Last week, one of my clients came to see me for his
monthly back massage and told me that he has been diagnosed with kidney stones
by his GP. He asked me if I know of a “cure” to get rid of them.
Firstly, what are we dealing with? Kidney stones
(nephrolithiasis) are stone-like deposits in one or both kidneys, caused by
increased calcium concentration and other minerals which accumulate into lumps.
These lumps can be very small (kidney gravel), but can also grow quite big (2-3
cm in diameter). The trouble begins when
they get stuck and block a ureter and fluid backs up into the kidney. This can
cause severe and sudden pain. An operation to remove the stones or shattering
them with ultrasound are possible procedures.
But what else can help to get rid of them?
Grandma’s old and natural home remedies for kidney stones
soothe the pain and can dissolve and remove smaller stones without the need to
operate.
Causes and Symptoms
Kidney stones are caused by an imbalance of minerals in
the urine. Mineral compounds like pyrophosphate, citrate and magnesium begin to
crystallize due to high concentration and form lumps in the kidneys.
The most common cause for kidney stones is a lack of
fluid in the body, i.e. dehydration by not drinking enough water.
Moreover, a diet rich in sodium, proteins and calcium
oxalate increases the risk of developing kidney stones.
The chance of developing kidney stones increases from the
age of 35. Men are at risk three times more than women.
These factors can abet the risk, too:
Gout
Diabetes
Obesity
High blood pressure
Chronic intestinal disease
Urinary tract infection
Kidney diseases
Genetic disposition
Medication (antacids, diuretics etc.)
Most common symptoms for kidney stones:
Sudden, severe pain in the back, around the kidney area.
Pain in the abdomen
Pain in the groin
Nausea
Vomiting
Blood in urine
Urine is cloudy or smelly
The need to pee often
The pain can radiate from the kidney area down into the
groin and the legs.
If you experience severe pain, you must see a doctor or
go to A&E, especially when you have a temperature (a sign of infection
which can be life-threatening!)
Kidney Stones caused by the wrong diet: Calcium Oxalate
When we pee, calcium and other minerals are being
excreted by the body. Kidney stones can develop if the concentration of those
minerals in the urine is too high, which leads to a crystallization process.
The diet plays an important role when it comes to kidney
stones. Calcium oxalate is one of the main components in kidney stones.
Avoiding foods rich in oxalate can help prevent kidney stones.
Foods to avoid:
Chocolate
Nuts (mainly almonds, cashews and peanuts)
Beans and Soy beans
Spinach
Grapes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Black tea
Natural remedies for kidney stones
Flushing out kidney stones with lemon juice and olive oil:
One of the best home remedies to remove kidney stones
without surgery is a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil. The citric acid
contained in lemons breaks down the calcium in the stones and so slowly
dissolves them. Olive oil helps to flush out the fragments from the kidney.
Drink half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice with ¼
cup olive oil three times a day. Drink 2 glasses of still water afterwards.
Within a week you are likely to notice fragments of the
stones in the urine. After one week, stop the procedure for 3-4 days and then
repeat until the urine is free of fragments.
Dissolving kidney stones with cider vinegar:
Cider vinegar is a natural remedy to dissolve kidney
stones. It is not only good for general health, but also supports kidney
function, which encourages the kidneys to flush out the softened stones and
kidney gravel.
Drink a glass of warm water with two tablespoons cider
vinegar, 4 times a day. You can add a little runny honey to sweeten the
tincture.
Remove kidney stones naturally with pomegranate:
The seeds and juice of pomegranates can help to remove
smaller stones from the kidneys.
Eat one pomegranate per day and drink at least one glass
of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice to treat nephrolithiasis.
Flush the kidneys with stinging nettles:
Stinging nettles enhance the water excretion abilities of
the kidneys and so promote the natural excretion of kidney gravel and stones.
To prepare a tea, use two teaspoons of dried stinging
nettles in a cup of hot water. Infuse for 10 minutes and then strain.
Drink three cups per day for several weeks.
Treat acute pain caused by kidney stones with basil:
Pain caused by kidney stones can easily be soothed with
the home remedy basil. Basil has pain-relieving properties and can relax the
urinary tract so that stones can pass easier.
Puree a handful of fresh basil leaves with a teaspoon of
honey. Take on an empty stomach daily until the stones have passed.
Acute pain can be treated with basil tea. Add a dozen
chopped-up basil leaves to a cup of hot water. Infuse for 10 minutes and then
drink with honey.
Cleanse the kidneys with watermelon seeds:
Watermelon Seeds can help to prevent kidney stones and
other deposits by increasing the production of urine and so simply flushing out
smaller solid bodies.
Crush a teaspoon of watermelon seeds and add them to a
cup of hot water. Infuse for 15 minutes, strain and drink with some honey.
Drink 2 to 3 cups per day for several weeks.
Soothe kidney pain with celeriac:
Fresh celeriac juice can soothe pains caused by kidney
stones. It can ease cramps and improves secretion of fluids through the kidneys
as it is a natural diuretic.
Cure nephrolithiasis with white radish:
White radish (Mooli, Radish Daikon) – a staple food in my
native Bavaria - is a superb medicinal plant used to treat kidney stones and
other problems with the urinary tract. It helps to flush out waste products
from the body and so removes smaller kidney stones dissolved by the radish.
You either eat a whole radish a day or juice it together
with the leaves.
Parsley against kidney stones:
A strong parsley infusion is an ancient home remedy to
treat kidney stones.
Use 2 teaspoons of dried parsley in a cup of hot water.
Strain after 10 minutes and drink. The recommendation is 3 cups a day.
How to prevent kidney stones:
Drink lots of water – it increases urine output
from the kidneys and prevents the formation of stones. Also, smaller stones and
gravel will be flushed out more easily. 2-3 litres of water would be ideal. In
summer, when it’s hot, even a bit more.
Magnesium can help to prevent kidney stones by
binding oxalate in the body. Good sources of magnesium are fish, rice, avocados
and many other vegetables. A magnesium supplement can be useful to prevent the
further growth of already existing stones.
Avoid salt – certain kidney stones can be caused
by too much salt (sodium chloride) in the diet. Too much sodium can trigger the
excretion of calcium from the body, which will then form lumps in the kidneys.
Therefore, avoid salt and food rich in sodium, such as salty snacks and ready
meals. Use rock salt, crystal salt or sea salt instead.
What else can be done to avoid kidney stones?
Vitamin A is a valuable support for the kidneys
during and after the treatment for kidney stones. It supports the regeneration
of all damaged tissue which has been affected by the stones. Good sources for
Vitamin A are pumpkins, apricots, broccoli and melons.
Kidney Stones can also be caused by a very high amount
of animal products in the daily diet. Animal protein increases the concentration
of uric acid in the kidneys, which can cause calcium and phosphate to
crystallize and so form stones much quicker. If you are prone to kidney stones, replace
animal products with plant-based foods whenever possible.
Please be patient. The home remedies as mentioned in this
article will help with the treatment of kidney stones but it will take several
weeks to work.
(Source: HausmittelHexe.com, Michael Rees)
