Natural health: Gallstones and urticaria
My mother has gallstones and would like to try the olive oil remedy. I have found many different instructions online but am not sure which one is best.
What would you recommend?
While the lemon juice and olive oil protocol is widely used, the evidence that it works is still largely anecdotal in nature.
This doesn’t mean that it won’t work for your mother, but bear in mind that it has not been scientifically validated.
As you have already discovered, there are many variants on this old remedy.
The most popular protocol is as follows: Combine half a teaspoon (2.5ml) of lemon juice with quarter of a cup (60ml) of olive oil.
Take this combination five times daily preferably on an empty stomach (although this can cause nausea or vomiting in some individuals) until the stones have passed.
Typically this treatment works within two days, and may have a relatively extreme purgative action.
Cholesterol is the main ingredient in most gallstones, and along with eating a healthy diet, your mother should consider supplementing with vitamin C, which helps in converting cholesterol to bile acids, reducing the risk of developing gallstones.
To find out the correct individual dosage, your mother should ideally begin with 1,000mg of vitamin C, taken in 500mg increments, and increase by 500mg each day until she reaches tolerance level (the bowels become slightly loose) and then scale back by 500mg.
Vitamin C requirements tend to change considerably according to our needs and state of wellbeing — when we are very ill or stressed, our needs increase significantly.
Along with cholesterol, constipation is another common underlying issue where gallstones and gallbladder issues are concerned.
Psyllium husks are an excellent remedy if constipation is a problem for your mother as they not only help to soften and expel faeces, they also assist in reducing cholesterol levels.
You simply combine 1-2 teaspoons of psyllium husks in a large glass of water or fresh juice first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and drink the mixture straight away.
Starting with the smaller dosage and increasing as necessary is best — some people find that they need as much as 2 tablespoons to find relief.
I have urticaria and feel very uncomfortable all day long. What can I do?
Often referred to as hives, urticarial typically shows up as a raised reddened rash.
There are two main types — acute (sudden onset, generally lasting a matter of weeks), and chronic (gradually worsening, with symptoms ongoing).
The first type is usually a result of an allergic type reaction, while the second is more likely to be associated with an autoimmune disorder or something in your immediate environment that you are reacting to.
There are two herbal remedies that have proven to be very useful in the treatment of urticarial. The first is nettle, as in stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which is most effective when taken internally as a syrup or tincture.
The second is chickweed (Stellaria media), a short term solution applied topically as a gel, cream, or poultice to calm the reaction.
You can make your own tincture using fresh nettle by adding around 30g of fresh finely chopped herb (20g dried) to 100ml of 35-40% alcohol vodka and infusing it in a clean jar or bottle for 2 weeks in a cool dark cupboard.
Strain the tincture through muslin cloth into a bottle and take 1-2 teaspoons daily diluted in water or fruit juice.
To make a syrup you need to first infuse the herb in a teapot or similar using the same amount of nettle as for the tincture, but adding 500ml of boiling water.
Steep for 15 minutes and then strain the liquid into a double boiler (or bowl over a pot of water) containing 500g of honey, pressing the soaked herb so that you get the most from the nettle.
Gently heat the bowl or double boiler for around an hour, or until the mixture has reached a syrupy consistency, then pour into a bottle and leave to cool.
Take 1-2 teaspoons twice daily.
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