Gallstones and Kidney Stones- Taken from Mothernature.com

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Gallstones and Kidney Stones

 

My dad had kidney stones, but I've never had any. That surprises me,

because they tend to run in families.

 

I'm very glad that I've avoided kidney stones so far. They say that

passing a kidney stone, also known as bladder stones and gravel, is

the closest men ever come to experiencing the pain of childbirth.

 

The fact that I've also never had gallstones is also good luck,

especially since I'm at risk in this area, too. A key risk factor is

being overweight, and I confess to being a tad on the heavy side.

 

So what has protected me so far? Well, I like to think that my near-

vegetarian diet, heavy on herbs and liquids, has helped save me from

both types.

 

Painful Passage for (Mostly) Men

 

Kidney stones form when certain substances, calcium oxalate, calcium

phosphate, magnesium ammonium phosphate, uric acid or cystine--

become so concentrated in the urine that they precipitate out as

hard, solid lumps. The main symptom of kidney stones is pain in the

left or right lower back or pelvic area that becomes excruciating as

the stone attempts to leave the kidney through narrow tubes called

ureters. Other symptoms are blood in the urine and a persistent urge

to urinate.

 

Kidney stones affect mostly middle-aged and older men. You increase

your risks if your diet is low in phosphates or protein or you eat a

lot of food that's high in substances known as oxalates. Among the

foods that have oxalates are coffee, black tea, rhubarb, sorrel,

spinach, lamb's-quarters and purslane. Herbal formulas with rhubarb

or sheep sorrel may contain more oxalates than would be beneficial.

 

Physicians usually don't treat kidney stones--they just medicate the

pain until the stones pass on their own. Until recently, if a stone

did not pass, surgery was necessary. Now a noninvasive procedure

called lithotripsy usually breaks up the stones so that they can

pass. During lithotripsy, which is done under anesthesia, shock

waves are directed at the stone to pulverize it.

 

Back Pain in (Mostly) Women

 

Gallstones form when cholesterol and bile pigments become so

concentrated that they form lumps inside the gallbladder. These

lumps may be as small as a pinhead or as large as a golf ball.

Gallstones that remain in the gallbladder rarely cause symptoms. But

you can expect major problems if a stone blocks either the cystic

duct (the tube that leads from the gallbladder to the bile duct) or

the bile duct (the tube running from the liver and gallbladder into

the intestine).

 

Gallstone symptoms include sudden, intense pain, usually in the

upper right abdomen, accompanied by fever, nausea and sometimes

vomiting. After attacks subside, usually in a half-hour to four

hours, some soreness may linger for a day or so.

 

About 20 percent of women and 8 percent of men over 40 have some

gallstones, and these figures increase with age.

 

Physicians treat gallstones primarily with surgery, removing the

gallbladder to eliminate the source of the problem. In the past few

years, however, doctors have had promising results with a less

invasive form of surgery called lap-

aroscopy, which involves inserting a viewing device and tiny

instruments through a small incision. In addition, some cholesterol

gallstones can be dissolved with the use of bile acid drugs such as

ursodeoxycholic acid (Actigall), given as tablets.

 

Green Pharmacy for Gallstones and Kidney Stones

 

The best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink six to eight

glasses of water a day. That keeps the urine too dilute for stones

to form. A vegetarian diet also helps because it's high in

magnesium, and magnesium supplementation has been shown to reduce

the likelihood of recurrent kidney stones.

 

To prevent gallstones, eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, meaning

one that's vegetarian or close to it.

 

If you have the bad luck to get either gallstones or kidney stones,

I would urge you to follow your physician's advice. I would also

suggest that some herbs can help.

 

Beggar-lice (Desmodium styracifolium). This vine got its name from

its small, loose fruits, which cling to clothing. It has long been

used by the Chinese for treating kidney stones, and Japanese

researchers have discovered why it works. A compound in the plant

works by decreasing the amount of calcium excreted in the urine and

increasing the amount of citrate excreted, substantially decreasing

the likelihood of kidney stone formation.

 

Celandine (Chelidonium majus). Celandine has traditionally been used

for treating the liver, and with good reason. In one study,

researchers gave tablets containing chelidonine, an active compound

in celandine, to 60 people with symptoms of gallstones for six

weeks. Doctors reported a significant reduction in symptoms.

 

Chelidonine and other compounds in celandine reportedly soothe the

smooth muscles of the biliary tract, improving bile flow and curbing

upper abdominal distress.

