Having a kidney stone has been compared to giving birth. Yes, it’s that painful. Kidney stones are a common problem affecting people in their 30s to 50s. Men are more likely to get them than women. Stones form when mineral salts from the urine clump together and grow. Stones not only can form in the kidneys but other parts of the urinary tract as well. The stones are usually composed of phosphates, calcium, oxalates, struvites, and uric acid. They often go unnoticed until a stone becomes trapped in the urinary tract, causing excruciating sharp pain that may cause a person to double over. Chills, fever, blood in the urine, decreased urination, and vomiting may also accompany the blockage. Here’s how to get rid of this common, yet very painful, complaint.
GOOD TO KNOW!
It is important to urinate completely to prevent residual bacteria from being trapped. Try to urinate at three-hour intervals. Be sure to wipe yourself front to back using undyed and unscented toilet paper. Also urinate before having intercourse and right afterwards, even if it means having to drink a large glass of water. Then you can go back and snuggle!
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR BEING STONE FREE
People with kidney stones are often deficient in magnesium. A supplement of magnesium (500 mg daily) with 50 mg of B6 (which helps make the magnesium more effective) will help to bind with oxalates and prevent the precipitation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. If you take calcium as a supplement with meals, it will minimize the likeliness of stone formation. Planetary Herbals makes an excellent formula called Stone Free.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Apply a castor oil compress to the kidneys to help ease the passage of kidney stones.
Using some of the following herbs can also help to be beneficial:
HERB BENEFITS
Buchu
Soothes and strengthens the urinary system
Cleavers
Clears heat and reduces inflammation
Corn silk
Regenerates and soothes irritated tissue; eases passage of stones
Couch grass
Soothes renal tissue due to high mucilage content; eases passage of stones
Goldenrod
Cleanses kidneys; helps dissolve stones
Gravel root
Aids removal of uric acid and breakup of small stones in bladder and kidneys
Marshmallow root
Eases passage of stones
Parsley root
Eases kidney inflammation and stones
Uva-ursi
Diuretic and antiseptic; helps eliminate kidney stones
Cures from Grandma’s Kitchen
The acids in apple cider vinegar can help dissolve kidney stones. Drink 2 teaspoons (10 ml) daily in a cup (235 ml) of hot water, one to three times daily.
BEST FOODS AND BEVERAGES FOR KIDNEY STONES
Consuming beta-carotene–rich foods such as apricots, broccoli, carrots, winter squash, and sweet potatoes all benefit the urinary lining. Drinking diluted carrot juice also help.
Asparagus contains a substance called asparagin, which helps the body eliminate excess uric acid.
Kale, lettuce, and parsley provide vitamin K, which helps urinary glycoprotein to prevent the growth of calcium oxalate crystals.
Foods with a favorable magnesium/calcium ratio such as avocado, banana, barley, buckwheat, lima beans, oats, and rye can also be consumed.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially noncarbonated pure (you don’t need the phosphates) water. This will help to prevent buildup of components that cause stone formation. Cranberry juice, without sweeteners, can be diluted and added to pure water to reduce the amounts of ionized calcium in the urine. Cranberry inhibits the adhesion of bacteria to the urinary tract, perhaps due to a polymer in the plant, thus allowing bacteria to be eliminated.
Thrifty Cures1
Add 1 cup (235 ml) of apple cider vinegar to the bath one to two times daily to inhibit infection. A sitz bath of baking soda (1 whole box) can also be helpful in reducing microbes. Simply add the baking soda to the bath and soak for about 20 minutes. Make sure the bathtub is very clean.
Skip This!
If you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates, low-fiber, high-fat, high-salt foods, and consume a lot of alcohol, this can cause mineral imbalances in the body and lead to a kidney stone. It’s also a good idea to avoid foods with a high oxalic acid content such as beans, beets greens, black tea, chocolate, nuts, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, and Swiss chard, as oxalic acid can contribute to stone formation. Also eat lower amounts of meat and dairy products, which can elevate levels of uric acid. Cut down on salt and alcohol. Foods that are fortified with vitamin D can cause excessive retention of calcium in the urine. Limit intake to about 400 IU daily. Also limit intake of antacids and aspirin, which can be a factor in stone formation due to their content of calcium carbonates and silicates.
This Home Remedies For Kidney Stones article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
