some cases, due to infections or other surgeries, this traditional form of cholecystectomy will be performed. Four or five days of hospitalization are generally required for this procedure. Patients often do well after surgery and have no difficulty with digesting food

Gallstone Surgery

Over 1/2 million people in America have their gallbladders removed every year. Is it necessary? Will your digestion be perfect afterwards? That's what everybody's hoping for, to be pain free, gas free, bloat-free and to be able to eat whatever they like. You have a 60% chance of that happening. Out of every 10 cholecystectomies, 4 people will still have symtpoms. So read the research and find out what your chances are of that happening before you give your body parts up. And scroll over to the right of this page to read what my readers are saying about their experiences. And if you've had a good experience and are symptom-free 2 and 3 years after surgery, please write and tell us about it.

We want to hear from you too.The most frequently asked question I receive on this website is this: "I have had my gallbladder removed. Why do I still have pain?"If you think of your problem as a biliary (bile) problem as opposed to a "gallbladder" problem you are more on the right track to understanding how to take care of it. Removing the gallbladder does not always address the problem in the body that is causing these symptoms. In order to break down and digest fats, your body must produce bile, which is done in the liver. Your gallbladder is merely a sac for holding some of the bile that the liver produces. Whether or not you have had your gallbladder removed, your liver is still producing bile in order to digest fats.

Without the gallbladder, however, the bile is not as readily secreted in the body, and the liver can become overwhelmed when faced with large amounts of any fats, especially saturated fats and hydrogenated fats. And for some people even small amounts of fats can cause discomfort. (One of the side effects of gallbladder removal can be the dumping of bile which is now not as easily regulated and can send someone running to the bathroom immediately after eating.) A more common side effect is a decrease in the secretion of bile. If the bile produced by the liver becomes thick and sluggish, painful symptoms and bile stones can occur. Bile stones can form in the liver as well as the gallbladder. One woman had her gallbladder removed only to end up back in surgery again two or three days later where they found stones in the bile ducts of the liver causing her alot of pain.However, removing the gallbladder may be an absolute medical necessity.

But, unless it is diseased, ruptured or otherwise sick, know that just having gallbladder stones does not mean you have to take it out. If you have gallbladder attacks, pain or discomfort or digestive problems but not a diseased gallbladder, this does not mean you necessarily have to have gallbladder surgery. Get a second opinion. You do have an option of cleaning up your diet, doing some work on your gallbladder and liver and keeping the body part that God gave you. If you happen to think that nature made a mistake and that you don't need it anyway, you probably wouldn't be reading this page in the first place. What's the worst thing that can happen? You try to fix the root of the problem which is based on cleaning up your diet and eating real food and real fats and not the "pretend food" that can sit on a shelf for 6 months to 2 years. What kind of a food takes two years to go bad? Nothing that will give health to your body, that's for sure. And if the gallbladder still needs to come out later, you've only gained by eating better anyway.The gallbladder does facilitate and regulate the flow of bile in your body. When that facilitator is taken away it is quite possible that the flow will be not as efficient, ie. too much at one time, or more commonly, not enough.Whether you opt for gallbladder surgery or not, consider taking products and changing your diet as well as doing a series of gallbladder and liver flushes (it does both at the same time) to take care of the root of your gallbladder problem.

The most common problems, apart from actual pain are impaired digestion: bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea. You are/were already having trouble digesting fats. So why would removing the organ that regulates the metabolizer of fats improve your digestion? It may help with the pain, but know that 34% of people who have their gallbladder removed still experience some abdominal pain. (4)The easiest way to avoid this is to take an external supplement of bile salts to help your body with the digestion of fats. And do a series of mini gallbladder flushes. Supplemental bile salts, (unless you are experriencing bile dumping) available separately or in the Gallbladder Relief Kits, should be taken frequently along with the digestive stimulant (also in the kit) to help stimulate your own digestive juices. Alternating the dosage of bile salts will help to mimic the body's way of secreting bile. For example, take one with breakfast, two at lunch, three at dinner, two with breakfast the next day, and so on in rotation.If you have the less common, but not unusual side effect after gallbladder removal of needing to run to the bathroom immediately after eating, you are probably getting too much bile instead of too little. This, unfortunately is much harder to control.

Gallbladder Attack

GALLBLADDER ATTACK SYMPTOMS

Please note that if you are in severe pain and particularly if your attack symptoms are accompanied by fever DO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY AND DO NOT GO FOR FLUSH TREATMENT. The following symptoms are typical of a gallbladder attack.