 

Couchgrass (Agropyron repens or Elymus repens). Commission E, the

expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal

medicines for the German government, endorses using this herb, also

known as quackgrass, for preventing kidney stones and inflammatory

disorders of the urinary tract.

 

I'd try making a tea with two to ten teaspoons of the underground

parts of the herb. Chop it and steep it for five to ten minutes in a

cup or two of boiling water. Europeans drink up to four cups a day.

 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Hot compresses made with concentrated

ginger tea seem to help alleviate the pain of kidney stone attacks.

The compresses act as counterirritants by causing superficial skin

irritation, which takes the mind off the deeper kidney pain.

 

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Commission E approves using horsetail

for kidney stones and for the general health of the urinary tract.

It increases urine output. (You should use this herb only in

consultation with a holistic practitioner.)

 

Peppermint (Mentha piperita), spear-mint (M. spicata) and other

mints. Mints have traditionally been used to treat gallstones. One

stone-relieving mixture, a British over-the-counter " gallstone tea "

preparation called Rowachol, contains chemicals from several members

of the mint family. In one British study, this product helped a

quarter of those who used it.

 

If I didn't have access to a doctor during a gallstone attack, I'd

brew what I call Stone Tea from as many mints as I could gather from

the garden or store, especially peppermint and spearmint, an old

favorite. I'd add some cardamom, the richest source of borneol,

another compound that is helpful.

 

 

Spearmint

One of many members of the mint family, spearmint can help treat

coughs and chest congestion as well as gallstones.

 

 

 

Turmeric (Curcuma longa). Turmeric is useful for preventing and

treating gallstones, according to Commission E. This endorsement

does not surprise me, since turmeric contains curcumin, a compound

that has been tested for its effect on gallstones. In one study,

mice with experimentally induced gallstones were placed on special

feed containing a modest amount of curcumin, and within five weeks

their gallstone volume had dropped 45 percent. After ten weeks they

had 80 percent fewer gallstones than untreated mice.

 

Curcumin increases the solubility of bile, which helps prevent the

formation of gallstones and helps eliminate any stones that have

formed. If I had gallstones, I would definitely cook lots of curries-

-and go heavy on the turmeric.

 

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea). Goldenrod contains the compound

leiocarposide--a potent diuretic that helps the body flush excess

water. I've seen good clinical evidence that goldenrod is effective

in treating chronic kidney inflammation (nephritis). For both of

these reasons, I wasn't surprised when Commission E endorsed

goldenrod for preventing and treating kidney stones.

 

The commission recommends making a tea using five teaspoons of

chopped, dried flowering shoots per cup of boiling water. They

recommend drinking three to four cups a day between meals.

 

I was surprised, however, to see Commission E's endorsement of this

herb for gallstones as well. I'd suggest trying it for up to a month

if you're not in serious pain. As a preventive, brew a tea using a

little less herb.

 

Java tea (Orthosiphon aristatus). The leaves of this herb are

approved by Commission E for treating kidney stones. Make a tea with

three to six teaspoons per cup of boiling water and drink it once a

day. While it's not exactly clear how java tea works, the suspicion

is that it helps open the ureters--the tubes leading from the

kidneys to the bladder--allowing small stones to be passed.

 

Lovage (Levisticum officinale). For treating kidney stones,

Commission E suggests making a tea with two to four teaspoons of

dried herb per cup of boiling water and drinking it once a day.

Lovage is a potent diuretic.

 

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Rich in the compound silymarin,

milk thistle is best known for the liver protection it offers.

According to studies, silymarin also increases bile solubility, thus

helping to prevent or alleviate gallstones.

 

papaya (Petroselinum crispum). papaya is a diuretic that helps

prevent and treat kidney stones. Commission E approves making the

tea using one teaspoon of dried root and suggests drinking two to

three cups a day. Steep the herb for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain.

 

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Finally, Commission E also

recommends drinking several cups daily of stinging nettle tea to

prevent and treat kidney stones. Steep a teaspoon of finely chopped

dried herb in a cup of boiling water. Or boil up some nettle greens

and enjoy the potlikker with a dash of vinegar, once a day. You will

need to wear gloves when harvesting the leaves, but the stinging

hairs lose their sting when the plant is cooked, and the greens are

delicious.

 

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DietaryTipsForHBP

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