Kidney Stones Herbal Remedies

© 2006 by Herbert Albertson

Introduction

Herbs can be an effective addition to your arsenal in the fight against kidney stones. This article discusses how a balanced program for fighting kidney stones that includes drink, diet, and exercise strategies can be supported by herbal remedies.

Causes of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are accumulations of crystals formed from minerals dissolved in urine. Different types of kidney stones form from different chemical compounds. These include:

Calcium compounds (usually calcium combined with oxalate, a salt formed from an acid found in fruits and vegetables; or rarely calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate);

Magnesium compounds (magnesium carbonate or magnesium phosphate);

Struvite (a phosphate compound consisting of magnesium, ammonia, and phosphate);

Purines (usually uric acid; sometimes xanthine); and

Cystine (an amino acid found in proteins).

The minerals that form kidney stones can accumulate when the body’s pH balance has become too acid or too base. This is related to the body’s supply of calcium, which is an alkaline base; and protein, which is composed of acids. Another factor is water intake, since sufficient water supply to the kidneys is necessary to flush waste and prevent crystal accumulation. A third factor is the body’s supply of chemicals which inhibit the formation of crystals in urine. These include citrate (an ionic form of citric acid), magnesium, and pyrophosphate. Low levels of citrate in particular are believed to contribute to kidney stone formation.

With respect to the calcium/protein factor, researchers suspect high-protein diets may contribute to kidney stones. When the digestive system breaks protein down into acids, the body balances the acidity with the most available alkaline base: calcium from the bones. This causes calcium compounds passing through the digestive system to deposit calcium in the kidneys in proportion to protein intake. The accumulated calcium can form kidney stones.

Paradoxically, although kidney stones often form from calcium compounds, reducing calcium intake actually seems to increase the risk of kidney stones. This is apparently because without enough calcium to bind oxalate molecules, oxalate tends to accumulate in the body.

Foods which raise urinary oxalate levels also increase risk of kidney stones.

Prevention: Diet and Exercise as well as Drugs and Herbs

It is of course preferable to prevent kidney stones before they form. In addition to drugs and herbs, preventive measures can include modifications in drink, diet, and exercise.

Drink

To reduce risk of calcium or uric acid stones, drink at least 10 glasses of water a day, enough to make 2.5 quarts of urine per day. For cystine stones, drink at least 16 8-ounce cups (more than a gallon). Type of water is also a consideration. Studies have found that hard tap water produces higher calcium concentrations than soft bottled water, while mineral water containing both calcium and magnesium reduces several risk factors for both calcium stones and uric acids tones.

Risk of kidney stones can be decreased by drinking certain beverages which increase urination (diuretics). Beverages used for this purpose include caffeine (which however also increases urinary calcium excretion, so opinion is divided on the value of caffeine for kidney stone prevention) and alcohol (though some alcoholic beverages may contain purines, a risk factor for those susceptible to uric acid stones). Risk may also be decreased by drinking certain citrus juices which raise citrate levels, especially pure lemon juice (1/2 cup per day, or enough to make 8 glasses of lemonade) and orange juice. However certain citrus juices such as grapefruit juice increase risk, while the effects of others are a matter of speculation.

Risk of kidney stones can be increased by drinking soda (which severely reduces citrate and may contain phosphoric acid, a risk increaser) and grapefruit juice.

Oxalate-rich drinks should only be avoided when prescribed. Drinks which raise urinary oxalate levels include black tea and cocoa. There is some evidence that cranberry juice may slightly increase the risk of oxalate stone formation.

Where there is a high risk of uric acid stones, reduce intake of purine-rich drinks, such as alcohol.

Diet

Eating starfruit (Averrhoa carambola, a fruit from a tree native to Sri Lanka grown in Asia and South America) may increase urination and ease pain from kidney stones.

Reduce intake of protein and sodium.

Maintain adequate calcium intake.

Oxalate-rich foods should only be avoided when prescribed. Foods which raise urinary oxalate levels include chocolate, strawberries, peanuts, spinach, beets (leaves and roots), rhubarb, wheat bran, soy, and sorrel.

Where there is a high risk of uric acid stones, reduce intake of purine-rich foods, such as legumes (e.g., dried beans, peas, and soybeans), yeast, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, anchovies, sardines, poultry, and organ meats such as liver and kidneys.

Use of vitamin supplements should follow your physician’s recommendation. In some cases Vitamin C supplements may be restricted. In some cases Vitamin B6 supplements may be prescribed, but this should not be self-prescribed, as overdose can cause nerve damage.

Exercise

Regular weight-bearing exercise helps reduce the risk of kidney stones by storing calcium in the bones which would otherwise be excreted in urine.

However, excessive exercise can raise the risk of kidney stone formation by increasing dehydration and causing lactic acidosis, so exercise should be done in moderation and dehydrating effects should be countered by sufficient fluid intake.

Japanese researchers have found that a program combining jumprope exercises with the use of the drug Urocalun aids the passage of kidney stones. Other exercises may have similar effects.

Because of an association between kidney stones and stress, stress-management exercise can be beneficial.

Yoga, Tai Chi, and related disciplines include certain stretches designed to improve circulation in the kidney area. Generally speaking these involve stretching the lower back and/or legs without strain while breathing deeply and slowly for a number of breaths. An example is sitting on the floor with the legs extended straight in front of the body and then bending forward from the waist with the arms extended towards the feet and the palms rotated so that the thumbs face the ground, the pinkies face the ceiling, and the backs of the hands face each other, while breathing deeply and slowly. An alternate version of this exercise done from a standing position is to bend from the waist as if to touch the toes while allowing the arms to dangle with the palms towards the floor for a number of deep, slow breaths.

Preventive and therapeutic drugs. Drug prescriptions for kidney stones vary with the chemical composition of the type of stone involved. Drugs used for kidney stones include thiazides (a diuretic which also lowers urinary calcium excretion, but has the side effect of causing potassium loss and lowering citrate levels), potassium citrate (often used to offset the potassium and citrate loss caused by thiazides; also sometimes prescribed for uric acid stones), and allopurinol (which inhibits the production of uric acid). Struvite and cystine stones require special drugs. These drugs can have side effects and should not be self-prescribed. Consult your physician for more information.

<< Previous    [1]  2  3  4    Next >>