MANILA, Philippines?I cam across something that might interest everyone who loves to eat: A friend introduced me to a treatment used for expelling gallstones. With all the acid in the food and drinks we take in, we store calcium deposits in various forms. Gallstone is one of them.

Some of my friends said they had heard about this Chinese remedy, but most of them didn?t have any first-hand experience with it. Mickey said his brother, who was experiencing extreme pain, had tried it after he learned that he had gallstones. Refusing to go under the knife, he opted for this remedy?after which, the pain disappeared and hasn?t recurred since. This convinced me to try it. The instructions:

1. Drink four to five glasses of apple juice a day for five days. You may opt to consume four to five apples, as an option.

Warm water

2. No dinner on the sixth day. Take three glasses of apple juice until 4 p.m. At 6 p.m. of the sixth day, take 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt with a glass of warm water?and another at 8 p.m. And, at 10 p.m., mix half a cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice, and drink.

In those six days, eat as normally as you would?except for the no-dinner rule on the final day.
Apple juice is supposed to soften the gallstones, while the Epsom salt with water relaxes the muscles and opens up passageways for the stones to pass. (Epsom salt can be found in many pharmacies). Thereafter, expect to go to the bathroom. Lastly, the oil will make it easier to evacuate.

The next morning, stones will ?pass? through defecation, not via urination: They?re greenish in color?and they usually float. Five other friends followed my lead and got favorable results, as well.

E-mail sandydaza@shaw.ca