1. Moderate to severe pain under the right side of the rib cage
   
2. Pain may radiate through to the back or to the right shoulder
   
3. Severe upper abdominal pain (biliary colic)
   
4. Nausea
   
5. Queasiness
   
6. Vomiting
   
7. Gas
   
8. Burping or belching
   
9. Attacks are often at night
   
10. Attacks often occur after overeating
    
11. Pain will often but not always follow a meal with fats or grease
    
12. Pain may be worse with deep inhalation
    
13. Attacks can last from 15 minutes to 15 hours

Precautions Doing Gallbladder Flush

There may be a need to De-congest the Liver

If the gallbladder is loaded with stones, there is very limited space in the gallbladder to store the bile. The bile, which is produced in the liver, stays in the liver and leads to liver congestion. When the liver is very congested, nutrients or herbs, which have to go through the liver first, may not reach the gallbladder. This explains why some people with very congested liver cannot flush out their stones unless they decongest their liver first. Another problem is that bile produced in the liver, through olive oil stimulation, has to flow down to the gallbladder in order to push out stones with the help of gallbladder contraction by lemon or grapefruit juice. If the liver is congested, bile flow is restricted. As a result, there is insufficient bile in the gallbladder to push the stones out.

One of our products, Chinese Bitters, has been found to be very effective in decongesting the liver. It is possible to take Chinese Bitters in conjunction with Gold Coin Grass (GCG) and some people do this in order to more quickly prepare for a liver/gallbladder flush. However, the added load of taking both tinctures at once may be too much strain for the liver and gallbladder in some people, particularly those who suffer from weak livers or gallbladders. If this is the case for you, then you should start with Chinese Bitters first. After a few weeks of liver decongestion, you can switch from Chinese Bitters in the morning to Gold Coin Grass.

When the Gold Coin Grass is finished, Chinese Bitters may be taken again for a few days before the flush. During the flush, Chinese Bitters can still be taken to ensure that the liver is not congested.

The use of Epsom Salt
If the gallstones are so packed that they have difficulty moving, epsom salt, which dilates the bile duct, may be helpful. This usually happens to someone who is doing the first flush. Nothing may come out at all. In this situation, you may have to repeat the olive oil/lemon juice procedure and eat one more day of vegetables. However, epsom salt solution, prepared by dissolving 3 teaspoons of epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) in 1 cup of warm water, should be taken about one-and-a-half to two hours before repeating the olive oil and lemon juice procedure.

If a stone gets stuck on its way out or if you have a gallbladder attack

It does happen, although very rarely, that a stone may get stuck on its way out. In this situation, the olive oil/lemon juice flush may be repeated. Three teaspoonfuls of epsom salt in a cup of warm water should be taken 2 hours before the olive oil/lemon juice to dilate the duct. An alternative is 1 tablespoonful each of Coptis and Curcuma taken together. This combination helps to move the stone by stimulating bile flow (Coptis) and increasing energy flow (Curcuma). It also helps to relieve pain from gallbladder attack in most cases. Furthermore, if no stone comes out during the flush the day after taking olive oil/lemon juice and you feel uncomfortable, one tablespoon each of Coptis and Curcuma can usually help to push out the stones or other blockages.

If one tablespoon each of Coptis and Curcuma fail to push out the lodged stone and relieve pain, it is usually due to stone too big to be pushed out. In this situation, some people have found the following procedure to be helpful: take 2 tablespoons of GCG to crush the stone and wait for 1½ to 2 hours before taking 1 tablespoon each of Coptis and Curcuma again. The crushed stones appear to move easier and the pain is relieved.

A stuck stone during the flush is different from a regular gallbladder attack. During the flush, a lot of bile is produced which serves as an excellent lubricant. The pain produced is relatively dull and mild in comparison with the very sharp pain experienced in a regular gallbladder attack.

Major Gallbladder Flush

MAJOR GALLBLADDER FLUSH FOR GALLSTONES AND SLUDGE IN THE GALLBLADDER, LIVER AND BILIARY TRACT

The Gallbladder Flush can be used by those who have had gallbladder removal as well as by those who have not. This is because there are often gallstones in the liver and in fact, most likely are if you've had them in the gallbladder. The problem with bile has its root in the formation in the liver. A flush helps to alleviate congestion due to gallstones and/or thickened bile A person can have gallstones after gallbladder removal because this underlying problem of bile stagnation has not been addressed. Congestion can be a problem in the gallbladder and in the liver itself as well as in the bile ducts.

