Passing Kidney Stones with Homeopathy
Case Scenario
In my early thirties, I developed this intense pain in my back on the left side. The pain was EXCRUCIATING! And I had thought natural childbirth was painful. It turns out I was in the process of passing kidney stones. Something that I did not even know I had. I had never had any urinary tract infections (UTI’s) or any other type kidney problems previously.
With my knowledge of homeopathy, I started taking a few doses a day of the homeopathic remedy Berberis Vulgaris (for kidney stones with radiating pains; that went from the kidney out to the side of the body). The next day, I could feel the stone travelling around to the front of my body, as it painfully moved through my ureter. I could have drawn a magic marker line on my body, following the path the kidney stone took down to my bladder. The stone would travel a bit down my left ureter each day moving slowly down towards my bladder. Unfortunately, there is no fast way to naturally pass a stone. At one point, the pain was so intense when I moved, that all I did was lay on the couch and take the homeopathic remedy Bryonia Alba for acute pain worse from movement waiting for the kidney stones to drop into my bladder so my body could pass them.
Finally, I passed the stone. For several mornings after passing the stone, I would check to see if I was still passing the stone sediments. This was done by catching my first pee in a jar each morning. Then I would pour my pee over the bottom of a pot (smooth pot bottom) and rub the straight side of knife over bottom of pot and listen for a gritty, scratchy sound, which meant I was still passing sediments of stone. When I no longer heard the gritty sound, I knew I was done passing kidney stones. Alternatively, you can pee into a white cone coffee filter and check for sediment visually until you no longer see sediment.
What are Kidney Stones?
Your pee contains many dissolved minerals and salts. When your pee has high levels of these minerals and salts, you can form stones. Kidney stones (also called renal calculi) can start small and can grow larger in size, even filling the inner hollow structures of the kidney. Stones can stay in the kidney for a long time and not cause any problems. When passing a kidney stone, it will travel down the ureter (tube between the kidney and the bladder) into the bladder. Kidney stones can cause excruciating pain when they pass through your urinary tract. Drinking lots of water can help with passing the stones. Sometime stones can become lodged in the urinary tract and can be linked with a urinary infection or cause complications; needing surgery.
Kidney Stone Symptoms:
- Severe pain on either side of your lower back,
- A vague pain or stomach ache that doesn’t go away,
- Blood in the urine,
- Nausea or vomiting,
- Fever and chills,
- Pee smells bad or looks cloudy
Kidney stones start to hurt when they cause an irritation or blockage, often this will rapidly build up to extreme pain. Kidney stones can pass without causing damage; however, the stones usually cause a lot of pain (known as renal colic). When in acute renal pain, due to severity of the pain, the person does not find any position comfortable.
Who Can Get Kidney Stones?
Each year, more than half a million people go to emergency room for kidney stone problems. Statics show that kidney stones occur in about 19% in men and 9% in women. A man’s first episode is most likely to occur after age 30, however, can occur earlier.
Types of Kidney Stones
Knowing the type of kidney stone, you have helps determine its cause, and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones. If possible, try to save your kidney stone if you pass one for the doctor to analyze.
- Calcium stones: Most kidney stones are calcium stones and are a form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance made daily by your liver or absorbed from certain fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, that have high oxalate content.
- Calcium stones: Can also be a form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common in metabolic conditions (i.e. renal tubular acidosis). Along with certain medications used to for migraines and seizures, such as topiramate (I.e. Topamax, Trokendi XR, Qudexy XR).
- Struvite stones: Though less common come from a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
- Uric acid stones: Another common type of stone that can form in people is from a uric acid waste product that comes from chemical changes in the body.
High levels of uric acid come from:
- Losing too much fluids or malabsorption from chronic diarrhea,
- Type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar),
- Gout,
- Diet high in animal protein (i.e. organ meats and shellfish) and low in fruits and vegetables.
- Cystine stones: These types of stones form in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of a specific amino acid.
Homeopathic Remedies for Kidney Stone and Renal Colic
Homeopathic remedies can help in flushing out kidney stones, alleviate the pain, dissolve stones and address why one develops them. A Homeopathic Remedy in a 30c or 200c potency will be taken dry one or more times a day depending on when the intensity of the symptom(s) return (i.e. once a day, up to several times a day).
Berberis Vulgaris – Is for kidney stones that formed in the left kidney. The pain radiates up the back, down the ureter and into the urinary bladder. The pain can be shooting down the ureter, all through the pelvis and in to the hip, stitching, tearing, cutting or stinging in nature. Men may have the kidney pain extend to testicle, which is drawn up. The pain may be worse from motion or jarring movement. Urine can be yellow, with yellow, red (blood in urine) and may contain slimy sediments. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Benzoic Acid – Kidney pain and stones with offensive urine. The urine is a deep-red color. They feel better when urine is profuse. Excess of uric acid causes gout. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Bryonia Alba – Constant intense pain while passing the stone(s), pain is worse from any movement. Used for renal colic.
Calculus Renalis – Severe pain in kidney from kidney stone(s). Pain descends from kidney into bladder. Uric acid stones. Calculus Renalis is made from a kidney stone. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Cantharis Vesicatoria – Helps with the kidney pain when passing stones, with intense burning when urinating. A dull pressing pain in kidney; cutting, contracting pains in ureter, extending to bladder and urethra. For men the pain extends down the spermatic cord, with retraction of testicles or shooting into the legs or thighs. Frequent urgings and only a small amount urine or a couple of drops comes out. Used for renal colic (pain).
Dioscorea Villosa – One twists and turns from the cramping pains while passing kidney stones. Pain feels better when stretches out or bending backwards. Pains is worse bending forwards. Used for renal colic.
Hydrangea Arborescens – Commonly called the stone breaker and is used to crush kidney stones, stones in ureter as well as the bladder. Urine has white or yellow sand/sediment. Pains radiate from kidney. In some cases, blood may appear in urine. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Lycopodium Clavatum – Has pain in the right kidney or right ureter. Or used for kidney pain/stones that go from the right kidney to the left kidney. The pain worsens before urination and subsides after passing urine. Red sediments may appear in urine. Commonly used to dissolve phosphate stones. Renal colic from kidney stone(s) that extends down (right) ureter to the bladder, with frequent urging to urine; urine scanty, high colored and deposits a red or yellowish red sandy (blood in urine – brick dust) sediment. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Nux-Vomica – Renal colic from stone, especially in ureter of the in right kidney, causing an irritation as the stone passes through ureter. Pains extend to genitalia and down leg, with nausea and vomiting. Used for renal colic.
Ocimum Canum – For kidney stones with nausea and vomiting with pain in the right kidney. Urine is a red, saffron colored urine or white sediments; with burning on urinating and restlessness. Intense twisting pain, causing one to scream and groan. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Oxalicum Acidium – Intense pain in back and kidney with kidney stones. Must urinate when thinks about it. Urine has an excessive amount of oxalic acid (oxalates), especially calcium oxalate. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Pareira Brava – Is for kidney stones with a pain that radiates from the kidney down the thigh. In some cases, the pain may radiate down to the feet from the kidney region. One may have nausea and vomiting. There’s a constant urge to urinate. Red sand or stingy mucus in urine. Must go down on all fours to urinate. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Sarsaparilla Officinalis – For kidney stone with burning at end of urination, causing one to scream. Urine may be scanty. Urine may contain slimy or sandy particles (gravel). Pain radiates from the kidney downward. Sandy deposits on underwear. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Tabacum – For kidney stones with nausea and vomiting with pain in left kidney. Pains down the ureter, with deathly sickness and cold sweat. Urine is yellow-red urine color. Used for kidney stones and renal colic.
Urtica Urens – Helps in removing stones from the kidney that are very old. It acts as a cleaning agent of the kidneys and eliminates gravel from them. Has been used to prevent the recurrence of kidney stones. Used for kidney stones.
Homeopathy’s Role in Preventing Recurrence of Kidney Stones
Homeopathy’s approach to health is holistic. A complete case history is necessary in order to consider existing health conditions and events that contribute to creating kidney stone(s).
- This is best done by seeking out a trained and certified homeopath. They would proceed to take a complete health history getting a snapshot of how the person’s general health is from birth to the present time.
- However, the main focus would be on what was going on in their lives prior to them developing kidney stone(s). Looking back at the last 6-12 months of their life for stresses (i.e. relationship, work related, financial, or caring for a loved one).
- And consider other physical symptoms that they are having which are related to kidney stone(s) such as: diet, lifestyle, prior medical conditions.
How the Homeopathic Remedy is Administered to Prevent Recurrence of Kidney Stones
A 6c homeopathic remedy will be selected and taken either dry (pellets) 3 times a day or in a Homeopathic Remedy Solution Water Bottle once a day. Within one week’s time, one will start to see results from the selected homeopathic remedy; such as: more energy, sleeping better and feeling better emotionally.
Herbal Tinctures for Dissolving and Removing Kidney Stones
The tinctures listed below are taken daily for a period of time to dissolve and remove kidney stones. Select one of the tinctures that fits your kidney symptoms.
- Barberry (dissolves all stones),
- Horsetail (especially uric acid stones),
- Nettles (high in minerals, used for rejuvenating the kidneys and bladder)
How to Check for Stones Using the Plate Test
Items Needed:
- Jar
- Kitchen Pot that has smooth outside bottom
- Knife with straight blade (i.e. top of butter knife)
- Toilet
Plate Test Procedure
- Each morning, catch your first pee in a jar over toilet.
- Turn kitchen pot over with the pot’s smooth bottom facing up towards the ceiling.
- Leaning over the toilet, pour your pee directly over the bottom of a pot.
- Rub straight side of knife over bottom of pot and listen for a gritty, scratchy sound. When you hear the gritty sound, it means you are passing sediments of the stone.
Each morning, continue to check for stone sediments until you no longer hear the gritty sound; indicating you are no longer passing kidney stones.
Tests Used to Diagnosis Kidney Stones
When kidney stones are suspected, your doctor will have you do one or more of the following tests:
- Blood Tests – To show if you have too much calcium or uric acid in your blood.
- Computerized Tomography (CT) – Can show if you have tiny stones. Abdominal X-rays may not show small kidney stones.
- Ultrasound – Can also be used to diagnose kidney stones.
Risk Factors that Increase Your Chance of Developing Kidney Stones
- Dehydration – Not drinking enough water each day can increase your risk of kidney stones. People who live in warm, dry climates and those who sweat a lot may be at higher risk than others.
- Certain Diets – Eating a diet that’s high in protein, dairy, sodium (salt) and sugar may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. Too much salt in your diet increases the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter and significantly increases your risk of kidney stones. Foods rich in oxalate, (e.g. colas are rich in phosphate), can contribute to kidney stones.
- Obesity – High body mass index (BMI), large waist size and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.
- Family or Personal History – History of having one or more kidney stones, you can be at risk of developing another. Family has had kidney stones, you may be of risk of developing stones too.
- Digestive Diseases and Surgery – Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea can cause changes in the digestive process that affect your absorption of calcium and water, increasing the amounts of stone-forming substances in your urine.
- Other Medical Conditions – Such as renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism and repeated urinary tract infections also can increase your risk of kidney stones.
- Certain Supplements and Medications – Such as vitamin C, dietary supplements, laxatives (when used excessively), calcium-based antacids, and certain medications used to treat migraines or depression, can increase your risk of kidney stone.
To wrap up, one’s health depends on their diet, lifestyle, what is going on around them. How they handle the day to day stresses in life will affect any health condition including getting kidney stones. A homeopathic approach can be used to isolate and address contributing factors as well as address kidney stones should they develop.
