Don't know about the apples opening the bile duct...but the malic acid in apples helps to break down stones so that they are easier to eliminate. You can use apples in a couple of ways....juice them and drink fresh apple juice for the week prior to your flush...or you can do an apple fast...eat only apples for 3 days and follow with a flush.

Taking a generous dose of magnesium prior to a flush will help to relax the bile duct...you can still get magnesium supplements in the UK, right?!

I got my last supply of Epsom Salts from Boots - that was approx 2 weeks ago. I do see any problems in getting them.

You can get them at the Croydon Town center boots pharmacy, in london. Maybe the store you looked in, was temporarily out of stock.

I got mine from Boots too. The apple fast is described on either www.relfe.com/gall_stone_cleanse.htm or www.sensiblehealth.com site (I can't remember which as I found the sites on the same night, but they're both informative).