Kidney Stone Treatment Alternatives

An estimated half-million Americans each year can attest that the pain of kidney stones calls for quick relief and lasting treatment. Kidney stones can be serious health problems, sometimes leading to infections and even kidney damage, so treatment by a physician is highly recommended. If you know that your urinary tract is dealing with a stone, you may be able to help the cause through a few basic strategies, many of which are also good for preventing future stones.

Fluids and Other Strategies

• Only diagnostic testing can determine the type of stone(s) you have, and the type of stone you have will determine the best treatment. Stones are either acidic or alkaline, which can be revealed through a simple urine test. All four types of kidney stones---calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite stones, cystine stones---call for increased fluid intake. But different types of stones respond to different types of fluids.
  Calcium oxalate and uric acid stones, for example, are best treated with water, but cranberry juice should be avoided. In cases of struvite and cystine stones, cranberry juice may be beneficial.

Medications

• Common natural treatments for kidney stones include cranberry, green tea and milk thistle. Cranberry dosage is 300 to 400 mg per day, or 8 to 16 oz. of cranberry juice (unsweetened) each day. Green tea works as an antioxidant and promotes the immune system, which can help prevent kidney infections that often result from kidney stones. Milk thistle provides a detoxification effect and should be taken two to three times each day, at a dosage of 80 to 160 mg per dose.
  Berberis may be helpful in alleviating radiating pain, and colocynthis is used to treat the pain often experienced from bending forward. Ocimum helps ease nausea and vomiting that is common with kidney stones.
  Certain types of stones respond best to specific treatments. Calcium oxalate stones can be treated and prevented with diuretics, phosphates, citrate salts and a decrease in dietary protein, salt, fat and calcium intake. Patients with uric acid stones should limit their intake of foods that are high in purine (such as liver, scallops, mackerel, game meat, anchovies and sardines), and consider treatment with potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate. Struvite and cystine stones also signal a need for reduced protein intake. Cystine stones may also be treated with bicarbonate or other alkalizing agents.

Treatment of Symptoms

• Several simple steps can help alleviate symptoms of kidney stones and prevent future occurrences. Among them:
  1. Add antioxidant fruits and vegetables to your diet. Examples are tomatoes, blueberries, cherries, bell peppers and squash.
  2. Increase your fiber intake. A diet rich in fiber includes oats, beans, root vegetables such as potatoes, and psyllium.
  3. Limit or eliminate sugar, white bread and pasta from your diet.
  4. Substitute leaner meats, fish and beans for red meats.
  5. Patients with recurring calcium oxalate stones may benefit from lowering their intake of oxalate foods, such as nuts, chocolate, coffee, strawberries, spinach and beans.
  6. Increase magnesium and lower calcium by incorporating foods such as oats, soy, bananas, bran and brown rice into your meals.
  7. Avoid stimulants such as tobacco, coffee and alcohol.
  8. Drink plenty of water---preferably filtered. The typical recommendation is six to eight glasses each day.
  9. Exercise a minimum of 30 minutes at least five days each week.