Liver Flush Program

Liver Flush

(As a medical doctor and an alternative doctor I try to see this subject with an open mind. In theory, this flush is plausable, but many of the details that certain sites contain on what actually comes out are not entirely accurate. Regardless of what is really exiting via the flush, if it improves symptoms, why not try it)

Cleansing the liver and the gallbladder dramatically improves digestion, which is the basis of your whole health. You can expect your allergies to improve, too, more with each cleanse you do! Incredibly, it can also eliminate shoulder, upper arm, and upper back pain ( which is sometimes referred pain from the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas). You have more energy and increased sense of well being.

It is the job of the liver to make bile, 1 to 1.5 quarts in a day! The liver is full of tubes (biliary tubing) that deliver the bile to one large tube (the common bile duct). The gallbladder is attached to the common bile duct and acts as a storage reservoir. Eating fat or protein triggers the gallbladder to squeeze itself empty after about twenty minutes, and the stored bile finishes its trip down the common bile duct to the intestine.

Although gallstones can form anywhere in the biliary tree, the most common point of origin is within the gallbladder. Three types of gallstones exist: pure cholesterol, pure pigment, and mixed.

Under normal conditions, a delicate balance occurs among the levels of bile acids, cholesterol, and phospholipids. A disparity in this balance, especially with the supersaturation of cholesterol, predisposes patients to the formation of lithogenic bile and the subsequent development of cholesterol-type gallstones.

Pigmented gallstones are composed of calcium bilirubinate and appear in 2 major forms: black and brown. Hemolysis and liver disease are associated with the black stones; the brown, earthy stones more frequently are formed outside the gallbladder and often are associated with bacterial infections of the biliary tract.

Bile stasis predisposes to the formation of biliary sludge and eventual formation of gallstones and commonly is observed in patients who are unable to take enteral nutrition.

For some people, including children, the biliary tubing can contain stones. Some develop allergies or hives but some have no symptoms. When the gallbladder is scanned or X-rayed cholesterol stones are not seen. There are over half a dozen varieties of gallstones, most of which have cholesterol crystals in them. They can be black, red, white, green or tan colored. The green ones get their color from being coated with bile. Other stones are composites- made of many smaller ones- showing that they regrouped in the bile ducts some time after the last cleanse.

In some cases, the very center of a stone may contain bacteria, according to scientists, suggesting a dead bit of parasite might have started the stone forming.

As the stones grow and become more numerous the back pressure on the liver causes it to release less bile. Imagine the situation if your garden hose had marbles in it. Much less water would flow, which in turn would decrease the ability of the hose to squirt out the marbles. With gallstones, much less cholesterol leaves the body, and cholesterol levels can rise.

There are many ways to rid the body of gallstones. Surgery, medications, supplements, to name a few, but the purpose of this page is to naturally purge the liver and help the gallbladder empty its contents.

Preparation

You can't clean a liver with living parasites in it. You won't get out many stones, and will feel quite sick. It is recommended that you get through the first three weeks of the parasite killing program before attempting a liver cleanse. If you are on a parasite maintenance program, do a high dose program the week before.

Completing the kidney cleanse before cleansing the liver is also recommended. You want your kidneys, bladder and urinary tract in top working condition so they can efficiently remove any undesirable substances incidentally absorbed from the intestine as the bile is being excreted.

***the above preparation is for liver cleansing, if you only want to clear gallstones you can skip the above steps***

Liver cleanse and gallbladder cleanse flush with NO surgery

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Olive Oil Extra Virgin (= 1.25 dl)

1 Big grapefruit (2 small) (Or 3 lemons)(some have used grape juice)

4 tablespoon EPSOM salts

Choose a day like Saturday for the cleanse, since you will be able to rest the next day.

Take no medicines, vitamins or pills that you can do without; they could prevent success. Stop the parasite program and kidney herbs too, the day before.

Eat a no-fat breakfast and lunch such as cooked cereal with fruit, fruit juice, bread and preserves or honey (no butter or milk), baked potato or other vegetables with salt only. This allows the bile to build up and develop pressure in the liver. Higher pressure pushes out more stones.

How well did you do?

Expect diarrhea in the morning.

Only bile from the liver is pea green.

Calcified stones and stones containing protein sink

Sometimes, the bile ducts are full of cholesterol crystals that did not form into round stones. They appear as a "chaff" floating on top of the toilet bowl water. It may be tan colored, harboring millions of tiny white crystals. cleansing this chaff is just as important as purging the stones.

How safe is the liver cleanse? It is very safe based on many clinical studies. It is also safe for persons in their seventies and eighties. None went to the hospital; none even reported pain. However it can make you feel quite ill for one or two days afterwards, although in every one of these cases the maintenance parasite program had been neglected. This is why the instructions direct you to complete the parasite and kidney rinse program first.