Many people have done this flush successfully. Some do it 2 or 3 times a year just to keep the bile moving. If the stones are too large and unable to pass through the bile ducts, not only could that cause excruciating pain, you could end up having your gallbladder removed in the emergency room. Gallstones are made of cholesterol primarily but also calcium. If the stones are large and calcified, there is more chance for complications. So if you know you have stones, I suggest you find out the size and type from your doctor. If you know your stones are of the calcium variety or are very large, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS GALLBLADDER AND LIVER FLUSH!

Note: It is recommend you consult your physician before doing this flush.

DIRECTIONS FOR GALLBLADDER AND LIVER FLUSH

There are several versions of this flush. Step two is optional but very helpful. Plan to do your flush when you have a day off with no commitments. We'll assume you've chosen a Saturday.

1. For two weeks before the flush, take 1 tsp Phos Drops in 4 oz of unfiltered organic apple juice first thing in the morning and last thing at night with. This is the most important part of a gall stone diet as it should help to dissolve the stones.
2. The week of the flush, from Monday to Saturday take the apple juice Phos drink following lunch and dinner as well as in the am and pm. Add ¼ cup of the beet recipe to your salad at lunch and dinner.
3. Two or three hours after lunch on Saturday, take 8 capsules of DiSodium Phosphate with ½ cup warm to hot water or 1 tsp Epsom Salts in 3/4 cup water.
4. Take another 8-12 capsules at least one hour before dinner. These will not dissolve with cold water so make sure it is warm to hot. Or 1 tsp Epsom Salts in 3/4 cup water.
5. Eat a light dinner of only salad or fruit.
6. Just before bed, drink 4-6 oz. of extra-virgin olive oil. (I have found the Omega Nutrition Organic Olive Oil available from omega nutrition to be the most palatable for this procedure.) Follow this with 2 Tbsp. lemon juice and 3-4 droppersful of the liquid phosporic acid available gallbladder starter kit.
7. Lie on your right side with your knees pulled up for at least ½ an hour before you fall off to sleep. If you are too nauseous to sleep put 10 drops of the afore-mentioned liquid phosphoric acid in an 8 to 12 oz glass of water. Sip on this throughout the night as needed. It should keep you from vomiting, but if you do so, do not repeat the olive oil at this time.
8. When you get up, (but not before dawn) take another 8 capsules of DiSodium Phosphate with ½ cup of warm to hot water. Or you can take Epsom Salts again.
9. You will likely pass small green balls in your stool. Be sure to note their size and number. As you repeat this flush a few months later, the number and size of stones should decrease considerably. Some people will pass the stones at night instead of or as well as in the morning.
10. Two hours after the 3rd dose of salts, take 6-8 capsules again of the DiSodium Phosphate or 1 tsp Epsom Salts in 3/4 cup water.
11. This procedure can be quite exhausting so plan on spending a quiet day at home.
12. Eat normally, if you are able.
    

CASTOR OIL PACKS

This is an old folk remedy that has been used very successfully for both gallbladder problems and liver problems. Often used it as a mild version or alternative to the gallbladder flush. It can be used for all sorts of stomach complaints as well as constipation. It is also an alternative menstrual cramp treatment and a uterine fibroid treatment. Regular treatments give better results. For gall stone treatment, consistency is imperative.

You will need:
Cold Pressed Castor Oil Wool FlannelHeating PadPlastic Wrap or a large plastic bagTwo Old TowelsOld Clothing such as pyjamas or sweat suitBaking sodaMuch of the above is for protection from the castor which is sticky, messy and stains. keep an old set of clothing that you use just for castor oil packs. The first two ingredients you will find at a health food store. The brand of castor oil is available at "Home Health." They also make wool flannel. Cotton flannel will do if that's what you have.

Directions for Castor Oil Packs

1. Prepare your bed or couch by placing an old towel where you are going to lie. If you are going to use an electric heating pad vs a hot water bottle, you will need to situate yourself near an electrical outlet.
2. Saturate the wool flannel in castor oil. It may be heated first if you like.
3. Place the flannel over your liver and gallbladder area. Do not be skimpy on the area covered. It is better to cover more than less. I tend to go as large as my heating pad is.
4. Place a piece of plastic over this sticky flannel.
5. Put an old cloth or towel over the flannel.
6. Place the heating pad over top of this and keep it as warm as is comfortable for you.
7. Keep it all on for an hour and try to do it at the same time each day (don't skip it if you can't, though). Do this for 7 days in a row.
8. Wash the area thoroughly with baking soda and water.

