How to Cure Kidney Stones

Kidney Stones have become increasingly popular as a medical problem in Western Societies, largely due to our poor dietary habits. An estimated 10% of Americans will develop a kidney stone at some point in the course of their life but they are most common in white men between 30-50. Alternatively kidney stones are rare in children and the African-American population.

Kidney stones are most prevalant in the South which has notoriously been dubbed the "stone belt". Theories abound as to why this is but it is largely theorized that climate (which promotes dehydration) could be a cause as well as the region's dietary habits.

Heredity could play a factor in kidney stones because some families may have a tendency to absorb too much calcium. Also, there seems to be a correlation between teh intake of vitamin C and urinary excretion of oxalate and heredity. What this means is the individual either absorb more oxalate or metabolize too more of it.

People who have crohn's disease or IBS or who eat foods high in oxalic acid are at an increased risk of developing a kidney stone.

There are also some people who wind up with Uric Acid Kidney Stones and while this is rare, a diet geared to prevent gout is recommended.

While it is true that there are some people who are genetically dispositioned to get kidney stones, there are other factors that can put you at a higher risk to get one.

• A poor diet
• Dehydration
• Urinary pH balance
• Obesity
• Inactivity
• Metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, sarcoidosis and cancer
• Magnesium and potassium deficiency
• Allergies and food sensitivities
• Infections of the urinary tract
  

My wife tells me that if you have a kidney stone, you will know it. That said, here are some of the more popular symptoms that are tell-tale signs that you have a kidney stone...

1. Pain radiating from the upper back to lower abdomen and groin.
2. Profuse sweating
3. Frequent Urination
4. Pus and blood in urination
5. Cloudy urine
6. Nausea and vomiting

In the case of kidney stones, what you eat can be very important. As an example, vegetarians have a much lower risk of getting kidney stones than those who eat meat. Here are some recommendations of to add...I call it the kidney stone diet...

Drink plenty of water. This maintain good kidney function. I recommend drinking a glass of water every two waking hours. This is by far the most important measure you can take to prevent recurring kidney stones. Water dilutes urine and helps to prevent minerals from concentrating and forming crystals. You can also drink unsweetened cranberry juice or lemon juice to help acidify the urine unless your kidney stones are uric acid kidney stones).

Eat foods high in Vitamin A- Vitamin A is good overall for the urinary tract but it also discourages the formation of stones. Think alfalfa, cantaloupes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes.

Cut down on eating meats- If you can eliminate it altogether. A diet highi n animal protein cause an excessive amount of calcium, phosphorous and uric acid.

Add magnesium to your diet- Eat sea food, tofu and soybeans. Magnesium will help reduce the risk of getting a kidney stone.

Avoid foods high in oxalic acid like asparagus, beet greens fish, eggs, grapes, spinach and vegetables in the cabbage family.

Get active and exercise- exercise helps pull calcium from the blood to the bones. Sendentary people tend to accumulate high levels of calcium in the bloodstream where it stays.

I can not emphasize enough that kidney stones are a modern day problem largely due to poor dietary habits. If you eat like people ate in the pre-twentieth century, then chances are great that kidney stones will not be an issue.

In addition to diet, there are some herbal remedies that may help with treating kidney stones or even preventing them. Most of the herbs mentioned deal with cleansing the kidneys and helping the body process urine more properly.

• Dandilion Root- Dandilion root is a known kidney cleanser that is a popular remedy used by herbalists.
• Juniper Berry- Herbalists use juniper berry because it is a strong diuretic kidney cleanser
• Horsetail- Horsetail is another herb that has beneficial diuretic qualities. You can make a tea by taking horsetail leaves and letting them steep in cold water for 12 hours.
• Uva Ursi is a traditional herbal treatment for kidney stones. It not only relieves pain, it also cleanses teh urinary tract and fights infection.
  

There are several homeopathic remedies for kidney stones. I advise that you consult with your homeopathic practicioner before implementing....

Belladonna is good for sudden, excruciating pain in the right kidney.

Berberis Vulgaris is also helpful when you have sharp pains or shooting pains that seem to come from the bladder, thighs or testes.

Nux Vomica is for stone pain that is accompanied by cramping or vomiting.

Lachesis is for left side kidney pain.