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Health
Concerns Articles |
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KIDNEY STONES
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.) |
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PAIN IN THE BACK |
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A common symptom of
kidney stones is
back pain. Proper
min-eral use is
important for people
concerned about
kidney stones. |
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Improper
use of calcium in the body
is a major cause of kidney
stones, but not the only
one. Read on to
discover what you can do to
help prevent and treat
kidney stones naturally... |
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Excruciatingly painful,
kidney stones begin as small
crystals that form in the
kidneys, usually from excess
minerals. They can stay as
small as a grain of sand, or
grow as large as a grape.
While in the kidneys, they
can cause dull back ache,
mild irritation and lead to
infections of the kidney
called nephritis. |
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Excruciating pain results
when these stones begin to
travel from the kidneys and
out into the bladder and
urinary tract. Very small
stones may pass without you
even noticing. For those
with larger stones, it is a
completely different story.
Severe pain accompanied by
fever, nausea and extreme
distress result. People at
this stage are often
hospitalized and prescribed
very strong pain killers,
such as morphine.
Stones can be made of
calcium, amino acids, uric
acid or oxalic acid. The
type of the stone can be
determined through a
combination of medical tests
or upon analysis after it is
passed, but by and large,
about 80% of them are
usually of the calcium
type. If you have passed a
kidney stone, it is
important to discover what
type of stone it was, as
this can help you to alter
your diet and supplement
regimen to address specific
aggravating factors of each.
Other causes of kidney
stones are: concentrated
urine, a diet high animal
protein and dairy products,
kidney infection,
hyperparathyroidism, excess
bone breakdown, and
dehydration. Conventional
treatment of kidney stones
involves the use of
painkillers until the stone
has passed. If it becomes
stuck, various surgical
techniques are used to break
it down. Kidney stones can
be prevented and the pain of
acute attacks can be
minimized by using
nutritional supplements.
BALANCING PH AND THE ROLE OF
CALCIUM
Proper calcium balance and
absorption is crucial for
the prevention and treatment
of kidney stones.
As most people know, calcium
is a vital nutrient that
your body needs on a daily
basis - the problem occurs
when there is too much
calcium in your blood.
While it is normal for your
blood to contain a certain
amount of calcium, it is
when it reaches a certain
concentration that your body
needs to filter this excess
out into the kidneys.
It is in the kidneys where
this excess calcium can
begin to form small
crystals. These
crystals can eventually lead
to the formation of stones. |
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What you can do if
you are concerned
about kidney stones: |
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MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY PH
WITH A GREEN
FOOD
SUPPLEMENT, |
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ENSURE THAT
YOUR BONES
ARE
ABSORBING
CALCIUM
EFFECTIVELY
WITH
SYNERGISTIC
NUTRIENTS
LIKE SILICA,
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EAT PLENTY
OF
VEGETABLES. |
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DO NOT DRINK
COFFEE;
IT
CONTRIBUTES
TO ACIDITY. |
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USE
CRANBERRY TO
HELP REDUCE
THE
FREQUENCY OF
INFECTIONS
RELATED TO
KIDNEY
STONES. |
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REMAIN
HYDRATED;
IF YOU HAVE
STONES,
DRINK
DISTILLED
WATER. |
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MONITOR YOUR
ACID /
ALKALINE
BALANCE WITH
PH PAPER. |
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REDUCE YOUR
INTAKE OF
ANIMAL
PROTEIN. |
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Excess calcium in the blood
often occurs from over
acidity. When there is too
much acid in the blood
calcium and other minerals
are pulled out of your bones
to neutralize it. This also
plays a role in the
development of osteoporosis,
but in respect to kidney
stones, it causes your blood
to shunt the excess calcium
to the kidneys, where over
time stones can form. To
prevent this from happening,
it is important to maintain
a healthy and balanced ph.
Your acid alkaline balance
is crucial if you have
kidney stones or are at a
risk of them. Heredity is a
factor, so if someone in
your immediate family has
them, pay particular
attention to your PH.
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Using a green food
supplement will usually
raise your ph, making it
more alkaline and thereby
reducing the leaching of
calcium. See the list below
for types of green foods and
dosages useful for balancing
PH in respect to kidney
stones. Avoid the mineral
potassium that is often used
to help neutralize acidity,
as it can often irritate
this condition. You can
easily monitor your ph daily
with convenient ph paper or
an electronic ph meter.