This procedure contradicts many modern medical viewpoints. Gallstones are thought to be formed in the gallbladder, not the liver. They are though to be few, not thousands. They are not linked to pains other than gallbladder attacks. It is easy to understand why this thought: by the time you have acute pain attacks, some stones are in the gallbladder, are big enough and sufficiently calcified to see on X-ray, and have caused inflammation there. When the gallbladder is removed the acute attacks are gone, but the bursitis and other pains and digestive problems remain.

Pictures of gallstones

PREVENTING GALLSTONES - Here are several points to keep in mind:

It is an interesting fact that people who do not eat meat, dairy products, or eggs rarely have gallstone attacks. It is animal fat which tends to form gallstones.

Drinking water helps prevent gallstone formation. It has been discovered that those with gallstones drink little water.

Drinking a pint of water causes the gallbladder to empty about 10-20 minutes later. This is the ongoing way to keep the gallbladder cleaned out and in fairly good condition; that is, if you do not eat any fats of animal origin.

Lack of exercise increases the likelihood of gallstone formation. Cholesterol is excreted more rapidly by the liver and bladder with more exercise. The truth is that everything works better when you exercise regularly.

Do not overeat. This is very important.

Do not eat processed, fried, sugared, spicy, or junk foods.

Do not use alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco.

Keep your weight down. Overweight women over 40 who have had several children have the most gallstones.

Oral contraceptives (and other drugs containing estrogen) increase cholesterol saturation of bile.

A diet low in vitamin C increases the risk of gallstones.

Eating lots of refined carbohydrates increase stone formation. Not including enough fiber in the diet does also.

Taking 2 tbsp. of lecithin each day immediately results in increased phospholipid concentration in the bile. This directly lowers and disperses gallstones.

Animal protein in the diet increases stone formation; vegetable protein tends to reduce the size of the stones.

Liver Support

As the largest internal organ, the liver performs many functions icluding detoxification of the body. The liver detoxifies the body by filtering these toxins directly and by altering certain toxins so that they can be removed at other stages of detoxification. Some of these toxin are removed into the colon or are sent to the kidneys for removal. Therefore, a properly functioning liver is vital to your health.

What can you do to help your liver? Lifestyle changes can help limit and dilute the level of toxic load that your liver has to handle. By drinking plenty of water, eating healthy, and getting regular exercise you can help the liver eliminate toxins. Eating the proper foods and nutrients can also give the liver the proper tools that it needs to do its job and to stay healthy.

The following is a list of nutrients the liver needs:

Milk Thistle- The main ingredient silymarin is thought to help the liver function and has antitoxin activity. It prevents free radical damage and stimulates the production of new liver cells. It also protects the kidneys. Milk Thistle has also been shown to have anticancer effects against prostate cancer and breast cancer.

L-Methionine- This is an amino acid that the liver uses to creat glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant and is used by the liver to detoxify harmful compounds. Some glutathione is released from the liver directly into the bloodstream where it helps maintain the integrity of red blood cells and to protect white blood cells. Glutathione is also found in the lungs and the intestinal tract. It is needed for carbohydrate metabolism and appears to exert anti-aging effects.

Food sources: beans, eggs, fish, garlic, lentils, meat, onions, soybeans, seeds, and yogurt.

N-Acetyl-Cystine (NAC)- The liver also used this compound to create glutathione. NAC is used by the liver and the lymphocytes to detoxify chemicals and other poisons. It is a powerful detoxifier of tobacco smoke, alcohol, and many environmental pollutants, which are immune suppressors.

Alpha Lipoic Acid- This is an antioxidant that helps revitalize glutathione and supports the liver in its activities. It is also a recycler of vitamin C and E.

Food sources: spinach, brocolli, and organ meats.

Selenium- It is a vital antioxidant, especially when combined with vitamin E. It protects the immune system and prevents the formation of free radicals.

Food sources: Brazil nuts, brewer's yeast, brocolli, brown rice, chicken, dusle, garlic, kelp, liver, molasses, onions, salmon, seafood, tuna, wheat germ, and whole grains. It is found in various herbs and well.

Ayervedic Herbs- The most commonly used are: Boerhavia Diffusa, Eclipta Alba, Terminalia Belerica, Tinospora Cordifolia, and Picrorhiza Kuroa.

Foods to Support Liver Cleanse and Health:

Apples (nourish and protest the liver), Artichokes (Jerusalem variety), Beets (green, roots, juiced; liver cleanser, blood purifier), brocolli (has alpha lipoic acid), Carrots, Cauliflower, Collards, Cherries, Cranberries, Dandelion (Greens/Tea), Endive and other bitter greens, Garlic, Grapes, Lemons, Olives/Olive oil, Oranges, Green Peppers, Plums, Parsley, Pomegranate, Radishes, Raspberries, Sesame Seeds, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerines, Tomatoes, Turnip Greens, Walnuts, Watercress.

