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It is shocking how many people are suffering from gallbladder problems today. While the typical patient dealing with gallbladder issues used to be a woman in her 40’s who is struggling with her weight, this is not the stereotypical case anymore.
Young children, mostly girls, are having gallbladder attacks with increasing frequency and ending up in the emergency room for treatment.
In the past month alone, I have heard of two cases in my local community of teenage girls having serious gallbladder problems, one of whom, a fifteen year old, who had hers removed.
According to an interview of Dr. Atena Rosak of St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Maryland who performs many gallbladder surgeries, more and more young people — especially young women — are coming under her knife.
Hospital officials where Dr. Rosak practices agree. The percentage of people aged 30 or younger among all patients having their gallbladders removed at St. Joseph increased from 12.5 percent in fiscal year 2007 to 16.3 percent in the first 10 months of the following fiscal year. That’s a 30 percent growth in the proportion of young people in the mix in less than a year.
What is the Gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a thumb-sized organ nestled in the liver where bile is stored and concentrated. The gallbladder releases bile produced by the liver into the small intestine where it is used for proper digestion and absorption of dietary fats.
While humans can live without a gallbladder, surgical removal, called a cholecystectomy, can cause challenges consuming fats from that point forward. Since the consumption of healthy fats is so key to health, preserving this tiny organ and keeping it functional is very important!
Obviously, fats can still be consumed after gallbladder surgery as the liver continues to produce bile, but with no place to store and concentrate the bile, fats become a much trickier process to handle in the diet without suffering from moderate to severe discomfort.
Certainly, if one can avoid having a cholecystectomy in the first place with a simple gallbladder cleanse, so much the better.
What Causes Gallbladder Disease?
As many as 25 million Americans are estimated to suffer from gallbladder disease, with more than a half-million having their gallbladders removed each year.
The most common thing that goes wrong with the gallbladder is the development of gallstones.
There are two types of gallstones: cholesterol stones and pigment stones.
Approximately 80% of stones are cholesterol stones which are caused by too much cholesterol or bilirubin (a component of bile), not enough bile salts, or improper emptying of the gallbladder. The cause of pigment stones is unknown but they tend to form in those with liver disease or blood disorders.
“Roughly 20 percent of the people walking around out there have gallstones. They’re a fairly common occurrence,” said Dr. Richard A. Mackey, a biliary and pancreatic surgeon at St. Joseph Medical Center.
Gallstones can continue to grow over time and eventually cause irritation to the gallbladder itself. Sometimes, the gallstones move into the bile duct causing pain or blockage. Pain, nausea, and fever are the most common symptoms. Partial or complete blockage can also cause swelling, infection, and the need for emergency surgery.
While the causes of gallbladder disease aren’t entirely clear, poor diet, excess calcium, and estrogenic foods seem to be involved.
Best Cleanse to Flush Gallstones
If gallbladder problems are occurring in your household or if you are having problems consuming fats, consideration of a liver and gallbladder cleanse may be in order.
Andreas Moritz in his book The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse, suggests that ridding the body of substances that “clog up the body’s cleansing organs creating a toxic environment” is a wise practice for maintaining good health. He provides simple step-by-step instructions on performing a gall bladder cleanse. Dr. David Williams also details the process on his website.
While a gallbladder cleanse is simple to do, you should check with your preferably holistic practitioner first if you have a history of gallbladder problems to make sure you don’t have a large calcified stone that is too large to pass out of the bile duct.
A good friend of mine did a gallbladder cleanse over 10 years ago when he had a gall bladder attack and was told he needed surgery. The gall stones came out during the flush, his symptoms resolved and he never did have to have the surgery! Given the risks of surgery and potential complications post-op, such a simple procedure certainly seems worth a shot, wouldn’t you agree?
Already Had Surgery?
If the gall bladder cleanse fails to provide enough relief to avoid surgery, know that you can still eat fats afterward.
This article on eating fat after gallbladder surgery outlines the process for retraining the body to produce bile at mealtimes so that you can consume healthy fats without risk to health post-op.
References
More Young Women Seem to be Suffering from Gallbladder Disease
My Liver Cleanse Miracle Experience
More Information
Edward willis
My dad is having problems with his gallbladder.He told me he was getting up about 3 times a night to go to the bathroom.He has a hard time walking because of calluses on his feet.He is 98 by the way.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sai
Hi Sarah, I have a 14mm calcified gallstone.can I do this flush?
Roxette Karl Go Quinit
Just came out from a hospital trying to avoid the surgery of removing gallstone. The doctor said the size of my gallstones was 0.3-0.7 multiple. Any suggestions regarding on my problem? Do I need to do the surgery or still Okey to do the healthy lifestyle to flush the gallstones.
Luis
You know I’m thinking my issue has to do with gallbladder stones. I’ve been having pain lower back in between my shoulders and my right side. Went to the doctor thinking it may have been my kidneys they did blood work and urine test came back normal.
Seona Smith
To all those suffering from gallstones.i’m hoping you get better.I too have stones and avoiding surgery.I have had them for about 1 and a half years without too much pain,so i know how diffficult it is.Can’t wait until the day where there is an effective remedy.
Christa Laos
Thank you Sarah for your quick response. I reached out in a time of need and you responded. So very kind, thank you. I am doing much better now. I have started bowel movements again. If pain returns, I will consider seeking help. I think my body just responded by cramping for three days after the epsom salt.
Christa laos
Sarah, I have studied WAP for years and enjoyed your blog. I am commenting now, in need. I did a three day gallbladder cleanse, and it has caused much pain. Instead of releasing a lot, I have felt constipated and a dull pain in the top of my gut for days now. I do not know what to do now. Any suggestions?
Sarah
I would suggest an immediate trip to the doctor. You may have a stuck stone or another complicating factor.
anna
may i know what kind surgery did they do to you and how many stone did they removed?
angel singh
hi,
i have recently found that i have 25mm stone in my gall bladder and my gall bladder is also filled with sludge. The doctor has asked me to get the gall bladder removed. but neither i have a health insurance to cover the expense nor i can afford it by myself. i am drinking lots of apple juice now. its 3rd day today and i dont want a surgery. kindly help me.
Krista
It appears as though this thread has not been viewed very frequently lately, but I was hoping to find someone who has experience with both/either substituting the Epsom salts called for in this flush with magnesium citrate (or another form of magnesium) and/or adjusting/lowering the dosage of whatever form of magnesium iis being used. A. Moritz mentions in the book that mag citrate is the 2nd choice if sulfate can’t be tolerated but that it’s “not quite as effective”, so I’m just wondering if anyone has had good results using citrate instead, as well as how results have been with using a smaller dose, if anyone has tried that?