The flush: Is it really what it seems?

[Guest guest]

I read with some interest two recent posting. One from Bill and one

from , both of whom drew into question the validity of the

gallbladder flush as a mechanism for removing stones. As a long term

gallbladder sufferer and as someone who has done many flushes, I have

come to the same conclusion. Namely, that the " stones " produced by

the flush are actually saponified oil. If you consider that when

doing a flush you have followed an alkalysing diet (the apple juice)

for several days and then you introduce a large quantity of oil into

your gut, you have just about the right conditions for that oil to be

saponified. The resulting " stones " have all the characteristics of

what you would expect from saponified olive oil. There would be a

very simple way of proving this and given the interest in this list

and in other places I am surprised that no one has had these " stones "

analysed by a reputable laboratory. Or at least I can find no reports

of this having been done. If the " stones " contained significant

levels of cholesterol then one would be reassured that they were

actual stones whereas if they consisted of oleates and stearates then

they would be simple artifacts of the flush process.

One circumstantial argument often put forward to support the " stone "

theory is that a flush does not always produce " stones " . If the

process was simply the coagulation of the oil then you would expect

all flushes to produce the same result. However, if you consider the

complexity of the reactions going on in your gut it is likely that

the smallest difference in diet could influence the conditions

necessary for saponification to occur. Hence, it is unlikely that any

two flushes would be the same. This has indeed been my experience

with flushes. I have also had no significant change in my gallbladder

condition as a result of doing the flushes.

A second point I would like to make is that, like , I can find

no corroborating evidence that magnesium causes the common bile duct

to dilate. So I have my doubts about a 3cm stone being able to pass

down this duct or at least not without significant pain. The sort of

pain that would have you in hospital on a narcotic painkiller of some

sort.

Having said all this, please don't interpret it as negative comment.

I have been fighting gallbladder disease for some years now and have

always been willing to try any suggestions. I think I've tried most

things discussed in this list. Tho' I am able to manage the

condition I still occassionally have a bad attack. Sadly I have come

to the conclusion that none of these remedies work for me and that

ultimately one day I'll have to face the reality of having surgery.

I'm trying to defer that day as long as possible.

Terry