By Geneda Gilbert
Kidney stones have become an increasingly common medical problem in our Western society, mainly due to poor dietary habits. Kidney stones are most likely to affect white men over the age of thirty. People of any age, race or sex who live in the southern United States have a higher risk than the other regions.
Although many kidney stones are so small that they pass unnoticed, they can be as big or bigger than a marble. They are very sharp and jagged, and can produce great and often excruciating-pain.
If you have been diagnosed with or suspect that you have kidney stones, then you should be under the care of a professional. Your doctor will rule out other conditions or underlying causes and will check for infection.
Complementary therapies offer effective, natural pain relief for more minor cases, but on the whole, it is far easier to prevent kidney stones in the first place.
History holds a clue to their prevention: Back in the early 1900's when Americans ate natural, wholesome foods, kidney stones were largely unheard of, but as the century wore on, and as diets became lower in fiber and higher in fat, sugar, dairy, and junk, the disorder became much more common. Today, a man living in America has a 10 percent chance of passing a kidney stone at least once in his life.
There are different types of kidney stones, with 80 percent being composed of calcium salts, especially the oxalate type, so let's talk about how to prevent calcium-oxalate stones.
SYMPTOMS
* Pain on one side of the lower back, in the belly, or down into the groin
* A frequent urge to urinate
* Blood and sediment in the urine
* Nausea and vomiting
* Chills and fever, if the stones causes a blockage and an infection
ROOT CAUSES
* A poor diet
* Dehydration
* Urinary pH balance
* Allergies and food sensitivities
* Infections that disturb the flow of fluids
* Obesity
* Inactivity
* A magnesium and potassium deficiency
Many people with kidney stones suffer from dehydration. A lack of fluids increases the mineral concentration in the kidneys and, with it, the chance that stones will crystallize. While you have a kidney stone, drink 2 1/2 to 3 quarts of clean water every day. Once the stone has passed, resume a normal daily dose of 1 glass every 2 waking hours. Hydration is the single most important tactic in the treatment and the prevention of kidney stones.
Consume oat and wheat bran daily, as they reduce the risk of kidney stones being formed.
Lemon juice mixed with a little hot water is another remedy that will help acidify the urine and ease the passage of calcium-oxalate stones. Drink some at breakfast and throughout the day.
Consume 1/4 cup of raw pumpkin seeds daily. Studies show that consuming these seeds reduce the risk factors for kidney stone formation.
A magnesium deficiency has been linked to recurring kidney stones. Boost your levels of this nutrient by eating green leafy vegetables, kelp, soybeans, almonds, and apples.
A study of 55 people with reoccurring kidney stones looked at the effect of supplementing 500mg of magnesium daily for up to 4 years. The average number of recurrences of kidney stones dropped by 90 percent. 85 percent of the people in the study remained stone free, as compared to 41 percent who did not supplement magnesium.
Studies have also shown that the combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation is very effective in reducing kidney stone formation. One study of 149 people with recurrent kidney stones who supplemented B6 (10 mg) and magnesium (300 mg) had a 92.3 percent improvement in stone formation.
Cranberry extract, studies have shown that cranberry reduces urinary calcium levels in people with a history of kidney stones. It's also great for helping prevent urinary tract infections.
Also IP-6 (inositol hexaphosphate) Studies show that this supplement reduces calcium-oxalate crystals in the urine.
Finally Uva ursi is a traditional herbal treatment for kidney stones. It relieves pain, cleanses the urinary tract, and fights infection.
Remember it is much easier to put out a small fire instead of a large fire, and it is much easier to prevent kidney stones than pass one of those babies!!
It's our gift to ourselves, how we take care of it. We can float through days, months, years, not paying any attention to our health. Yes, we are busy, things to do, children to raise, careers to contend with, but all these areas need us to be healthy. We need clean water & exercise, and nutrition to keep our bodies in good working vibrant condition.
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