Kidney Stones

[Negin]

Someone here sent me a message for tips on dealing with stones. Since I just read about them again and have lots of tips that are too long to share in Private Message format, thought to post them here. Also, it's more beneficial to post them here - first, hopefully others may benefit; second, others can share their tips and experiences as well.

 

SIGNS:

Fever

Trouble Urinating

 

EAT MORE

Drink LOTS and LOTS of water

 

Foods rich in magnesium

Almonds

Apricots

Avocados

Barley

Beans

Brazil nuts

Brown rice

Buckwheat

Green veggies

Nuts

Seeds

Strawberries

Turmeric

Whole grains

Dates

Figs

Garlic

Greens (including Collard Greens and Dandelion Greens)

Kelp

Molasses

Millet

Parsley

Pecans

Rye

Sea vegetables (seaweed and kelp – but make sure they come from non-polluted waters and are high-quality)

Shrimp

Walnuts

Whole Grains

Wheat bran

Wheat germ

 

Foods rich in potassium

Acorn Squash

Apricots

Avocados

Bananas

Fruits

Green veggies

Nuts

Prunes

Raisins

Seeds

Spinach

Strawberries

Turmeric

Veggies

Whole grains

 

EAT LESS OR AVOID

Alcohol

Processed foods are loaded with salt, a big cause of kidney stones

Red Meat

Soda

[Negin]

SUPPLEMENTS. HERBS, AND TEAS

Magnesium helps prevent formation of those painful kidney stones (calcium oxalate crystals)

For most people on a healthy diet, 400 mg of Magnesium daily should be sufficient. But for those with kidney stones or with a tendency to kidney stones, more may be needed – but do not take more than about 1200 mg,

Add in more magnesium gradually. Your body knows how much it can handle according to how much your bowels can tolerate. The stools should feel soft, but not excessively loose.

Take in divided doses and with meals to ensure optimal absorption – preferably more at night

I have read that it’s preferable to not take magnesium at the same time as calcium. Others say that it’s fine. This is where I am confused. I think the former makes more sense.

The most absorbable forms are:

Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium Glycinate

Magnesium Taurate

Magnesium Aspartate

Magnesium Malate

Magnesium Succinate

Magnesium Fumirate

Avoid:

Magnesium Oxide

Magnesium Carbonate

Magnesium Gluconate

Magnesium Sulfate

These are not absorbed well and are the cheapest forms

Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to Magnesium Glycinate.

People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor's supervision.

 

Gravel Root – helps break down stones, making them easier to pass.

Add 1 tbsp of dried herb to 3 cups hot water. Let steep, covered for 10 minutes.

Drink ½ to 1 cup 3-5 times a day.

 

Marshmallow Root Tea – To soothe urinary tract and make passing stones less painful. Steep 1 tbsp of dried herb in 1 quart cool water overnight. Drink 2-4 cups a day.

 

Take these herbs to keep your kidneys healthy and prevent kidney stones and other problems:

Dandelion – take 500 mg twice a day or drink as a tea

Stinging Nettle – Taken in tea (1 tbsp steeped in 1 cup hot water) or supplement

Black Tea – reduces your chances of developing kidney stones.

[Negin]

OTHER TIPS

Fresh Lemon Juice in 4 ounces of water, one teaspoon every 15 to 30 minutes until the crisis passes. This is very safe and super-alkalizing. It’s very helpful for kidney stones.

 

EPSOM SALTS BATH

Taking a bath or a foot soak with Epsom salts is one of the best ways to increase the body’s absorption of magnesium. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulfate and are easily absorbed by the body.

Take a hot bath with up to 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda (optional) to help draw toxins out of the body. Try to do this once a week, but for no more than 20 minutes. A foot soak can also be very beneficial.

Epsom salts are so helpful in bringing relief to:

• Arthritis pain, stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints

• Muscle aches, pains and tenderness

• Painful bruises, sprains and strains

• Pain from over exertion as a result of exercise

• Insomnia and Sleep Problems

• Stress

• Insect Bites and Splinters

 

If you have a history of kidney stones, then you are more likely to have them again.

 

The most common type of kidney stones are Calcium Oxalate Stones. With this type of stone you should limit foods high in oxalate like spinach, rhubarb, nuts, wheat bran, coffee, tea, chocolate, and berries. You should increase your intake of calcium with foods like yogurt. Calcium helps bind oxalate in the digestive tract so it doesn’t make it to the urine.

Limiting sodium is important. The majority of sodium that most people consume is from processed foods such as hot dogs, lunchmeat, soups, condiments, and fast food. Avoid salt and read your food labels, aiming to keep your sodium intake to less than 2300 mg each day.

Supplements containing vitamins C and D may also contribute to stones. Vitamin C can be turned into oxalate by the body so avoid more than the recommended daily amount.

