by JRR

Created on: October 20, 2008

Renal calculi, more commonly referred to as kidney stones are not uncommon. They may vary in consistency from grit, sand and gravel like to the size of a bird's eggs.

Kidney stones are formed from chemicals normally found in urine such as uric acid, phosphorus, calcium and oxalic acid. They form and grow because the concentration of one of these substances can no longer be dissolved. Most tend to be composed of either calcium oxilate or phosphate.

About 90% of kidney stones, 4mm or less pass on their own. There are times however, when further treatment and medical intervention is necessary.

As with many medical conditions there are some natural cures for kidney stones.

-Basil- Basil has a strengthening affect on the kidneys. For kidney stones take 1 teaspoon each of basil juice and honey. Take daily for six months. It has been found that stones can be expelled from the urinary tract by using this treatment.

-Celery- A regular intake of celery can prevent stones from forming.

-Apples and organic apple juice- The citric acid present helps break down the chemicals that form kidney stones. One should only drink 8 ounces in the morning and night to obtain these results.

-Grapes- Due to the high water content and potassium salt, grapes are a good natural choice.

-Pomegranate- One tablespoon of pomegranate seeds ground into a fine paste can be given along with one cup of horse gram (kulthi) soup.

The best treatment for kidney stones is to let them pass naturally, although this can be extremely painful. There really is no cure for them so this seems to be the most reasonable solution.

Prevention is the key. By making sure one stays properly hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, the risk of forming kidney stones are decreased. Because of the risk of dehydration, more people seem to suffer from kidney stones during the summer.

Natural cures and treatments can be helpful, and less expensive, but even with these it is sometimes necessary to seek medical help. Large stones can block the ureters causing the inability to urinate. There is also the possibility that the stones are a result of a more serious condition.

The pain from passing a kidney stone can be indescribable. There is no reason to ignore pharmecutical aid when it is needed. At the same time, it is not always necessary to use pills or more invasive medical treatment when a natural one will work just as well.

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