About the best that can be said of kidney stones is that once you go through the experience, you may find yourself willing to go out of your way to make sure they do not come back again. For most people I know who have had kidney stones, one bout was enough to persuade them to start drinking herbal teas and to make some radical changes in their diets.
Half the people who get kidney stones suffer them again, along with the symptoms of sudden, sharp waves of pain, nausea and profuse sweating that accompany this problem. Severe cases are accompanied by bleeding and, if there is an infection, even fever. As with any kidney condition, you must see your physician to determine the exact cause of your symptoms and the severity of the condition.
Kidney stones are mineral deposits made up of calcium, uric acid or the amino acid cysteine. Medical experts agree, however, that diet is certainly a factor. For instance, kidney stones develop in vegetarians and other people who eat plenty of fresh vegetables only about half as often as in those whose diet does not include these important foods. Obesity and repeated kidney infections are also risk factors. Even after an infection has passed, a small amount of debris remains in the kidneys�"medical researchers suspect that the stones form around this debris. You are also at greater risk of developing this problem if there is a history of kidney stones in your family.
Lemon juice reduces the size of kidney stones but most herbal remedies including those based on lemon juice and hydrangea do not actually dissolve stones. Instead, they help eliminate the stones and reduce or relieve the pain that occurs as they are eliminated. The larger the stone, the more uncomfortable this can be. Herbs that reduce infection, pain and spasms are cramp bark, goldenrod and joe-pye weed, aptly nicknamed “gravel root" for its ability to get rid of stones.
At least 75 percent of kidney stones are composed of calcium combined with phosphate or oxalic acid. Medical experts believe that these stones result from an accumulation of unused calcium, and lack of exercise is generally thought to be a factor. A study conducted in 1973 showed that cranberries help prevent stones in some people by reducing the excessive amounts of calcium commonly found in the urinary tract. There is some scientific evidence that this may also be true of rose hips, which have traditionally been used to ease various urinary tract infections. Since the calcium-phosphate stones are most common in alkaline urine, cranberries and other herbs that acidify urine also help prevent stones.
Bacteria and the alkaline urine they produce increase levels of the enzyme urease that contributes to kidney stones. Studies on rosemary conducted in Paraguay, where this herb is an important folk medicine, showed that it almost completely inhibits urease. Uric acid stones are found in urine that is too acidic. If you get this type of stone, eat cherries, strawberries, apple juice, asparagus and nettles to make your urine more alkaline. Also consider changing your diet. One thing that can cause overly acidic urine is an overabundance of protein. The herbs meadowsweet, sarsaparilla, joe-pye weed and plantain help rid the kidneys of excess uric acid. This use for meadowsweet was acknowledged in a French medical journal in 1942.
Add hydrangea, wild yam and cramp bark to water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, add other herbs, cover pan and steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain and keep refrigerated. Drink 3 to 4 cups daily. If bleeding occurs, add 30 drops shepherd’s purse tincture to each cup of tea. A tea is especially appropriate when treating a kidney infection because you should already be drinking plenty of water to keep kidneys flushed and helps prevent the stones from forming. For convenience, you can also take this formula as a tincture; take 2 to 3 dropperfuls a day.
Kidney stones do not usually cause symptoms in its early stage of development. This makes it hard to detect them. Most kidney stones are detected when you complain about blood in urine. You start to feel the pain when the stone passes through your ureter.
Concentrated urine is the primary reason for their formation. When your urine gets concentrated, minerals and other salts form crystals. They get attached to the inner lining of your kidney. These crystals develop over a period to form calculus of various sizes. Most kidney stones are purged harmlessly. It is the larger ones which cause pain and infection.
There are four different classifications of kidney stones. Majority of them are calcium stones. As the name suggests, they are a combination of calcium and oxalate. They appear in your urine due to several reasons. The excessive use of vitamin D for other ailments may result in the presence of large amount of calcium. Struvite stones, mainly found in women, are produced by bacteria the cause for urinary tract infections. These bacteria produced a special type of enzyme which multiplies the quantity of ammonia in urine. The other two types are uric acid stones and cystine stones.
You feel the painful effects of kidney stone when they are large. Large stones block your ureter and this causes infection and difficulty in passing urine. The most common symptom is intense pain. The pain is felt in your back or just under the ribs. When the stone moves, the pain shifts to your lower abdomen and then to genital organs. Urine in your blood is an important sign of kidney stone. Another important symptom is constant urge to urinate.
A major reason for the development of kidney stones is the lack of fluids. Adequate amount of liquid is needed to flush out the toxic waste materials. Certain diseases can also increase the risk of stone formation. Medications, protein rich diet devoid of fiber and family history are the other causes.
There are plenty of methods to determine whether you have kidney stones or not. This involves blood and urine analysis and several imaging tests. Treatment depends upon the type and size of the stone. The common severe treatment is the use of shock waves to break down large stones. Another major method is surgical removal of stones through tunnel surgery. Kidney stones are also removed with the assistance of ureteroscope.
The best way to prevent kidney stones is through natural methods. An important natural remedy is taking large quantity of fluid to increase the urine output. You need to consume more than 3 liters of water a day. There are also several alternative treatment methods to flush out kidney stones via kidney cleansing.
It is always a sure-win idea to take preventative measures before kidney stones pose a major threat to the health of your body. Drastic measures like surgery can then be avoided. Flush out kidney stones before it is too late!
Both James Parker & Sandra Kim Leong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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