Also, if you are taking a calcium supplement, it should be taken with food so it can bind the oxalate.

 

Uric Acid Stones are more likely with a diet high in animal protein and purines. Purines are found naturally in all foods but are especially high in organ meats, fish, and shellfish.

 

The most important thing, no matter what the stone, is to drink plenty of water. You should be producing at least 2 quarts of urine every day. This helps flush out materials that might form stones. Water is the best choice. Tea, coffee, and cranberry juice contain some oxalates so it’s best to avoid these, as well as grapefruit juice and dark colas which seem to increase calcium oxalate stone formation.

[dands]

thanks for this post.

 

Out these that you mention which is the best? Not sure why i was stuck with Glycinate but the prices are pretty high. Some come "buffered" not sure what that means. Is there a brand you would recommend that is all natural. So afraid of synthetics and "lab" production names.

 

The most absorbable forms are:

Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium Glycinate

Magnesium Taurate

Magnesium Aspartate

Magnesium Malate

Magnesium Succinate

Magnesium Fumirate

[AlmiraGulch]

Thanks for posting this!

 

I recently had some x-rays of my back and they couldn't see any reason why it would hurt, but they did say they say stones in both kidneys. I have not had any symptoms so I was a bit surprised, but now I'm nervous because I've heard such nightmares about the pain when they pass.

 

I appreciate the tips!

[Negin]

Out these that you mention which is the best?

If one is prone to diarrhea, or wants to avoid it, I would recommend Glycinate, if your budget allows.

Our favorite that's quite natural and not overly processed, as far as we know is the KAL brand. Vitacost carries various magnesium supplements from KAL, as does amazon.

If one is prone to diarrhea and Glycinate is out of the question, I think that any of the above are fine. You can just add them in gradually - say, increase the dosage a week at a time.

This brand, Himalaya, is a very good brand also. I don't think they make supplements in and of themselves - more formulas for specific conditions. Here's their brand for kidney health.

Personally, I would go with the magnesium and not with the Himalaya, unless if you have the $$ for both. Magnesium is something that almost all of us are deficient in, and that would also address your dh's migraines and headaches (from the previous thread). It helps with soooo many problems.

I don't know what buffered magnesium is and not sure if it's necessary.

When I do a search for just Magnesium Glycinate, most of the brands seem quite good. Solaray is one that we're always happy with.

My parents take Magnesium Citrate and they're very happy with that. I think any of the ones listed should be good as long as they come from a good brand - KAL, Solaray, Metagenics.

Here are some of my supplement "tips" not sure if all of it applies for magnesium.

 

WHAT I LIKE TO AVOID

Many “one-a-day†formulas - Theragram-M, Geritol, Centrum usually:

• Have such long ingredient lists (a red flag for me!) with synthetic coloring, waxes, and other undesirable ingredients – this is my main reason for avoiding them

• Are too low in potency – most one-a-day formulas cannot possibly give you high enough potencies of nutrients. There simply isn’t enough room to pack a lot of nutrients into a single capsule. Do be aware that a good multivitamin and mineral formula requires that you take it in larger quantities – from 3-6 capsules daily. This may seem like a lot, but it’s not. When it comes to herbs, and often minerals and vitamins, most of the time, the quantity and potency is so very, very low, that it really isn’t going to do anything much at all. I prefer to research all the brands and see which has the highest dosage, or I have found that I may need to double or triple the dose. I have to admit that due to financial constraints, I seldom do this these days, unless I'm focusing on a specific health concern. I do believe that nutrition (healthy diet) is first and foremost.

• Are often poorly absorbed

 

Anything that is multi-marketed. Supplements from multi-marketed companies are obviously going to cost much more. The supplements may be good, but remember that you’re paying for a wealth system that may play on people’s greed.

 

Any supplement (usually they are minerals) that has the word “oxideâ€. The oxide form of any is the cheapest source of that mineral. Most of the cheaper brands include oxide to cut down on costs, but these brands do our bodies no good, since they’re barely absorbed.

 

Any supplement that has vitamin E as dl-alpha – dl-alpha is synthetic and junk.

 

Any supplement that has calcium carbonate – ditto, as above

 

Most brands at Walmart, Costco, etc. But this doesn’t always apply. Some brands at these larger stores are fine. You'll have to do your own research to know. Just because the supplement is sold at Walmart or Costco does not that it’s necessarily bad. You need to look at the ingredients.

are the same.

 

WHAT I PREFER

Bio-available when possible – these are best absorbed. Many bio-available forms are patented and identified on the label.

 

Anything with a short ingredient list – no soybean oil, no sugar, starches, colorings, soy, etc. – the less things in it, the better! With vitacost, you can click on side bar buttons to say that you're looking for something without soy, etc.

