The role of the gallbladder is very important for our crucial health, as it helps us digest the food we consume, break up fats, and store bile which is produced by the liver and used for digestion.
As the food travels down the digestive tract into the small intestine, it signals this small organ to secrete bile that will break it down. Liver and gallbladder congestion are very common health issues, and the most common solution is the surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Dr. Axe explains the formation of gallbladder stones:
“When cholesterol and other matter within bile bind together and become more solid, they can become lodged in the inner lining of the gallbladder, growing into cholesterol gallstones over time.
The exact reason that gallstones form isn’t agreed upon by most doctors or researchers. One of the leading theories is that they can form when your bile contains too much cholesterol, which can be caused by a poor diet or hormone imbalances.
Usually, bile has the enzymes necessary to properly dissolve cholesterol released by your liver, but in some cases the liver might excrete more cholesterol than can be dissolved, so it builds up into solid pieces.
Other reasons gallstones might form are because the bile duct valve stops working properly or because the liver starts making too much bilirubin (forming “pigment gallstones”), which is a chemical used to break down red blood cells.”
Gallstone issues lead to symptoms like a sudden and intense pain in the abdomen, accompanied by nausea or vomiting, or a sudden, intense back pain between your shoulders. Also, in the case of a blocked bile duct, the skin can turn yellow.
On the other hand, numerous diseases can be traced back to a liver issue, as this organ is responsible for the growth and functioning of every body cell. Its poor performance can lead to deficiencies, malfunction, or abnormal growth pattern of cells.
Therefore, numerous health issues can be reversed by doing a liver and gallbladder cleanse, and you will restore the vitality and health.
According to Michael F. Picco, M.D.:
“A gallbladder cleanse — also called a gallbladder flush or a liver flush — is an alternative remedy for ridding the body of gallstones.
In most cases, a gallbladder cleanse involves eating or drinking a combination of olive oil, herbs and some type of fruit juice over the course of two or more days — during which you may be advised to eat nothing else. There’s no standard formula for gallbladder cleansing regimens and products. Different practitioners follow their own recipes.
Proponents of gallbladder cleansing claim that the treatment helps break up gallstones and stimulates the gallbladder to release them in the stool. The large, repeated doses of olive oil in gallbladder cleanse preparations do have a laxative effect.
And people who have taken a gallbladder cleanse report finding lumps that look like gallstones in their stool just after the procedure. When analyzed, though, these lumps turn out to be composed of oil, juice and other materials.”
These are the most common symptoms of gallbladder stones:
- Water eye bags under the lower eyelids
- Bad breath and frequent burping
- Horizontal wrinkles across the bridge of the nose
- Oily skin in the forehead area
- A yellow color of the teeth, tooth decay
- Pimples or cracks on the tongue
- Hardening and thickening at the tip of the nose
- Dark spots or patches on the lips
- Brown or black patches of spots on either side of the forehead, on the back between the shoulder blades, and on the back of hands and forearms
- One or two deep vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows
- Swollen, sensitive or bleeding gums
- Green or dark color on the temple area at the sides of the forehead
- Cataracts—a white cloud that covers the pupil of the eye
In case you have been diagnosed with gallbladder stones, you can promote relief and treat the discomfort in a natural way. There are effective herbs that can help you maintain balance, and the use of a “stone breakers” can be of help in the case of pain.
As stated by Dr.Axe:
“A gallbladder attack or gallstone attack is also called biliary colic and refers to when pain strikes in the abdomen area (often upper right part). Biliary colic happens due to a gallstone temporarily blocking the bile duct. Pain may radiate to the shoulder and may last for an hour or longer.
Gallstones can vary in terms of size, some small and softer (almost like sand or sludge) to very big and denser gallstones that expand to almost the whole size of the gallbladder. Compared to kidney stones, gallstones are usually softer since they are made of primarily cholesterol, which isn’t solid. “
Gallbladder flushes can be highly beneficial as soon as you are feeling better, and in cases you have removed the gallbladder.
Before performing a gallbladder cleanse do a digestive cleanse first to clean the bowels in order to ease the elimination of stones. Here are all the needed instructions to do the gallbladder cleanse protocol that will take about a week.
Gallbladder Cleanse Protocol
You will need:
- About 32 ounces (1 liter) of fresh green apple juice for each day of cleanse
- 6 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice, or a combination of fresh lemon and orange juice
- ½ cup of cold-pressed virgin olive oil (it acts as a lubricant for an easy removal of the stones)
- 4 tablespoons of food grade Epsom salt dissolved in 24 ounces of water (it dilates the bile ducts and relieves pain)
- A colander to collect the stones
The Week before
Drink at least 1 liter of freshly-extracted apple juice for 6 days prior to cleanse day, as the malic acid will soften the gallbladder stones. Drink the juice half an hour before meals or 2 hours after meals.
Avoid dairy and follow a low-fat diet, rich in veggies and vegetables. Avoid cold and chilled foods and drinks.
1st Day Of the Cleanse
You need to plan to stay at home this day, as you will need to rest, and frequently visit the bathroom.
Drink the 32 ounces of apple juice by noon, eat a small, light breakfast, and avoid dairy, sugar, animal protein, and fats. Eat nothing during the rest of the day, but drink plenty of water.
Mix 4 tablespoons of Epsom salt in 24 ounces of drinking water in a jar, divide the mixture into four 6-oz servings, and drink them as follows:
6.00 pm: drink the first serving of the 6-oz Epsom salt
8.00 pm: Drink your second serving.
9.45 pm: In an empty clean jar, add the olive oil and grapefruit juice close and shake the jar, and get a 6-oz glass of the Epsom salt water on your bedside table for the next morning.
10.00 pm: Drink the juice-olive oil mixture without stopping, while standing up. Remain still for at least 20 minutes, and go to bed. If you feel the urge to purge during the night, do so. Use a colander and collect the small gallstones to count them. You may feel nauseated during the night or early in the morning, but it will pass soon.
Day 2 of the Cleanse
6.30 am: Drink your third 6-oz serving of the Epsom salt water, while in an upright position.
8.30 am: Drink your last serving of the 6-oz serving of the Epsom salt water, and as much freshly extracted juices as you wish. Drink water, and eat some fruits.
Your meals should be light during the next few days.
During the cleanse, your bowel movements might be watery, and will purge out small greenish pea-sized stones in your stool. The darkest stones are the oldest. You might get rid of many tiny, white sharp-edged cholesterol crystals that could grow in the gallbladder and lead to severe problems.
You might eliminate fewer stones during the first cleanse, but your symptoms and your condition will improve. In case you feel some discomfort within the next few days or weeks, the stones deep in the gallbladder are ready to be eliminated with your next round of cleansing.
You should repeat the cleanse every month, and most people need to perform it about 5-6 times. Yet, note that once you have started the cleanse, you mustn’t leave the gallbladder without further cleanse, as it may cause even greater discomfort than before.
Remember to drink plenty of water during the cleanse, lower the fat intake, and increase the intake of fiber, through veggies, fruits, and whole grains.
A gallbladder flush is not recommended for people who have recently had a surgery, women while menstruating, individuals under 18, and women who are pregnant or nursing.
