Hepatic - Liver flush

by Paul Bergner

Medical Herbalism 12-31-93 5(4): 5

A traditional remedy for sluggish liver is the “liver flush” comprising a tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of a lemon, sometimes with a pinch of cayenne pepper. A more vigorous application, with a pint of olive oil and the juice of ten lemons has been used to “expel gallstones.” There are many stories of the patient passing “gallstones” after such a treatment, but whenever the stones themselves have been carefully examined, they have not been gallstones but either intestinal cystoliths or emulsified oil.

Either treatment can be risky with gallstones, however. It is not uncommon for a fatty meal to provoke a gallbladder crisis and a trip to the hospital. Large amounts of olive oil might do the same.

We have received two cases reports of gall bladder crisis required emergency cholecystectomy, induced by a liver flush flushing a stone into the gall duct and causing its blockage.
 

Copyright 2001 Paul Bergner    171