gallbladder flush

[debit]

Hi Dr. Steve,

I had an ultrasound and I was found to have a gall stone. My Dr. told me there was nothing to do unless I have pain and then I should go to the hospital and have my gall bladder removed. I have never had any pain from it, but I checked Wikipedia and I found information on a gallbladder flush.

Is the gall bladder flush a crock?



Thanks.


Wikipedia Article

A regimen called a "gallbladder flush" or "liver flush" is a popular remedy in alternative medicine.[12] In this treatment, often self-administered, the patient drinks four glasses of pure apple juice (not cider) and eats five apples (or applesauce) per day for five days, then fasts briefly, takes magnesium, and then drinks large quantities of lemon juice mixed with olive oil before bed. The next morning, they painlessly pass a number of green and brown pebbles purported to be stones flushed from the biliary system.

A New Zealand hospital analyzed stones from a typical gallbladder flush and found them to be composed of fatty acids similar to those in olive oil, with no detectable cholesterol or bile salts,[13] demonstrating that they are little more than hardened olive oil. Despite the gallbladder flush, the patient still required surgical removal of multiple true gallstones. The note concluded: "The gallbladder flush may not be entirely worthless, however; there is one case report in which treatment with olive oil and lemon juice resulted in the passage of numerous gallstones, as demonstrated by ultrasound examination."[14]

In the case mentioned, ultrasound confirmed multiple gallstones, but after waiting months for a surgical option, the patient underwent a treatment with olive oil and lemon juice resulting in the passage of four 2.5–cm by 1.25–cm stones and twenty pea-sized stones. Two years later symptoms returned, and ultrasound showed a single large gallstone; the patient chose to have this removed surgically

[Dr Steve]

Hi Dr. Steve,

I had an ultrasound and I was found to have a gall stone. My Dr. told me there was nothing to do unless I have pain and then I should go to the hospital and have my gall bladder removed. I have never had any pain from it, but I checked Wikipedia and I found information on a gallbladder flush.

Is the gall bladder flush a crock?

I'll have to say "crock" on this one, budday. There really isn't a single shred of evidence that drinking juice and olive oil will rapidly flush stones from the gallbladder. In fact, most stones IN the gallbladder are too large to get through the neck of the gallbladder to get out.

http://www.sanantoniosurgery.com/images/lap_gallbladder.jpg
http://curesure.com/Image_5.jpg

Gallstones that cause no symptoms don't require any treatment, generally speaking. You'd think a low-fat diet would prevent stones, since being overweight increases the risk of gallstones, but in fact, diet does not change the formation of stones and rapid weight loss is actually a risk factor for developing stones.

You can treat gallstones with medications, rather than surgery, but if you have an acute gallbladder attack (severe pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, among other symptoms) surgery is the best and really only option.

Drugs made from bile acids can be used to dissolve gallstones. It may take months or even years for the gallstones to all dissolve, and the stones often come back. These drugs work best for cholesterol stones and cause mild diarrhea in many people. This treatment is usually offered only to people who are not able to have surgery.

[Tall_James]

You can treat gallstones with medications, rather than surgery, but if you have an acute gallbladder attack (severe pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, among other symptoms) surgery is the best and really only option.

And don't wait. I had the same issue and a gall stone got loose and clogged up my common bile duct turning me yellow and getting my biliarubin level over 10 necessitating a 3 day stay in the hospital. Plus, if you do it when you're not having an attack the chances of getting it done laproscopically versus open surgery are much much greater.

And trust me, you want to have your gall bladder taken out laproscopically. I had to have open surgery and it blows.

[Kris10]

omg, that one pic is disgusting!

[LaBoob]

If those flushes don't work then what are the green stone-like things that come out? I have a bunch of friends who've done this and swear by it because of the visible results.

[Dr Steve]

If those flushes don't work then what are the green stone-like things that come out? I have a bunch of friends who've done this and swear by it because of the visible results.

It's an excellent question. The research I did indicated that the stuff in the stool is a byproduct of the flush stuff itself. This is also the case in "colon cleanse" products that show pictures of people pulling 5 foot long ropes of crap out of their asses and claiming that they're "impacted feces" and "parasites"...it's all byproducts of the colon cleanser itself.

Now, here's how you find out: first you identify someone with gallstones. you do the gallbladder flush. then RESCAN THEM. If the stones are still there, it didn't work, no matter how much stone-like stuff appears in their feces.

Read my ear candle thread...people swear they work because they see "wax" on the end of the candle after it's pulled out of the ear. Thing is, that "wax" is candle wax...nothing comes out of the ear at all. This can be proven by sticking an ear candle in a cup and lighting it. The "wax" appears as if by magic even though there's no ear nearby.

I am very open to "alternative" methods of medical care, really I am. I'm quite opposed to people making money with sham treatments, though, especially when they know good and well that the stuff they're selling is phoney. Also, I'd be interested in any peer-reviewed articles showing gallbladder flushing in a positive light. I'm always happy to be proven wrong :-) just means I learn something new.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

Is it true that you can make really swell jewelry out of gallstones ?

[LaBoob]

It's an excellent question. The research I did indicated that the stuff in the stool is a byproduct of the flush stuff itself. This is also the case in "colon cleanse" products that show pictures of people pulling 5 foot long ropes of crap out of their asses and claiming that they're "impacted feces" and "parasites"...it's all byproducts of the colon cleanser itself.

Now, here's how you find out: first you identify someone with gallstones. you do the gallbladder flush. then RESCAN THEM. If the stones are still there, it didn't work, no matter how much stone-like stuff appears in their feces.

