8th flush and soapmaking experiment

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For anyone keeping track, flush #7 produced nothing. No green

stones or tan stones or sludge. Nothing.

Flush #8 produced several stones. Most of them were tan on

the outside with green waxy stuff on the inside. The largest

was 2.3 cm x 1.6 cm.

I don't know if the saponified olive oil debate is still going

on, but just for fun, I made a mix of olive oil, grapefruit

juice, lime juice, epson salts, lye and water. I don't recommend

anyone trying this because lye and water forms a toxic gas and

gets very hot. However, I have a bit of experience soapmaking

and did that part outside. I warmed the juice/oil/salt combo

and cooled the water/lye combo to 100F before mixing them all

together. I then divided the mix, placing half in a ziploc

freezer bag and putting it on a heating pad to keep warm. I

managed to keep the bag between 94F and 98F for almost 48 hours.

No soap or clumps or anything formed.

I left the other mixture in the pan and kept it between 90F and

100F for 12 hours before losing interest and letting it cool to

room temperature (70-80F in Texas this weekend). After 36 hours,

there were some yellow soap " flakes " on the top of the mixture.

I scooped out a bit and washed my hands. Definitely soap. I put

a bit more in cool water and they dissolved within minutes.

My stones from flush #3 are stored in water at room temperature

and have yet to dissolve after several weeks.

I realize this proves nothing, but it is interesting.

Just for my own information, does anyone know the consistency

of bile? I think most of my stones have been thickened bile with

an outer coating of something - cholesterol maybe? But I don't

know how thick bile is supposed to be normally. I do know that I

feel much better after flushing, but still not 100%.

Donna