This allows you to alter
your diet and supplement
program accordingly.
OPTIMIZING CALCIUM
ABSORPTION
Excess calcium in the blood
can also be caused by an
impairment of the
utilization of calcium.
Certain minerals and other
nutritional cofactors are
needed by the body to
integrate calcium into the
bones and for use in other
tissues. Ensure that you
are getting enough of the
minerals silica, zinc, and
magnesium, as they are all
needed for the uptake of
calcium by your bones. Also
ensure that you are getting
enough fibre, as it helps
the body excrete excess
calcium that might otherwise
be reabsorbed by the
intestines when it is not
needed. A daily fibre
supplement is a convenient
and effective way of
increasing your fibre intake
and reducing re-absorption
of unneeded calcium. Other
important nutrients for
calcium utilization are:
vitamin D, soya extracts,
boron, and primrose oil.
Taking a calcium supplement
does not cause kidney
stones, although it is
important that you take
yours with a meal as taking
it on an empty stomach
inhibits proper
utilization. Ensure that it
is of a high quality such as
a citrate or a chelate
type. If you have
osteoporosis, use the
hydroxyapatite form, as it
the easiest to integrate
into new bone mass and is
less likely to contribute to
higher calcium levels in the
blood.
Dietary interventions to
prevent kidney stones
include drinking 2-2.5
litres of filtered water,
juice or herbal tea daily,
which keeps the urine
diluted. If the stones
contain uric acid include
black cherry juice in your
fluid intake. To
prevent concurrent kidney or
bladder infections drink
unsweetened cranberry juice.
Eat plant source protein,
like beans, and egg whites.
Consume foods that are high
in B6 and vitamin A to
prevent stones. This
includes fish, whole grains,
legumes, carrots, yams,
apricots, peaches,
cantaloupe and mangoes.
To avoid calcium oxalate
stones do not eat foods
containing oxalic acid, for
example, spinach, rhubarb
and tomatoes.
Minimize the consumption of
sugar, caffeine, antacids,
alcohol and salt because
they increase urinary
calcium. Animal
protein and dairy products
increase urinary calcium and
uric acid and should also be
avoided.
The following list of
supplements can be used to
prevent and treat kidney
stones. Adult doses
are given.
(CLICK SUPPLEMENT NAME FOR PRODUCTS).
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SUPPLEMENT |
DOSAGE |
THERAPEUTIC
EFFECT |
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GREEN FOOD
SUPPLEMENT |
1-2 tablespoons
twice daily |
Reduces the leaching
of calcium by
increasing
alkalinity in the
body. |
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SILICA |
500mg horsetail
extract twice daily |
Improves uptake of
calcium by the
bones. |
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SOYA EXTRACT |
As directed |
Improves uptake of
calcium by the
bones. |
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CRANBERRY EXTRACT |
As directed |
Fights infections of
the urinary tract to
which people with
kidney stones are
more prone. |
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ACIDOPHILUS |
As directed |
Reduces urinary
tract infections. |
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JUNIPER, BIRCH LEAF,
MARSHMALLOW, OR
DANDELION |
As directed |
Cleanse the kidneys,
bladder, and urinary
tract. |
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Magnesium citrate |
500mg
daily |
Protects the kidney
from calcium
deposition.
Deficiency can lead
to stone formation. |
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Vitamin B complex
plus B6 |
50mg
twice daily plus B6
50mg daily |
B5
and folic acid help
the metabolism of
uric acid. B6
regulates the
metabolism of oxalic
acid in the body. |
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Vitamin A |
25000IU daily |
Heals
the lining of the
urinary tract. Do
not use if you are
pregnant. |
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Potassium citrate |
99mg
daily |
Keeps
calcium suspended in
the urine. |
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Inositol
hexaphosphate |
As
directed |
In
studies has proven
effective in
treating and
preventing kidney
stones. |
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Also
beneficial for
KIDNEY STONES: |
Multivitamins,
vitamin C
with
bioflavinoids,
vitamin E,
zinc, green
food
supplements,
L-glutamine,
L-methionine,
L-arginine,
kidney
glandular,
chlorophyll,
birch
leaves, aloe
vera,
juniper,
gravel root,
marshmallow,
lobelia and
wild yam. |
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