Papa was a rolling stone

For the first time in 2 weeks, I can categorically say that I feel great. Well, probably not that great as the guy in the photo, but well enough to appreciate the slightly cold morning here in Phnom Penh, do some chores in the kitchen, and sit down in front of the computer to write this post.

Spending the last weeks in a constant state of pain takes a lot out of anybody. I looked at my bed this morning and realized that the sheets desperately needed to be changed. They had soaked the sweat from my recurring fever. My bedroom felt like a sick room. The very air in my bedroom is stale, in dire need of freshening. For the first time in 2 weeks, I felt the energy to do these things.

Once the diagnosis of gallstones was confirmed a week ago, I started doing this treatment regimen to flush out my (steven sea)gallstones with no surgery. It was to run for 6 days and it involved apple juice, Epsom salt, olive oil, and lemon juice. The instructions can be found on-line, but the clearest (in my opinion) was in Sandy Daza’s column.

Here it goes: for days 1 to 5, you have to drink 4-5 glasses of apple juice a day. An alternative would be eating 4-5 apples. Meals are normal. In my case, I made sure I drank 1 tetra-brik (1 liter) of apple juice a day. My appetite was almost non-existent.

On the 6th day, you need to take 3 glasses of apple juice up to 4PM. No dinner also on the 6th day. Then at 6PM, you need to drink a glass of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). At 8PM, drink another glass of warm water with the Epsom salt. And finally, at 10PM, drink half a cup of olive oil mixed with half a cup of lemon juice.

In the morning, you’re supposed to pass the gallstones in the stool. The apple juice was supposed to soften the gallstones while the Epsom salt and olive oil exert a laxative effect, making it easier for the stones to flow from the gall bladder to the intestines and out the backdoor. To check if treatment was successful, gallstones are supposed to be greenish in color and they reportedly float.

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