 

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE – IF I COULD

If I lived in the U.S., I would try my utmost to get as much as I could from Standard Process - which you have to buy from an alternatiave health care practitioner. Standard Process is wonderful. But they don't have every single supplement. They're very specialized.

 

ALKALIZING MULTI VITAMINS AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS

Most of us have systems that are overly acidic. Working towards a system that is balanced or more alkaline is the key to overall health. These supplements are said to be very good for alkalizing the body.

• http://www.auntiegs.com/index.php

12 Systems Synergistic Multiple – one tablet per meal

 

• Vita Lea (Shaklee) – one tablet with each meal

 

• Bio Strath – One teaspoon with each meal or tablet as indicated – I saw it on vitacost

 

AFTER THAT

I prefer searching for good brands on vitacost or amazon – reading reviews, and looking at brands. The following are brands that I like and trust:

Carlson’s

Nature’s Way

Twin Labs

KAL

Enzymatic Therapy

Green Magma – for green, alkalizing drink

Solgar

Source Naturals

Rainbow Light

Solaray

NOW

Swanson

UniKey (do a google search)

New Chapter Organics

 

Brands I've heard good things about, but have not yet tried, and don’t yet know enough about:

Aerobic Life Products

Blue-Green Algae

Country Life

Darwin’s

Gaia Herbs

Health from the Sun

Jarrow

Kyo-Green

Member’s Mark

Metagenics

Nature’s Plus

Nature’s Sunshine

Nordic Naturals

Planetary Formulas

Pure Encapsulations

Puritan’s Pride

Shaklee

Trace Minerals Research

Vitamin World

Zone Perfect

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENTS – in my personal order of preference – this may vary for each person, of course! – these are my top if $ is a concern

Fish Oil

Vitamin D3

Magnesium

Probiotic

Green Magma (or other high-quality green drink – if you don’t juice veggies regularly) and/or Capra Mineral Whey – these are important, very, very important to help balance our body’s pH – a healthy pH is essential for overall health. My husband refuses to touch the Mineral Whey. I love it, however. Since I juice veggies often, we don’t need Green Magma very much. On days that I have little time for juicing, we take the Green Magma.

Mushroom Extract

A good multivitamin/mineral formula

 

Overall, most of us are far more deficient in minerals than we are in vitamins. When budget is a concern, as it for most of us, focus much more on minerals and a healthy diet, than lots and lots of vitamins.

 

TIPS ON TAKING THEM

My naturopath friends have always told me is that it's good to take 2 days off most or all of your supplements every week, preferably any two days that are back-to-back. So, if you need to take them on weekends. Fine. You could try skipping them on any other 2 days of the week.

 

Another thing I do, based on what I have read and played around with - is take a break from some supplements for an entire month. Not all. Just some. They work so much better for me, when I get back on them - 5-HTP, Melatonin, even probiotics, whatever you want or think that your body could do well to take a break from in order to be more effective. The body sometimes becomes overly efficient and not challenged by supplements. That’s why taking a break and going back on them, in my opinion and experience, helps them to become much more effective.

 

HTH.

[Negin]

Thanks for posting this!

I recently had some x-rays of my back and they couldn't see any reason why it would hurt, but they did say they say stones in both kidneys. I have not had any symptoms so I was a bit surprised, but now I'm nervous because I've heard such nightmares about the pain when they pass.

I appreciate the tips!

You're most welcome.

Just drink lots and lots of water. Hopefully, yours will pass and it won't be too bad. Do what you can from the notes above and again, hopefully you'll be okay. :grouphug:

[dands]

Wow, so much knowledge. Thanks again for your time posting this information. I have been busy researching for quality and price. I finaly purchased the magnesium, complete efa, probiotics and D3.

My dh had a bleeding episode today and freaked me out. The doctor said it was not from the kidney but the urithra and put him on vicodine for pain. Our guess is he is passing stones as i write. I will continue to use the youngevity for now since i have seen it has helped heal the psoraisis on his skin and lowered his blood pressure. Will have to look up every ingredient and find out what really is hiding under their long names. It has not been easy finding organic natural products without paying the price that goes with it.

 

Happy New Year!

Edited December 30, 2011 by dands

[Negin]

You are most welcome and Happy New Year to you also. :D

Good for you for starting with magnesium, etc.

Sorry to hear about your dh's bleeding episode. That is scary. I hope that he is passing stones. That will be a huge relief.

Yes, finding organic, natural, and at a decent price ... tell me about it! Not easy at all. :confused:

Is his diet okay? Is he eating healthy for the most part?

Once he starts healing, if he can start a gentle form of exercise - stretching, walking - as well as eating healthy - he will start to feel better. It just takes time, patience, and lots and lots of concerted effort. :grouphug: