Kidney Stones

The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and excreting waste products and excess water in the form of urine. They also control the body’s acid/base balance so that when blood and body fluids are too acid or too alkaline, the acidity of the urine is altered to restore the balance.

Kidney stones are quite common, particularly in middle age. They are usually caused by excessive concentrations of various substances, principally calcium; a lack of inhibitors of crystallization in the urine; urine that is too concentrated; or an infection. The calcium and uric acid crystallize into small lumps in the kidneys or the ureters (the tubes that carry urine to the bladder) and are known as stone.

Stones rarely cause pain while in the kidney, but can be agonizing when they become dislodged and start to travel down the urinary tract, or get stuck in it. When this happens, there can be bouts of extreme back pain in the kidney region which sometimes spreads to the abdomen and genitals. Other symptoms include pain on passing urine, and occasionally blood in the urine.

The Orthodox Approach

Kidney disorders and urinary symptoms are investigated by urine analysis, blood tests, kidney-imaging techniques such as ultra-sound scanning and x-rays; in some instances a biopsy (taking a small sample of kidney tissue for testing) may be necessary. Ultra-sonic “shattering” of kidney stones was hailed as a major breakthrough in treatment less than five years ago. Unfortunately, this process has several side-effects and may not be as effective as the initial trial suggested. If the stones are causing blockage in the urinary tract, a variety of other treatments may be called for. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for resulting infections.

The Hale Approach

Diagnosis of a kidney stone will generally require an experienced practitioner or a doctor. Persisting pain in the kidney areas in the back, from the side of the abdomen moving towards the genitals, or in the genitals themselves should be considered as a kidney problem and initial diagnosis should be made by your doctor. If a kidney stone is diagnosed, then orthodox pain relief is a first-line treatment, but for helping the stone to pass, and to prevent a recurrence, complementary therapies are preferred.

If the kidney stone is small enough, complementary medicine can be of great benefit. The Hale Clinic would recommend either homeopathy, Ayurveda, acupuncture or Western herbalism. These can be combined with a naturopathic approach which uses certain foods to dissolve the stone. (The foods used vary with the type of stone). An Ayurvedic physician will also recommend a specific diet combined with other Ayurvedic treatments.

Herbal Medicine

A trained herbalist will be able to say whether or not a patient should also see an orthodox doctor. The most effective herbal treatment is an Indian herb called crateva which is very hard to obtain in the West. A more tradition herb used is pillatory-of-the-wall, which is general kidney tonic. However, if the kidney stone has passed into the urinary tract, an antispasmodic herb such as khella (used by the ancient Egyptians) is very effective, as is henbane (highly poisonous, so used by trained herbalists in very small quantities). There are also certain substances known as anthroquinones which are thought to be able to bind calcium so that it is not deposited. Aloe is one of these and is used in low doses as a tincture.

Ayurveda

Medicinal preparations from this traditional Indian therapy help to break down and dissolve existing calcium and phosphate stones in the urinary system. According to Ayurvedic teachings, kidney stones are associated with Vata (the basic life force that controls the nervous system) and occur as a result of a fault in the metabolic process.  Ayurvedic medicine is highly effective in the treatment and prevention of renal stones

Acupuncture

The principles of acupuncture are based on the traditional Chinese belief that the body has two opposing yet complementary forces, yin and yang, which make up a balanced whole. Yin is the more conserving, passive force and yang the more positive, thrusting force. Kidney problems are thought to involve a deficiency in the yang element and needles would be inserted to correct this. Acupuncture for kidney problems is given at points on the governor, conception, bladder, large intestine, kidney, and spleen meridians. Moxibustion (applying heat locally to regulate, tone, and supplement the body’s flow of energy) may also be used.

Nutrition and Naturopathy

Homeopathy

The most common homeopathic remedies for kidney stones are Pareira brava and Fenecio aureus, although there are others from which to choose and treatment would depend on individual diagnosis.