If you are doing a general detox program check out the Basic Detox Diet

Gallbladder Surgery Alternative

Lancet December 18/25, 1999 354:2171

The Lancet recently reported the use of one quart of pure apple juice for one week. After one full week of the apple juice one cup of olive oil was used just before going to bed. The person was instructed to lay on their left side during the night. A high dose of magnesium can be used to facilitate the removal of the stones.

Postcholecystectomy Syndrome (Gallbladder Removal)

Following the removal of the gallbladder, many patients complain of continuing symptoms that they had before the surgery. The persistance of symptoms in this group of patients suggests the possibility of an incorrect diagnosis prior to the removal of the gallbladder (ex. esophagitis, pancreatitis, radiculopathy from other areas, or functional bowel disease. It is important to rule out the possibility of choledocholithiasis (gallstone in the common bile duct) or common duct stricture as a cause of persistent symptoms.

Pain has also been associated with dilation of the cystic duct remnant, neuroma formation in the ductal wall, foreign body granuloma, or traction on the common bile duct by a long cystic duct.. The clinical presentation of colicky pain, chills, fever, or jaundice should suggest biliary tract disease. Biliary colic associated with elevated liver tests or amylase suggests the possibility of spasm or stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi.

Regular Exercise May Prevent Gallstone Surgery

The New England Journal of Medicine September 9,1999;341:777-784, 836-837

Gallstones are an important cause of disease and a common reason for surgery. Women, particularly those who have had multiple pregnancies or have certain ethnic backgrounds, such as Native American or U.S. southwestern Hispanic, are at particular risk. Obesity is an important risk factor for gallstone disease that can be modified, as are frequent changes in weight. Rapid weight loss leads to the rapid growth of gallstones and a high risk of symptomatic disease. A gallstone can develop when bile, cholesterol, calcium salts and other substances come together to form a mass in the gallbladder, the organ that stores bile. Gallstones often exist without causing symptoms, but surgery is sometimes necessary when the stones cause severe pain.

Being physically active may help a woman avoid gallstone surgery. Women who exercised the most were 31% less likely to have gallstone surgery than the least active women. Even a moderate amount of exercise was linked to a significant decline in the risk of gallbladder surgery. An average of 2 to 3 hours of recreational exercise per week appeared to reduce the risk by approximately 20%. Compared to the least sedentary women, who spent less than 6 hours per week sitting at work or driving, women who spent 41 to 60 hours a week sitting were 42% more likely to undergo gallbladder surgery.

There are a number of potential pathways that may explain the beneficial effects of exercise besides weight control. Physical activity has been shown to make the gut move more rapidly, which may prevent gallstones from forming. In addition, it may reduce levels of fatty substances called triglycerides, which play a role in the development of gallstones.

The Gallbladder Diet

Here is a great site that has information on a Gallbladder Diet.

Gallbladder Pain Relief

If you have an attack, drink 1 tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of organic apple juice. This should relieve the pain quickly.

Dissolve Gallstones Naturally

Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules contain volatile oils, which is made up of more than 40 different compounds. The oil's therapeutic effect comes mainly from menthol (35% to 55% of the oil), menthone (15% to 30%), and menthyl acetate (3% to 10%).

The Menthol contained in peppermint oil is a monocyclic monoterpene and have been clinically proven to eat away at the cholesterol surface of gallstones.

The Menthone in the oil breaks down stones into tiny, easily flushed particles

The typical dosage is to take one or two capsules (containing 0.2 ml of oil per capsule) two or three times a day, between meals.

Some studies suggest that using turmeric may also help this condition. In one study, mice were experimentally induced to produce gallstones. They were then fed modest amounts of turmeric. Within 5 weeks their gallstone volume had dropped by 45%, and after 10 weeks, by another 80%. Because turmeric increases the solubility of bile, this action is what dissolves and may also help prevent the formation of gallstones. Turmeric has a wide range of health benefits and is a wise addition to any diet.

Estrogen Causing Gallstones

In 1993 researchers studied more than 13,000 middle-aged women who enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer. The investigators followed up on the women an average of 3 years later and found that 58 of those women had developed gallstones.

Research in the Nurses' Health Study confirmed similar findings. They reported that the women who were using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) were three times more likely to develop gallstones than women who were taking no HRT at all. The researchers also found a dose-dependant response, with women who took HRT for less than 3 years 2.5 times more likely to develop gallstones, while those who took HRT for more than 3 years had 4 times the risk of developing gallstones.

Because gallstones, most commonly, are composed of cholesterol the researchers believe that the use of estrogen could promote an increase in cholesterol in bile that leads to gallstone formation. Among the women who developed gallstones, 33% of the cause could be accounted for by the use of estrogen.

Also, it is known that estrogen dominance can hinder the thyroid gland's ability to properly utilize cholesterol. If the thyroid gland is not doing this function properly, excess cholesterol will be removed by the live, which in turn creates an imbalance of cholesterol and bile salts. This imbalance leads to gallstone formation.