Kidney Stones - HERBAL REMEDIES AND SUPPLEMENTS

This last set of tips will go over some
herbal remedies and supplements
that have been useful in relieving
kidney stones.


 Magnesium Citrate
Studies have shown that low magnesium intake can mean
high risk for kidney stones. Taking magnesium supplements
may not only prevent stones from forming, but it can
decrease the size of an existing stone. A good dose is 500
mg daily.


Vitamin B-6
Researchers have found that a vitamin B-6 deficiency tends
to increase urinary oxalate, which may then lead to kidney
stones. A good dose is 25 mg per day.


Vitamin A
Foods rich in vitamin A have been known to treat and
prevent kidney stones. Some of these foods include:
• Apricots
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Pumpkins
• Squash


Bearberry
Bearberry is an evergreen shrub that can be used as a
diuretic and antiseptic for the urinary tract. It has been
used for a long time to fight urinary tract or bladder
infections. You can find Bearberry in a health food store in
tea form or capsules.


Cleavers
Cleavers have a history of treating congestive kidney
disorders, stones, and urinary infections. Cleavers are also
known as Clivers, Goosegrass or Bedstraw. You can find
them at any herbal store.


Corn Silk
Corn silk is used to sooth the pain of kidney stones. It also
has mild diuretic properties. You can get corn-silk at your
local herb store to increase urine flow and heal your
kidneys.


Cramp Bark
Cramp Bark is used to relax smooth muscles, and is also
works as an antispasmodic. This really helps with the pain
of kidney stones. Again, you can get this at a herbal or
health food store.


Gravel Root
Gravel root is used for many things, including kidney
stones. It also helps with the following conditions:
• Urinary infections
• Prostatitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Rheumatism
• Gout


Khella
Khella has been treating kidney stones for a long time.
Research has shown that the khella relaxes ureter tissue,
allowing smaller stones to pass easier.


Seven Barks
Seven barks is an herb that has a sedative effect on the
urinary system. It helps the system to relax, making kidney
stones easier to pass through.


Stone Root
Stone root is a strong diuretic that has a history of helping
kidney stones pass as well as preventing any more from
forming.

Kidney Stones - THINGS YOU CAN DO AT HOME

  


There are several things that you
can do at home to treat and even
prevent kidney stones. This next set
of tips will discuss some of these.


Drink Water
Probably one of the simplest things that you can do,
drinking water can really help lessen your chance of getting
kidney stones. You should drink a minimum of 50% of body
weight in ounces of water daily. For example, a 150 lb
person would drink 75 oz of water.



 Eat Well
Eating good foods can reduce your risk of developing kidney
stones. Foods like:
• Leafy green vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole grains
• Legumes
• Fish and poultry (in small portions)
• Brown rice,
• Bananas
• Oats
• Barley
32. Stay Active
Exercising and staying active can help prevent kidney
stones. Studies have shown that people who lead active
lifestyles are less likely to develop kidney stones. Start
exercising every day to reduce your risks.


Castor Oil Pack
Castor oil has anti inflammatory properties and may be
used to relieve painful cramping or spasms. To make a
pack, soak a towel in castor oil, and put it where it hurts


Hot Pack
Hot packs help to relax muscles that are tense from the
pain of kidney stones. They also can help the stones pass
easier.


Hot Vinegar
Hot vinegar can also help with the severe pain of kidney
stones. Soak a towel in a 50:50 vinegar-water solution and
place it over the painful area.
36. Restricting Oxalates
Restricting foods high in oxalates can help prevent kidney
stones. These foods include:
• Beets
• Collards
• Okra
• Refried beans
• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes

  
 Careful of Vitamin C
Some studies show that actually restricting your vitamin C
consumption, it may help prevent kidney stones. More than
3-4 grams per day can increase oxalate production, and
thus increasing the risks of kidney stones.


Watch Out For D
Excessive amounts of vitamin D can mean a risk for kidney
stones. Too much vitamin D can mean too much calcium,
which can put you at risk for kidney stones. Never get any
more than 400 IU of vitamin D per day.


Other Things to Avoid
Other things that you should avoid to lower your rsk of
getting kidney stones:
• Sugar
• Antacids
• Excessive protein
• Dairy products
• Salt
• Carbonated beverages
• Caffeine


Oral Calcium Myth
Restricting your intake of calcium doesn't seem to lower
your risk. Researchers have found that women with the
highest calcium intake are less likely to develop kidney
stones than are women who consume less calcium.

Kidney Stones - Medications

Calcium Stones
If you’re prone to calcium stones, your doctor may
prescribe a thiazide diuretic. If you have calcium stones
because renal tubular acidosis, your doctor may put you on
sodium or potassium bicarbonate.
 

