Re: Hey Telman
Mechanism of the liver flush.
Epsom Salts (Magnesium sulphate)
Epsom Salts is a Hyperosmotic saline type laxative which acts within 1-2 hours. It contracts the gallbladder, relaxes the sphincter of Oddi, and increases gastric, intestinal and pancreatic secretion and the production of cholecystokinin.
Cholecystokinin: The name of this hormone describes its effect on the biliary system - cholecysto = gallbladder and kinin = movement. The most potent stimulus for release of cholecystokinin is the presence of fat in the duodenum. Once released, it stimulates contractions of the gallbladder and common bile duct, resulting in delivery of bile into the gut.
The Sphincter of Oddi is a muscular valve that opens the bile duct to the duodenum.
Hyperosmotic saline type laxative means that the magnesia acts to pull a salt or saline solution into the intestines from the blood. This excessive fluid then provides a flushing or laxative action within the intestines. There is an inherent loss of salt from this process resulting in mild dehydration. Many people can re-hydrate by drinking water but active people require the inclusion of electrolytes in the form of salts added to the water. To re-hydrate take a pinch of baking soda and a pinch
Sea Salt in a pint of water.
The
Epsom Salts also purges the stomach of its contents ensuring that it is fully emptied to receive the flush potion.
Olive oil/
citric acid Potion
The olive oil and
citric acid can be consumed separately but if mixed together to form an emulsion will improve the flushing function.
The mixture of oil and lemon/grapefruit juice is extremely acid. The stomach will not need to process the mixture by adding stomach acid or churn the concoction as is would with complex foods. A small amount of the stomach contents is secreted into the duodenum where it is sampled. Immediately the production of cholecystokinin is stimulated by the olive oil which signals the gallbladder and liver that bile is required. It is also responsible for triggering the gallbladder to contract and the sphincter of odi to relax. The olive oil potion then rapidly transit into the duodenum within about 20 minutes. More cholecystokinin is secreted as more oil detected demanding greater quantities of bile and causing the gallbladder to contract repeatedly until the oil has been micro-emulsified by the bile. The function of the gallbladder is to concentrate, store, and release bile, and to add to it some secretory products (e.g., mucous substances). Very large amounts of bile are required to mix with fat and also large quantities of bicarbonate, found in bile and secretions from the pancreas to neutralise the acid. There is a resultant tidal wave (the flush) of biliary activity to process the large quantity of high acid and high fat in the potion.
If only the olive oil was consumed it would sit in the stomach while stomach acid was added and it was then churned to form a course emulsion. The contents would be passed slowly to the duodenum. As far as I know this does not result in a flush.
Eating a very acid meal like the lemon/grapefruit juice in the flush potion stimulates the production of a substance called secretin. Its effect on the biliary system is very similar to what was seen in the pancreas - it simulates biliary duct cells to secrete bicarbonate and water, which expands the volume of bile and increases its flow out into the intestine. This stimulates liver cells to produce bicarbonate and water, which increases the volume of bile as its flows through the biliary tree into the duodenum.
Acid food can not pass into the intestines because it would damage the delicate intestinal lining.
The duodenum although only 9
inches long is the organ where the acid levels are regulated. The pancreas produces bicarbonate equal to several Alka-seltzers every day. The pancreas can also produce stones although these are much rarer than gallstones. Fluids secreted by the pancreas flow into the biliary tree just before the sphincter of Oddi and the duodenum.
The combination of the Epsom salts followed by the oil and acid ensures a very effective flushing of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas.
The acid/oil potion can be fortified with cholagogic and choleretic herbs to magnify the secretion of cholecystokinin and increase the flow of bile. Turmeric, ginger and dandelion are all effective and safe. Ginger is especially valuable because it reduces the effects of mild nausea.
The post flush doses of Epsom salts taken after the flush potion at a time dependant upon the protocol adopted ensures the rapid transit of gallstones, stale bile and other potentially toxin debris through the intestines where it is evacuated without being re-absorbed. The ileum which is a part of the intestines just before the colon start is responsibly to reabsorbing 80 to 90 percent of the bile secreted by the liver and gallbladder. Venous blood from the ileum goes straight into the portal vein, and hence through the liver where the bile acids are extracted very efficiently and very little escapes the healthy liver into systemic circulation. The net effect of this enterohepatic recirculation is that each bile salt molecule is reused about 20 times, often two or three times during a single digestive phase. Flushing breaks this cycle by evacuating "stale" bile products and the manufacture of "fresh" bile.
Telman