by Rachel Stockton

Created on: October 15, 2008   Last Updated: October 18, 2008

Kidney stones are not particularly serious. But when you have them, you think you're going to die; they form in the kidneys, and as they begin to move down the urethra, the pain can be excruciating. The good news is that they do normally pass through the body on their own. The bad news is that they usually return.

Most kidney stones are made up of calcium and either phosphate or oxalate. Others result in conjunction with gout, which is the result of uric acid crystallizing in the joints of the feet (especially the big toe). Others are referred to as struvite stones, which are more common in women with urinary tract infections.

There are some homeopathic options that can help keep outbreak at bay:

DRINK MORE WATER

If the urine becomes too concentrated, crystals can form. By keeping the urine sufficiently diluted, the deposits are less likely to crystallize.

LIMIT AMOUNTS OF PROTEIN AND SALT

Red meat contains purines, which can crystallize and cause gout, and ultimately stones in the kidney. Human beings do not have the enzyme other mammals have that can transform purines into a harmless substance that easily passes through the urine. Consequently, a high level of purines accumulates into uric acid that can no longer remain fluid.

REDUCE FOODS CONTAINING OXALATE

Because some kidney stones are made up of oxalate (in combination with calcium), avoiding foods that are oxalate laden might be in order: spinach, beets, chocolate, coffee, tea, and nuts are some examples. Consuming some high fiber plant foods, such as legumes, wheat and rice bran might be helpful, as they help prevent crystallization of both types of calcium salts (oxalate and phosphate).

One might reason that calcium supplements be avoided if one is susceptible to kidney stones. This idea was prevalent in the medical community a number of years ago. However, it's been discovered that calcium can actually keep stones at bay, because they keep oxalate bound in the intestine, not allowing it to pass into the kidneys.

In March of 2008, the Journal of Nephrology reported a study that showed that three-fourths of adults have a bacterium in the intestine called Oxalobacter formigenes, which helps digestion. Those that have the bacterium have a greatly reduced risk of kidney stones. Scientists are trying to determine if a probiotic of O. formigenes would be helpful to those at risk for stones.

Of all of the dietary recommendations, drinking plenty of fluid is the most important. A recent article in the New York Times states that those prone to stones should be drinking 10 glasses of water/day, even if nighttime sleep is disturbed.

If dietary modifications fail, there are a number of drugs on the market that can help prevent stone formation. Ask your doctor for a list of these medications, along with their individual side effects.

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