The kidney stones may be small and pass unnoticed out of the urinary tract, but they may also cause extreme pain upon exiting. Kidney stones are a collection of any of these four types of chemical substances; calcium, uric acid, cystine and strurite. These substances are normally found in the urine and do not cause problems at lower levels. Most people have calcium stones, while cystine is not common and rare. Just like the name, kidney stones actually form like a stone. Stones can occur in a variety of sizes, ranging from the size of grains of sand to as large as a golf ball. When the stones are small it can pass through your urine when you go to the bathroom you may not even notice. Larger stones may be difficult to pass. They get lodge in the ureter tubes, which will require treatment or surgery.
Kidney stones can be caused by an assortment of reasons, but the most common reason is not drinking an adequate amount of water. Carbonated drinks and soda pop will only make the condition worse. Stones may also be a genetic trait or medical conditions such as serve intestine or urinary tract infections, bowel disease are causes as well.
Symptoms may not become evident while the kidney stones are small. As stones increase in size serve pain in the side, back and groin/genital area become noticeable. Fevers, stomach aches, burning feeling during urination, blood in urine, chills, nausea, vomiting and frequent urination are also common.
If you experience any of these symptoms a complete and thorough exam should be preformed by a doctor. A doctor will properly diagnose the possibility of kidney stones with urine, blood, and imaging tests to help determine your treatment options.
In less serious cases of kidney stones a doctor may recommend a natural stone treatment or home remedy. There certainly are numerous home remedies with unknown results. Natural kidney stone treatments may or may not be effective, which treatment to attempt first, whether to combine remedies or remain consistent is the question. Experiment and see what works best for you as every kidney stone condition is different.
- Try cutting out coffee, sodas and carbonated drinks from your daily diet and replace it with water. Drink between 8-10 glasses of water a day.
- Drink beverages containing lemons everyday. Whether you drink real lemonade, lemon juice or just water with a few lemon slices, the acidic nature helps in dissolving kidney stones.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water in a disposable bottle. Be sure to drink this substance before every meal throughout the day for 2 weeks.
- Consume cola in moderation. The phosphoric acid in cola is known for dissolving kidney stones naturally, but too much may actually lead to more stones. Drink cola when you are struggling to pass a stone, but otherwise limit your cola intake.
- Before bedtime take a capsule of I-Lysine. I-Lysine will help distribute the calcium, strengthen your immune/circulatory system during the night.
- A watermelon cleansing has been known to naturally remove stones. First remove a few seeds from the watermelon and place them in a cup of boiling water. Let the seeds absorb the water and cool down, then remove the seeds from the cup and enjoy. Use new watermelon seeds for each cup of tea.
- Use diuretic tea to dissolve stones. Diuretic tea is a mixture of herbs and hot water that encourages your body to urinate often, helping to flush out the stones.
- Combine dandelion, fennel seed, corn silk, oat straw and nettle leaf together in a bowl.-Boil 1 qt. (.95 L) of water. Mix it with 1/2 tsp. (2.5 ml) of the herb mixture. -Cover the mixture with a lid. Let it sit for 20 minutes. -Pour the mixture through a strainer or coffee filter over a tea cup. This will remove the herbs, allowing you to drink the hot water in which they were steeped. - Drink a cup of the tea in the morning, and a cup at night.
- Take time to relax and rest. Kidney stones are not going to disappear overnight. It is going to take some time for your body to return back to normal.
- Drink cranberry juice. This beverage features polyphenolic compounds that can dissolve stones and flush them out of the body through the urine.
- Make a tea specifically for dissolving kidney stones.
- Mix hydrangea, cramp bark and wild yam in a pan. Add 48 oz. (1.4 L) of water. - Boil the mixture. Then lower the heat to a simmer for 15 minutes. - Remove the pan from the stove. - Add corn silk, joe-pye weed, yarrow leaf and plantain leaf. Cover the pan with a lid and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. - Filter or strain the herbs out of the water. To dissolve stones, drink up to 4 servings of this tea per day. Keep the leftover tea refrigerated.
