--- In gallstones@y..., "R. Harrill" <brixman@e...> wrote:
http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/rebello/pg39.htm

Olive Oil Treatment for Gallstones
by Dr. D. Koh
Dept. of Social Medicine and Public Health
National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore
0511.

Koh reports here a case of spontaneous passage of multiple cholesterol
gall-stones after self-treatment with olive oil and lemon juice.

It is estimated that gallstones are present in approximately 15% of
adult females and 6% of adult males, and its prevalence increases with
age. Although it is generally agreed that there is a need for surgical
treatment, in patients with cholelithiasis who develop complications,
the treatment of 'silent stones' is controversial.
At present, the application of drug treatment of cholelithiasis is
relatively expensive and limited, usually for those unfit for surgery,
with small radiolucent stones, and without history of complications.
Other methods of treatment of gall stones have also been described.
Kurtz and Classen have reported that treatment for common bile duct
stones may include endoscopic removal and lithotripsy, and gallstone
dissolution by irrigation procedures.

CASE REPORT
The patient, a 32-year old Indian male, insurance salesman, had a 3-
year
history of epigastric pain and colicky right hypochondrial pain
whenever
he took fatty meals. Physical examination was unremarkable and a
barium
meal study showed no evidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux or hiatus
hernia, and no evidence of gastric or duodenal ulcer. However, the
plain
abdominal X-ray revealed multiple radio-opaque gallstones.
The patient was advised surgery for cholelithiasis, but was not
enthusiastic about the idea. He returned the following day with news
that he had attempted a self-cure for the gallstones using olive oil
and
lemon juice. According to him, after fasting from noon, he took one
pint
of olive oil and lemon juice at 7 p.m. He then went to sleep on his
right side. At about 2 - 3 a.m., the following morning, he felt a
churning sensation in the abdomen. At 5 a.m. he passed out oily stools
which he collected in a strainer. Upon washing the stools, he found
numerous smooth stones.
Analysis of two of the stones showed them to be greenish, smooth and
soft, measuring 15 x 12 x 5 mm and 10 x 6 x 3 mm, respectively. The
stones were found to consist entirely of cholesterol.

TREATMENT
P.Airola in his book How to Get Well has described an 'oil cure' for
removal of gallstones, using raw natural unrefined vegetable oils of
olive, sunflower or walnut, while Roberts has prescribed a specific
dosage of 1 pint of olive oil and the juice of 8 to 9 lemons. The
patient is required to take 4 tablespoonfuls of olive oil followed by
1
tablespoonful of lemon juice at 15-minute intervals. This is to be
started in the evening after fasting from lunch time, and the
gallstones
are expected to be passed out within 24 to 48 hours.
This form of treatment has been largely promoted by non-physicians,
but
a doctor from Canada (Kotkas L.J.) has reported that 95% of cases he
saw
this treatment used on passed out gallstones.
This treatment is non-invasive, and numerous stones measuring up to 15
mm could be passed out. As the olive oil cure could perhaps prove to
be
a relatively inexpensive alternative to costly conventional drug
treatments, it is suggested that controlled and supervised studies
could
be considered to explore the safety and efficacy of this mode of
treatment for gallstones.
--- End forwarded message ---