Gallstones Can Really Be A Pain

• Prevent painful gallbladder problems naturally. Over 25 million Americans have gallstones—yet only 1 million get diagnosed annually. Sudden, sharp pain in the upper abdomen, under the breastbone, near the right shoulder, or between the shoulder blades usually signals gallstones, hardened cholesterol deposits ranging in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.

A small, pear-shaped organ located right under the liver, the gallbladder releases an important digestive fluid called bile that contains cholesterol. But if cholesterol is too high or the gallbladder fails to empty correctly, bile and the substances it contains can form crystals that eventually turn into gallstones.
While 90% of people who have these stones experience no pain, anyone with intense abdominal pain—so severe that you can’t get comfortable or sit still—needs immediate care. Yellowing of the skin and the white of the eyes or high fever with chills are other signs of gallstones. Other less dramatic symptoms of gallbladder problems include rib cage sensitivity on the right side, light-colored stools, and nausea.
Age, female gender, overweight or obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, certain medications (cholesterol-lowering drugs or hormone therapy), a low-fiber diet, and rapid weight loss (from yo-yo dieting) can increase your risk for gallstones. This painful disorder has also been linked to food sensitivities like dairy or gluten intolerance, and even salmonella bacteria.
Spring is an ideal time to support your gallbladder—and neighboring liver—with seasonal detox.
With all those fresh spring greens, it’s easy to add more vegetable to your diet, lowering the risk of gallstones. The Green Life Cocktail in Fat Flush for Life can purify your system in one green sweep. Just mix 1 teaspoon of pure wheat grass or Liver-Lovin’ Formula (containing taurine to boost bile production) with 1 teaspoon of Flora-Key (packed with beneficial bacteria) in 8 ounces of Cranberry H20.
Two new lab studies show that substances in garlic and onion protect against gallstone formation—and may even reduce the size of stones. Other research suggests that coffee helps prevent gallstone formation—and Spring Fat Flush includes 1 cup a day.
Because of fenugreek’s favorable influence on cholesterol metabolism, a Canadian experiment finds this seed reduces cholesterol involved in gallstone formation. And Alternative Medicine Review reports preventive effects with vitamin C, iron, and lecithin.
For Advanced Detox
A castor oil pack stimulates the gallbladder and liver, while helping to draw toxins out of the body. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
You just need 100% pure, cold-pressed castor oil, wool (not cotton) flannel, and a heating pad. Then follow these simple steps:
1. Fold the wool flannel into 3 or 4 layers, and soak it in castor oil.
2. Place the soaked flannel in a baking dish, and heat slowly in the oven until it’s warm to your touch.
3. Lie down, gently rub 3 tablespoons of castor oil on your abdomen, and then place the soaked flannel on your tummy.
4. Cover the soaked flannel on your abdomen with plastic wrap or a plastic garbage bag.
5. Finally, cover this with a heating pad that’s comfortably (not too) hot for 1 hour.
When you’re finished, wash the oil from your tummy. You can keep the oil-soaked flannel in plastic for further use, since this oil does not become rancid as quickly as other oils.
For spring detox, I recommend using the castor oil pack once a day for 3 successive days, then take 3 days off, and use it for another 3 days. If you suffer chronic fatigue or frequent infections, consider using this pack daily for 2 weeks out of every month while on Spring Fat Flush.
-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman