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Kidney stones are one of the most common urinary tract disorders and can be among the most painful conditions a person can experience. A stone is formed when the kidneys are unable to prevent urinary wastes from sticking together, crystallizing and forming a solid mass.
Most kidney stones are easily eliminated from the body. A small stone may be excreted without causing too much pain. However, a large kidney stone can get stuck in a ureter, the bladder or the urethra, blocking the flow of urine and causing:
- Pain in the side, lower back or groin area lasting between 20 minutes to an hour
- Bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine • Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in urination
- Persistent urge to urinate
- Fever and chills
Almost one million Americans develop kidney stones annually. Men are four times more likely to suffer from kidney stones than women. People living in the southern part of the U.S., where the climate is hot, have an increased risk of forming kidney stones since they can get dehydrated, causing their urine to become more concentrated.
Heredity can also increase your risk. The younger you are when you form kidney stones, the greater your risk of recurrence. Once a person has experienced a kidney stone attack, the chances of a recurrence are between 70 to 80 percent.
Dr. Mercola explains that the rising cases of kidney stones among adults and children alike are the side effect of our modern eating habits. Different types of kidney stones are formed depending on the highest concentrations of substances in your urine, like calcium oxalate, which comes from eating too much dark green vegetables, nuts and chocolate.
A diet high in sugar and high fructose corn syrup interferes with the calcium and mineral absorption in your body. A study showed that drinking soda worsens conditions in the urine that contributes to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
Eating too much processed salt from processed foods and sports drinks are also blamed for increasing the risk of kidney stones in children.
A sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, the consumption of soy and caffeine, and taking certain drugs such as Lasix (furosemide), Topomax (topiramate), and Xenical, have also been associated with the formation of kidney stones.
Kidney stones should not be taken for granted because they can be a lifelong problem and can lead to serious kidney damage. Thankfully, making simple lifestyle changes will greatly help you avoid suffering from a painful kidney stone episode:
- Drink a lot of water – The safest and simplest way to treat a kidney stone is to let it pass on its own. Drinking plenty of water will help dissolve kidney stones by decreasing the concentration of solids in the urine. Teach your children the benefits of drinking water. Avoid tea because it’s high in oxalates
- Eat according to your Nutritional Type.
- Eat foods rich in magnesium and vitamin B6, which help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- Limit your intake of sugar, caffeine, excess salt and processed foods.
- Exercise to keep your body’s fluids circulating.
- Avoid taking prescription drugs.
If you’re suffering intolerable pain from a kidney stone attack, herbs like nettle leaf, bearberry, cleavers, corn silk, crampbark, gravel root, kava kava, khella, hydrangea, stone root may help relieve the symptoms. But remember: consult a natural health physician or an expert herbalist before trying any herbal products
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