Read my ear candle thread...people swear they work because they see "wax" on the end of the candle after it's pulled out of the ear. Thing is, that "wax" is candle wax...nothing comes out of the ear at all. This can be proven by sticking an ear candle in a cup and lighting it. The "wax" appears as if by magic even though there's no ear nearby.

I am very open to "alternative" methods of medical care, really I am. I'm quite opposed to people making money with sham treatments, though, especially when they know good and well that the stuff they're selling is phoney. Also, I'd be interested in any peer-reviewed articles showing gallbladder flushing in a positive light. I'm always happy to be proven wrong :-) just means I learn something new.

That's kinda what I thought... Thanks

I'm all for the occasional colon cleansing using herbs, aloe, and fiber but never experienced the horrifying results I've seen on the internet. I think it's all about what you use. People against colon cleansing say it's not necessary but it's just what works for me.

I like to try all-things-cleansing but this one always seemed completely outrageous... a friend of mine did this and swears by it... another one did it and can't drink or even stand the smell of grapefruit juice now because he associates it with olive oil... ew! I will just continue to enjoy my grapefruit juice, thank you very much!

[ScottFromGA]

I'll have to say "crock" on this one, budday. There really isn't a single shred of evidence that drinking juice and olive oil will rapidly flush stones from the gallbladder. In fact, most stones IN the gallbladder are too large to get through the neck of the gallbladder to get out.

http://www.sanantoniosurgery.com/images/lap_gallbladder.jpg
http://curesure.com/Image_5.jpg

Gallstones that cause no symptoms don't require any treatment, generally speaking. You'd think a low-fat diet would prevent stones, since being overweight increases the risk of gallstones, but in fact, diet does not change the formation of stones and rapid weight loss is actually a risk factor for developing stones.

You can treat gallstones with medications, rather than surgery, but if you have an acute gallbladder attack (severe pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, among other symptoms) surgery is the best and really only option.

Drugs made from bile acids can be used to dissolve gallstones. It may take months or even years for the gallstones to all dissolve, and the stones often come back. These drugs work best for cholesterol stones and cause mild diarrhea in many people. This treatment is usually offered only to people who are not able to have surgery.

aye, Gallbladder....how I miss thee......

I miss the days of eating spicy foods and not instantly blowing the terlet full of sloppy goodness......I feel like I've lost my innocence....:glurps:

[Dr Steve]

Is it true that you can make really swell jewelry out of gallstones ?

It soitanly is true! What did "swell" was the abdomen they came from...I don't know how "swell" the jewelry is. :smile: Here's an article about the use of gallstones in jewelry, and it has its humorous moments:

http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/zoogems/gallstones.html

also, if you happen to need any ox gallstones, these guys are selling:
http://www.tradekey.com/profile_view/uid/56232/SHAM-SUNIL-EXPORTS.htm



That's kinda what I thought... Thanks

I'm all for the occasional colon cleansing using herbs, aloe, and fiber but never experienced the horrifying results I've seen on the internet. I think it's all about what you use. People against colon cleansing say it's not necessary but it's just what works for me.

I like to try all-things-cleansing but this one always seemed completely outrageous... a friend of mine did this and swears by it... another one did it and can't drink or even stand the smell of grapefruit juice now because he associates it with olive oil... ew! I will just continue to enjoy my grapefruit juice, thank you very much!

Oh, I'm ok with the occasional colon cleanse...just don't fall for the whole "your colon is impacted with 7 pounds of ancient fecal matter" B.S. You may lose 7 pounds doing a colon cleanse, but it's due to the evacuation of a pound or two of FRESH feces, and 5 pounds of fluid.



aye, Gallbladder....how I miss thee......

I miss the days of eating spicy foods and not instantly blowing the terlet full of sloppy goodness......I feel like I've lost my innocence....:glurps:

ha, this made me laugh out loud.

[Domas]

There are methods of dissolution of bile stones that are applied only in hospital conditions; again only in stone that show no signs of calcification and are radiological invisible bile stones and a method is called Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy (dissolution of stones using a catheter through the skin from the outside, in the bile lines where a solvent is injected. Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non- invasive procedure where shockwaves are used to break apart the gall stone in the gall bladder (http://gallstones-gallbladder.blogspot.com/2010/06/gall-bladder-attacks.html).
However, it is seldom used, as gallstones are usually too large and thick to be broken down by ESWL, and because of a risk that a shattered stone could injure nearby organs. Also, recent research suggests ESWL can damage capillaries, leading to diabetes or hypertension.

[Domas]

But, most of the patients and med. staff agree that gallbladder
removal is the best and the only option for treatment of gallbladder diseased.

[cougarjake13]

But, most of the patients and med. staff agree that gallbladder
removal is the best and the only option for treatment of gallbladder diseased.

2 posts

and like that

poof


shes gone



the greatest trick that domas ever pulled was convincing people she didnt exist

[fezident]

I would guess that any kind of OTC "herbal" cleanse is a sham.
The only way to really internally CLEAN yourself is to change your diet, and let the body eliminate whatever remains.

A colonic would be exception though. Actually using water and gentle pressure would, indeed, wash and flush fecal matter from your intestines. It's my opinion that that stuff would eventually find it's way out of your body anyway but... yeah... the physical/mechanical action of introducing a high volume of liquid into your instestines would simply HAVE to clean you when it eventually finds it's way out.
See also: saline solution VS natural tears

[cougarjake13]

Aw shit

That's all I gotta do ?


Thanks slaxy

[keithy_19]

Aw shit

That's all I gotta do ?


Thanks slaxy

I wouldn't do anything he tells you to do. He's a trickster.