By Kasara D’Elene MS, LMHC
Some people believe that there is an emotion underlying each organ. The emotion for the gall bladder is expressed as bitterness. You may have heard people say “that really galls me!” Gallbladder issues are common these days and unfortunately many people opt to have their gallbladder removed which isn’t always the best option. There are other choices and many people have used simple techniques to repair the gallbladder and flush gallstones, a common ailment successfully. If you already have had your gallbladder removed there are actions you can take to help your liver to do the gallbladders job successfully helping you to maintain optimum health.
Organ Information
The gallbladder is a small sack that serves as a reservoir for the bile secreted by the liver. It lies on the inferior surface of the liver to the right of the midline and joins the common bile duct via the cystic duct. Because fats form large globules, they must be broken down into smaller particles to increase the surface area for digestion. This is the function of bile. Fats in the chime, (partially digested food) containing lipids or fats enter the duodenum. This initiates a mechanism that contracts the gallbladder and forces bile into the small intestines, stimulating the secretion of the hormone cholecystokinin (ko-le-sis-toe-KYE-nin) or CCK from the intestinal mucosa of the duodenum. This hormone then activates the gallbladder’s contraction, and bile flows into the duodenum. Between meals, the bile moves up the cystic duct into the gallbladder. Gallstones are a common problem when the fluids in the body become too acidic.
If you want to read more about how your gallbladder works, I recommend a book called “Your Health, Your Choice” by Dr. M. Ted Morter, JR.,M.A. He explains this, in lay language, on pages 69-75, including how the pH plays an important role, how sodium is a major factor and cholesterol’s role. Anybody thinking about gallbladder removal surgery should read this book first.
Anyone who has had their gallbladder removed should be diligent about improving their diet. Removing an organ doesn’t improve health. It may reduce symptoms, (and often times it creates more), but it doesn’t cure the underlying cause that brought about the symptoms. People who must have their gallbladder removed are too acidic. Unless they change the conditions that brought about the problem, they will remain acidic after the gallbladder and pain are gone, causing additional symptoms to crop up elsewhere. Gallbladder disease is a symptom of overall physiological distress. The problem is the person’s health, not whether or not they have a gallbladder.
Fats And The Gallbladder
The average American diet is heavily concentrated in fats and oils. We not only consume too much of this calorie source, we tend to consume them in the wrong forms. However, all fats aren’t bad. We need a certain amount to maintain health. Without them we can’t absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D and K, and form healthy skin, hair capillaries and cell membranes. But, fats are needed in smaller proportions than we usually consume, and not all fats are alike. Some fats are better for us than others. How fats are digested and assimilated determine their effect on our health.
Flushing Out The Gall Bladder
Olive oil is often used to flush out the gall bladder. Generally people who are trying to flush out their gall bladder will fast for 24 to 48 hours on fresh, raw apple juice (or some other raw fruit or vegetable juice) to clear the colon. Sometimes it is advisable to take an herbal laxative before as well. Liver and gallbladder formulas may also help here. Check with your health professional to see what might work best for you. One might also wish to take Hydrangea (a stone solvent) as well.
Enzymes may also be useful and are available in many forms. Lipase is an enzyme that is used to help the body digest fats. If you no longer have a gallbladder it is often recommended that this enzymes is used to assist the body in digesting fats.
These steps are not absolutely essential, but they do help prepare the body for the flush. Many people find using these tools they have a good experience doing a cleanse. If your body is not prepared properly, people can have bad experiences including diarrhea or vomiting.
To start the cleanse, just before going to bed, after you have fasted or taken supplemental products for a week or so, drink ½ cup of cold pressed virgin olive oil and ½ cup lemon juice. Mix these together thoroughly like you would shake up a salad dressing. The lemon juice cuts the olive oil and makes it more palatable. It sounds and smells worse than it tastes. Next, lie on your right side for one half hour before going to sleep. In the morning, if you don’t have a bowel movement, try an enema. Generally, you will pass some dark black or green objects, which look like shriveled up peas.
There are a number of versions of this procedure, but they all rely on olive oil. This is because the olive oil acts as a solvent of cholesterol, the chief constituent of gallstones.
Fried Foods
One of the biggest favors you will ever do for your gallbladder is to quit eating fried foods. Every time you heat oil, you create free radicals, which contribute to cancer, heart disease and aging. The more the oil is heated, the more of these hazardous substances it develops. Fast food restaurants often deodorize, filter and reuse the same oil for days or even weeks. So, if you never go to another fast food restaurant in your life, you will be doing yourself a huge favor – sounds like a great resolution to me!
Sometimes staying away from fast foods is tough because we crave their products. Many health experts believe that if you have a constant craving for fats, it may because you have difficulty in digesting them. In fact, any food we crave excessively probably contains nutrients we need, but are not digesting properly. Many of my customers find that if they do a gall bladder cleanse, they will no longer crave fatty foods.
I have had many customers who have trouble taking essential fatty acid supplement such as fish or flax oil. They tell me that they burp up the oil and can taste it afterwards. Usually this means that they are not digesting the fats and doing a gallbladder cleanse can help this process to allow them to digest fats correctly. Unfortunately when we don’t digest fats, they just go rancid in our body which can cause rashes, or other toxic conditions in our bodies.
In Summary
There are many supplements that can assist with the gallbladder; it is best to talk with your health professional to find the best ones suited to your body.
Look past the symptoms and to the cause. Examine your feelings and their relationship to your health. Then take care of your body on a spiritual and physical level. Now is the perfect time let to go of your bitterness and find the forgiveness and joy you deserve for loving yourself and the people around you.
Kasara D’Elene MA, LMHC is a Certified Herbalist with a degree in Science. She is owner & operator of Tru-Health LLC at 18001 Bothell-Everett Hwy. www.truhealth.com
Provided for informational purposes and not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment. Please consult the Health Practitioner of your choice to determine what will best assist you in your health.