The traditional version of this has you taking "small doses" of olive oil two or three times a day. It is suggested ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon at the most. After the 3rd or 4th day you should observe some stones in your stools.

My own addition to this protocol is to drink organic, unfiltered apple juice ½ hour at least before breakfast and just before retiring at night. Add the beet recipe to your diet at ½ beet daily. Avoid fried foods especially, but other fatty foods as well.

Disclaimer :Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The supplements discussed herein are not meant to treat any disease but are for nutritional support of the body only. The user understands that the information in this website is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist.

Mild Gallbladder Flush

Mild Gallbladder Flush

Preparation

On the day or two preceding the Flush, it is important that you are having regular bowel movements and that you do not have a fever or other pronounced cleansing symptoms. Otherwise, you may feel nauseated or very poorly on the day of the Flush.

Cleanse Ingredients

The following proportions are for one flush for the average adult. Mix the following ingredients together in a high-speed blender:

1. 1/2 cup organic tomato juice
2. 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil (organic, extra virgin, cold-pressed
3. 1/2 tsp. freshly grated, raw, organic garlic (avoid commercial garlic which is usually too weak)
4. 2 caps Turmeric, a special liver-cleansing herb. Open the capsules, then add to mixture.
5. To swallow: 2 caps of Gallbladder Complex to help to dialate the neck of the gallbladder.

Instructions

1. Mix the above ingredients in a high-speed blender to make your first drink.
2. Drink this mixture (your first drink) first thing in the morning. Follow immediately with two capsules of Gallbladder Complex.
3. Wait 15 minutes, then drink a second drink (make the second drink using the same ingredients above again). Follow with two capsules of Gallbladder Complex.
4. Wait 90 minutes before eating or drinking.
5. Repeat the Liver/Gallbladder Flush once a week for 2 months.At lunchtime, you may eat your regular lunch and take your lunch supplements. At dinnertime, you may eat your regular dinner and take your dinner supplements.Most people find the Liver/Gallbladder Flush drink pleasantly spicy and because of the olive oil, rather filling. Waiting 90 minutes before eating lets the Flush work its way through the digestive tract, unhampered by any food.

After The Flush

After the Flush, I recommend taking 1 tsp each of Gallbladder Detox and Liver Detox daily along with the Gallbladder Starter Kit, designed to boost the optimal functioning of the liver and gallbladder

How often do you do the Flush?

Repeat the Gallbladder/Liver Flush (both doses) once per week for 2 months. If you have been chronically ill, you may need to take only one dose of the Flush each week or skip weeks in between using the Flush. To help achieve optimal liver health, repeat this Flush series at least once a year.

What do I eat while on the liver cleanse?

On the days that you do the Liver/Gallbladder Cleanse:

1. Have your lunch and dinner contain a large, fresh organic salad with lots of leafy greens (no head lettuce)and grade 10 vegetables (cooked and raw).
2. Avoid additional oils or fats (such as butter, oil, dressings, fried food, etc.) in order to maximize the flush.
3. Salad dressings may contain any of the following: avocado, garlic, onion, herbs, sea salt, or other spices.
4. Use minimal amounts of protein (meat or dairy), or preferably none.
5. Snacks may be homemade vegetable soup, vegetable broth, fresh, raw organic vegetable juice (preferably home-juiced), fresh raw vegetables, herbal teas or purified water.
6. Avoid all fruit on this day.

Caution: If you are chronically ill or under a doctors care, check with you doctor before trying a new program.

What might improve from a Gallbladder Flush?

Apart from helping with the pain and discomfort of a poorly functioning digestive system, all of the symptoms mentioned above may also be helped by a series of flushes. They are:

• Digestive problems (such as burping often, bloating, intestinal gas, stomach pain)
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Chemical sensitivities (such as reactions to gasoline, cleaning agents, soaps, cosmetics, etc.)
• Rashes, various kinds of skin problems
• Eye problems (such as blurred vision, eye pain, decreasing eyesight, eye flutters or twitches, etc.)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability, frequent anger, depression
• Tendon or muscle problems (such as frequent sprains/strains, muscle injuries, delayed healing)
• Swelling of the breasts
• Menstrual problems (such as too little or too much blood flow, blood clotting, cramps)
• Testicular problems
• Headaches (especially pain at the vertex of the head, and throbbing headaches). A headache of the gallbladder is most commonly over the right eye, at the temples or on one side of the head.)

