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This week I received a couple of questions about doing a gall bladder flush for gall stones. It’s a common question that I thought I should address with an excerpt from my Future Health Now Encyclopedia.

The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile that is used to emulsify fats. There is an intricate balance between cholesterol, lecithin, and bile acids in the production of bile.

If the diet is high in saturated fats, which become liquid at 149°F and solid below that temperature, they will thicken the bile and lead to a buildup of cholesterol and subsequent stone formation in the gallbladder. (Yes, the body temperature is only 98.6°F) If there is insufficient lecithin, gallstones can also form.

The pain from gallbladder attacks is from sludge or stones in the gallbladder that are trying to exit through the narrow bile duct. A fatty meal stimulates the gallbladder to excrete bile for fat digestion but will also cause extreme pain if there are stones present. Stones in the gall bladder can be seen and diagnosed by an ultrasound.

An interesting avenue of research is the allergic component of gallbladder attacks. Other than medications, the biggest offenders are eggs, pork, onions, fowl, milk, coffee, and oranges. Try avoiding these foods before having surgery.

Gallbladder Flush
A folk remedy, called the gallbladder flush can be dangerous. It should only be used if there are no stones in the gallbladder. If there are stones in the gall bladder, stimulation by the flush can force stones into the common bile duct where they can become lodged in the duct and necessitate emergency surgery.

Only if there are no stones seen on ultrasound should a gallbladder flush be attempted under the watchful eye of a naturopath or herbalist. The ingredients for the flush consist of apple juice, olive oil, and lemon juice. Consult with a practitioner for the formula.

Diet:
The diet for gallbladder problems includes vegetables, whole grains, legumes, low sugar fruit (apples and pears), fish, and chicken. Meat, dairy, and fried foods are avoided, which eliminate most of the fat that congests the gall bladder.

Supplements:
* Magnesium: Choose an angstrom‐sized liquid mineral product. Take two doses twice daily for one month, and then reduce to one dose twice daily to help reduce calcium buildup in the gall bladder.

* Taurine, 250 mg once or twice daily to help balance and utilize calcium and magnesium and produce bile.

* Lecithin: Egg‐based lecithin powder or capsules to balance the cholesterol and bile in the liver. Dosage: as directed on the label, helps break down cholesterol.

* Choline 500 mg twice daily, helps produce bile.

Herbs:
Liver herbs such as: dandelion, milk thistle, burdock root, parsley, garlic, onion,
black Russian radish, and horseradish can be taken as food, teas, capsules, or
tinctures.

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