Struvite Stones
Since sturvite stones are caused by bacteria in the urine,
antibiotics are used to cure and prevent them. Your doctor
may suggest long-term use of antibiotics in small doses to
prevent any future kidney stones.
 

Uric Acid Stones
For uric acid stones, your doctor may want you to take
Zyloprim or Aloprim. These medications reduce uric acid
levels in your blood and urine.
 

Cystine Stones
Cystine stones are the most difficult to treat because they
are the hardest. Your doctor may prescribe medications to
alkalinize the urine, in addition to recommending an
extremely high urine output.

Kidney Stones - Treatment

  Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is commonly
used for treating kidney stones. It uses shock waves to
break the stones into tiny pieces that are then passed in
your urine. Patients who undergo ESWL usually require
sedation or light anesthesia.


Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Sometimes ESWL isn't effective, so your surgeon may need
to remove your kidney stone through a small incision in
your back using an instrument called a nephroscope. This is
called a Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.


Ureterscopic Stone Removal
An ureterscopic stone removal procedure is performed to
remove a stone lodged in a ureter. During this procedure, a
small instrument called an ureteroscope snags the stone.
An ultrasound can also be put through the scope to shatter
the stone.


Parathyroid Surgery
Some calcium stones are caused by overactive parathyroid
glands, which are part of your thyroid gland. This causes
excess calcium, thus resulting in kidney stones. A surgeon
can perform parathyroid surgery, which stops the problem.


Neuropathic Treatment
Neuropathic treatment is a therapy that focuses on
nutrition. Many people believe that proper nutrition lead to
healthy kidney function and may discourage stone
formation.

Kidney Stones - Types

Calcium Stones
About four out of five kidney stones are calcium stones.
These stones are mainly combinations of calcium and
oxalate. Oxalate occurs naturally in some fruits and
vegetables.


Struvite Stones
Struvite stones are almost always the result of chronic
urinary tract infections. Women have struvite stones more
often than men. They come from an increased amount of
ammonia in the urine, which then turn into struvite stones.
They are often large, and are a horn shape that can
seriously damage your kidneys.


Uric Acid Stones
These stones are formed of uric acid, a byproduct of
protein metabolism. You're more likely to develop uric acid
stones if you've undergone chemotherapy, you eat a highprotein
diet or you have certain genetic factors that
predispose you to the condition.


Cystine Stones
Very few people get cystine stones. They’re usually a result
of a hereditary disorder. This disorder causes the kidneys
to excrete a lot of certain amino acids (cystinuria).

Tips for Dealing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be a very painful
experience. This ebook is designed to
give you ideas on how to prevent and
treat kidney stones.

1. Definition
Kidney stones start when minerals and other substances in
over concentrated urine form crystals on your kidneys.
These crystals can combine to form small, hard masses, or
stones. Most kidney stones pass into your bladder without
causing any permanent damage, but some cause
excruciating pain, while others need surgery.




2. History
Kidney stones can be dated back to the age of the Egyptian
pyramids, and they are still a common disorder today. In
fact, over the years, there have been more and more
incidences of kidney stones.


3. Symptoms
You can have kidney stones without experiencing
symptoms. If you do have signs, it probably means that
there is a blockage. Here are some of the common
symptoms:
• Intense pain that can vary in intensity over
periods of five to 15 minutes.
• Cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Fever and chills



4. Causes
There are a lot of factors that can cause kidney stones,
including:
• Heredity
• Lifestyle factors
• Medical conditions
• Diet
• Drugs
• Climate


5. Prevention
There are lots of things that you can do that will prevent
your risk of getting kidney stones. Many of these involve
simply making a few lifestyle changes. We’ll talk more
about these lifestyle changes later in this ebook.

Kidney Stone - DIAGNOSING

X-ray
If your doctor suspects kidney stones, he may order an Xray.
An abdominal X-ray can show most kidney stones and
can also help the doctor judge changes in the size of the
stone over a period of time.


Ultrasound
Some doctors use an ultrasound instead of X-rays. An
ultrasound is safe, painless and noninvasive. The drawback
is that it may miss smaller stones.


Intravenous Pyelography
An intravenous pyelography is done by injecting a contrast
dye into a vein in your arm. A series of X-rays is then taken
as the dye moves through your kidneys, ureters and
bladder.


CT Scan
The CT scan has become pretty standard for evaluating
kidney stones. It's a fast test, can identify even the
smallest stones, and doesn't require contrast dye. The
drawback is that it’s very expensive.