Purpose of Gallbladder Flush

What Does The Gallbladder Flush Do?

• Helps cleanse stagnant waste from the liver/gallbladder
• Helps improve liver functioning and bile flow
• Helps purify the blood and lymph
• Helps rejuvenate the body

Gallbladder Flush

What is GB Flush ?

A gallbladder cleanse — also called a gallbladder flush — is a popular alternative remedy for ridding the body of gallstones. However, there is no reliable evidence that a gallbladder cleanse is useful in preventing or treating gallstones or any other disease.

In most cases, a gallbladder cleanse involves eating or drinking a combination of olive oil, herbs and some type of fruit juice over several days. Proponents claim that gallbladder cleansing helps break up gallstones and stimulates the gallbladder to release them in stool. Although olive oil can act as a laxative, there's no evidence that it is an effective treatment for gallstones. Also, people who try gallbladder cleansing may see what looks like gallstones in their stool the next day. But what they are really seeing is globs of oil, juice and other materials — not the remnants of gallstones.

Gallbladder cleansing is not without risk. Some people have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during the flushing or cleansing period. Individual components of the herbal mixtures used in a gallbladder cleanse may present their own health hazards.

Gallstones that cause no symptoms require no treatment. If you have gallstones that require treatment, discuss proven treatment options with your doctor, such as surgical removal, bile salt tablets or sound wave therapy.

Complications of Gallstones

Complications of gallstones may include:

Blockage of the common bile duct. In some cases, gallstones can block the ducts that lead from your gallbladder, liver or pancreas to your small intestine. The signs and symptoms of common bile duct obstruction include yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin (jaundice), dark urine, and pain in the upper abdomen. If you also have fever and chills, you may have an underlying complication such as an inflamed gallbladder (cholecystitis) or an infection in your bile duct (cholangitis).

Inflammation of the pancreas. An obstruction in the common bile duct near the junction with the pancreatic duct can also cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct or inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis). In many people the common duct and the pancreatic duct empty into the duodenum at a common opening.
Pancreatitis is likely to cause an intense, constant pain in your upper abdomen that may radiate to your back or chest. The pain is usually worse when you lie flat and better when you sit up or bend forward. You may not be able to pass gas, and your abdomen may be tender and distended. Sometimes, you may also have nausea, vomiting and fever. In mild cases, symptoms usually subside within a few days to a week, but severe acute pancreatitis can be life-threatening.

Gallbladder cancer. People with gallstones are also more likely to develop gallbladder cancer. Researchers speculate that gallstones may cause your gallbladder to release bile more slowly, which increases inflammation and the amount of time cells are exposed to cancer-causing substances in the bile. However, gallbladder cancer is rare and the vast majority of people with gallstones never develop gallbladder cancer.

Jaundice due to Gallstones

Obstructive Jaundice

Obstructive jaundice caused by obstruction of the bile ducts, as with gallstones. The liver normally produces about 1 litre of bile each day, which is secreted (passed) into the bile duct system and stored in the gallbladder. The bile duct empties into the upper intestine (duodenum) to help in digestion. Obstruction anywhere in this drainage system causes the blood levels of bilirubin to increase, resulting in "obstructive jaundice." Common causes of obstructive jaundice include gallstones and tumors of the pancreas or bile duct. With gallstones, jaundice may be intermittent if the stone is not firmly stuck. Rarer causes of obstructive jaundice include parasites such as worms, scarring from previous surgical procedures, bile duct inflammations, and, in infancy, congenital malformations of the bile duct system. Additional symptoms of obstructive jaundice include dark urine, pale feces, and itching, although there is no pain. Sometimes the cause of obstructive jaundice is cancer (malignant obstructive jaundice), in which case treatment is by chemotherapy, radiation, and/or biliary drainage (surgery is rarely used). Obstructive jaundice is often accompanied by severe irritation of the skin ('pruritus'), due to a buildup of other bile constituents (salts) in the blood. In addition, because the bile is not entering the intestine, the stools will be unusually pale in colour and may be bulky and smelly. This is called steatorrhea.

