Kidney Stones

What you need to know:

Thanks to modern technology, it’s no longer necessary to undergo surgery for most kidney stones as they can be broken down by repeated doses of low-frequency sound waves focussed on the stones. This recent treatment is called lithotripsy - and it’s available on the NHS. But even when surgery is required, keyhole technology means less invasive operations.

All kidney stones must be treated by a specialist urologist, but some natural remedies and complementary therapies could help.

It’s well established that vegetarians have a much lower risk of developing kidney stones, and even meat eaters who consume large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables are less likely to develop this extremely painful problem. The most important factor is to make dietary changes, but they’ll vary according to the composition of the stones. No matter what type of stone, however, drinking lots of fluids is vital, You need at least 2 litres of water a day - low mineral bottled waters are ideal.

Here are some specific guideline on particular types of stones:

CALCIUM STONES

Reduce consumption of refined carbohydrates sugar, white flour, white rice
Eat less of the foods which contain purines, meat, fish, poultry, yeast and yeast extracts - and especially all offal, shellfish and oily fish
Reduce your intake of alcohol, salt and foods rich in oxalates - spinach, chard, rhurbarb, nuts, cranberries, parsley, coco, chocolate, Indian tea
Cut down on dairy products
Eat lots of complex carbodhydrates - wholemeal bread, pasta, brown rice, oats and all other wholegrain cereals and green vegetables for fibre
Eat more foods rich in Magnesium - barley, buckwheat, oats, rye, corn brown rice, avocados, sesame seeds, lima beans, potatoes and soya products

Supplements of vitamin B6 and Vitamin K could also help and if you get indigestion, steer clear of antacids which contain aluminium.

URIC ACID STONES

Avoid foods containing purines ( see calcium stones)

The most useful Supplements:

Folic Acid
Potassium citrate
Sodium bicarbonate

The last two keep the urine slightly alkaline, which is really helpful.

PHOSPHATE STONES

These types of stones are often linked to recurrent urinary infections - see cystitis in the kidney and urinary tract section.
Keep the urine slightly acid by taking a supplement of ammonium chloride.

CYSTINE STONES

Don’t eat food rich in methionine - wheat, soya, dairy products (with the exception of whole milk), all fish and meat, lima beans, mushrooms and most nuts and seeds - sunflower seeds, hazelnuts and coconut are okay.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.