If you have ever had a gallbladder attack you know it can induce pain like nothing else. It feels like someone has taken a telephone pole and jammed it directly through your upper abdomen. These attacks often subside only to come back time and time again. They are sometimes aggravated by certain foods, other times you have no idea what has brought it on. Regardless it’s nearly impossible to deal with leaving you doubled over in agony. The pain may manifest itself as sharp, cramping or dull and may spread all the way through you to your back or right below the shoulder blade. You may also have an accompanying fever, yellow (jaundice) skin, even nausea or vomiting. Pleasant right?
So what are gallstones? Clearly they must be evil beings from another galaxy waging war on your insides. While it may feel that way gallstones are made out of cholesterol and or excess bilirubin in the bile of your stomach. Gallstones are more common in women than men, and predominately in those of Native American descent over 40 years of age.
These small stones start out like grains of sand and over time sit in your gallbladder rolling around like a snowball gathering layers until they form complete stones. The stones can range in size from as small as a single grain of sand looking very silt like to that of an extra large frozen pea all the way up to a quarter or half dollar size! When numerous stones are present and not passed by the body it becomes the equivalent of loading a garden hose with marbles and expecting to still be able to water your lawn. The liquid can no longer readily pass through and because of the pressure of the backup you will have excruciating pain.
So, what do you do? Your doctor will perform tests to detect the presence of inflammation of the gallbladder and detect gallstones. These tests include abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, endoscopies, and a few others. Blood tests may also be ordered for bilirubin levels, liver function and pancreatic enzymes.
Treatment that is generally regarded as the only option is surgery to remove the gallbladder entirely (cholecystectomy or laparoscopic cholecystectomy).
Medication may be tried prior to surgery CDCA chenodeoxycholic acid or UDCA ursodiol may be given in pill form to dissolve the gallstones. These methods, however, may take 2 years or longer to work and the stones may return after the treatment ends.
Rarely, chemicals are passed into the gallbladder through the use of a catheter. It is not used often as it is difficult to perform and the stones still may return.
Nearly all patients who elect to have gallbladder surgery do not have recurrent symptoms.
Now, with this being said. We were all given a gallbladder for a reason. It works along side of the liver to help break down fats when you eat a meal containing high-fat foods. Without this process, you can become deficient in Vitamins that are fat soluble like A, D, E and K. You could have trouble utilizing calcium, have dry skin, peeling on the soles of your feet, excessive burping, or experience gas and bloating. Bile that is stored in the liver and gallbladder is a very powerful antioxidant. People with a sluggish or clogged gallbladder or having had it removed often experience constipation.
Before you elect to have surgery, as surgery of any kind is hard on the body, mind, and spirit and should be a last ditch effort at improving your health, we would like to introduce the idea of doing a gallbladder and kidney cleanse.
Internal cleansing is vital to good health. Prior to doing a gallbladder & kidney cleanse it is highly recommended that a colon cleanse be done so that when the gallbladder lets go of the stones, they do not get stuck elsewhere in the digestive track.
There are a few different ways the gallbladder & kidneys can be cleansed. The one that I personally have had success with is done completely naturally and very inexpensively at that.
- Shopping list:
1-2 Gallons of organic apple juice
1 Gallon of organic grapefruit juice
Epsom salts
2 lemons
Extra virgin olive oil
Pure clean non-tap water – distilled is best
Recommendation – Please have the day off to do this, you will want a restroom nearby.
Directions – AM: Drink as much apple juice as you can handle.
NOON- Switch to grapefruit juice and keep drinking.
*No food is allowed.
2:00 PM mix ½ cup water, juice of ½ lemon, and 2 tea spoons of Epsom salts. Shake until dissolved and drink.
6:00 PM repeat the Epsom salts and lemon water
8:00 PM one more time!
10:00 PM – Ok, here is the super fun part. Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil and ½ cup grapefruit juice. Shake and drink. (It’s not as bad as you are imagining). You have 5 minutes to drink the entire thing, though I find it best just to chug it and get it over with.
Once you are done you are to lie down on your right-hand side immediately for the rest of the evening and go to sleep. Make sure you have already done all your nightly tasks before hand – brushed your teeth, changed your clothes, etc. You may feel “things” moving inside of you. It will feel weird, but it will not hurt. The stones thanks to the acids in the apple, grapefruit and lemon juice have been broken down and softened. The Epsom salts allows the tubes to open and have a diuretic effect allowing them to flow freely and the olive oil acts as a lubricant letting it all just slide on through.
When you wake in the morning, once again drink the lemon and Epsom salt mix and lay down for a few more minutes. You WILL see stones pass when you use the restroom. As there is nothing in your system other than liquids they will be easy to see and can range anywhere from looking like sand to green peas to bigger quarter size green balls! You will be astonished and happy to see that these things have left your body!
Keep drinking plenty of water, but you may now add back in some fruit for breakfast and by lunch eat normally again.
If a lot of stones do come out, it is advisable to repeat this process again in a few weeks.
Once done, you will be amazed at how much better you feel. Patients have reported the benefits of clearer sight, better skin, and more energy. Most importantly the gallbladder attacks should subside, as well as your need for surgery.
Article References:
Siddiqui T. Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Am J Surg. 2008;195(1):40-47. [PubMed]
http://www.gallbladderattack.com/gallbladder.shtml
Disclaimer: This is not an offer of medical advice, simply personal experience.