Waiting Treatment for Gallstones

One-third of all patients with gallstones never experience a second attack. For this reason many doctors advise watchful waiting after the first episode. Reducing the amount of fat in the diet or following a sensible plan of gradual weight loss may be the only treatments required for occasional mild attacks. A patient diagnosed with gallstones may be able to manage more troublesome episodes by:

• applying heat to the affected area
• resting and taking occasional sips of water
• using non-prescription forms of acetaminophen (Tylenol or Anacin-3)
  

A doctor should be notified if pain intensifies or lasts for more than three hours; if the patient's fever rises above 101°F (38.3°C); or if the skin or whites of the eyes turn yellow.

Bile in Gallbladder

Function Of Bile

1. It neutralizes the acid from the stomach (because bile is very alkaline)
2. It breaks down fats so that they can be digested
3. It is a natural laxative for the colon

Bile is essential in the digestion of fats. When you eat a meal with fats, the gall bladder releases a LARGE amount of bile to digest the fats. One big problem when a person has gall bladder surgery is that the body has nowhere to store bile until it is needed. Therefore, it just drips continually. And when a large amount is needed to digest a meal with a lot of fat, there is not anywhere enough bile added to digest it properly.

Nonsurgical Treatment of gallbladder

Nonsurgical approaches are used only in special situations such as when a patient's condition prevents using an anesthetic and only for cholesterol stones. Stones recur after nonsurgical treatment about half the time.

Oral dissolution therapy. Drugs made from bile acid are used to dissolve the stones. The drugs, ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol (Chenix), work best for small cholesterol stones. Months or years of treatment may be necessary before all the stones dissolve. Both drugs cause mild diarrhea, and chenodiol may temporarily raise levels of blood cholesterol and the liver enzyme transaminase.

Contact dissolution therapy. This experimental procedure involves injecting a drug directly into the gallbladder to dissolve stones. The drug methyl tert butyl can dissolve some stones in 1 to 3 days, but it must be used very carefully because it is a flammable anesthetic that can be toxic. The procedure is being tested in patients with symptomatic, noncalcified cholesterol stones.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). This treatment uses shock waves to break up stones into tiny pieces that can pass through the bile ducts without causing blockages. Attacks of biliary colic (intense pain) are common after treatment, and ESWL's success rate is not very high. Remaining stones can sometimes be dissolved with medication.

Gallstones and Kidneystones

Gallstones and kidney stones are both relatively common problems that plague people in our society. Kidney stones most commonly consist of calcium and occur in patients who excrete high levels of calcium into the urine. Other causes of kidney stones include gout (because of high levels of uric acid in the urine), and certain chronic urinary infections (which can alter the pH of the urine).

Gallstones are caused by entirely different mechanisms than kidney stones. The most common type of gallstone is composed of cholesterol. These stones occur because bile in the gallbladder develops high concentrations of cholesterol and low concentrations of the substances, such as bile acids, that keep stones from forming. Other stones are a combination of calcium and bile pigments (formed from the destruction of old red blood cells). These typically occur in people who have a rapid destruction of their blood cells, such as patients with sickle-cell anemia. The third major type of gallstone is the brown pigment stone, formed by calcium and bilirubin because of infection of the bile. Interestingly, although two of the three types of gallstones have calcium in them, they are not related to high blood levels of calcium (unlike kidney stones).

Several factors are known to be associated with a greater likelihood of forming gallstones: female gender, obesity, rapid weight loss, pregnancy, older age and use of certain medications, such as those containing estrogens. While kidney stones and gallstones are not related in the vast majority of cases, there may be a connection in a few people. One example is Crohn's disease -- a chronic inflammatory condition of the small and large intestine. Patients with Crohn's may get kidney stones because they can absorb large amounts of oxalate from their colon. Oxalate combines with calcium in the kidneys to form stones. They also can get gallstones because of a lowered capacity to absorb bile acids in their small intestine. The reduction in bile acids allows cholesterol in the gallbladder to collect and form stones.

Regardless of the cause, patients who have pain or other symptoms related to kidney stones or gallstones should be evaluated by a doctor to determine if any further action needs to be taken.

Medicines

There is no permanent medical cure for gallstones. Although there are medical measures that can be taken to remove stones or relieve symptoms, they are only temporary. If you have symptoms from gallstones, surgical removal of the gallbladder is the best treatment. Asymptomatic gallstones usually do not require treatment.

Risk of gallstones

People at risk for gallstones include

• women—especially women who are pregnant, use hormone replacement therapy, or take birth control pills
• people over age 60
• American Indians
• Mexican Americans
• overweight or obese men and women
• people who fast or lose a lot of weight quickly
• people with a family history of gallstones
• people with diabetes
• people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs