Kidney Stones
How to dissolve them & why they are there in the first place
Kidney stones, or renal calculus are classified by their location in the body.
Nephrolithiasis- In the kidneys
Uretolithiasis- In the ureter
Cystolithiasis- in the bladder
When the stones grow to 3mm and over they may get stuck in the kidneys and distend the wall of the interior of the kidneys (which is not designed to stretch) and cause pain. This pain is usually felt in the flank, between the ribs and the hip, pelvis, groin and lower back. The pain can be extremely intense and may cause vomiting, nausea, temperature and blood in the urine. Diagnosis is made by history, ultrasound, x-ray, urinalysis and blood work.
Kidney stones are generally made up of Calcium, Struvite, Uric Acid, Oxalate, Cystine and other compounds. Kidney stones are most common in men, especially Caucasian adults between the ages of 20 and 50.
Standard western treatment is with pain mediating medication and ultrasound to shatter the stones so they can be passed. More severe cases may require surgery.
Causes
There are various risk factors:
1. Calcium. Calcium is the main component of kidney stones and the cause may be from taking in too much calcium or the body not processing calcium properly. People that take a calcium supplement are at a greater risk of developing kidney stones. High intakes of dietary calcium do not seem to correlate to kidney stones in fact they seem to prevent the formation of stones, only occasionally supplementation in accordance with other factors that we will go through later may increase kidney stone risk by up to 17% [1].
2. Electrolytes: By increasing urinary calcium excretion, high dietary sodium may increase the risk of stone formation. Drinking fluoridated water may also increase stone formation [2] however the main element that is possibly lacking from the diet is magnesium[3].
3. High Animal Protein Diet: This may explain why 80% of kidney stone sufferers are men. High animal protein consumption creates an acid load that increases urinary excretion of calcium and uric acid and reduced citrate. I have seen a lot of young guys that go to the gym frequently and take tons of protein powder, then developing kidney stones as a result.
4. Vitamins: There is some link to vitamin supplements causing stones. Excess vitamin C intake is loosely linked to calcium oxalate stone formation [4] however there is not strong enough evidence. Where there is stronger evidence is the link between low Vitamin A and high Vitamin D.
5. Other: This may include things like alcohol, fluid intake (dehydration) and medications. Certain medications can deplete nutrients and vitamins and put the balance off kilter. Medication is a very broad topic and outside the scope of this article, however I recommend the book ‘Drug Muggers’ as a good starting point if you are taking ongoing medication.
Prevention
If the stones are calcium oxalate, I have a few specific recommendations.
Vitamin D is crucial to properly metabolize calcium; however there are 2 other fat soluble vitamins that are just as important. Vitamin A and K2 are also essential to the diet and in balance with vitamin D. In fact, Vitamin D excess and Vitamin A and K2 deficiency are common in sufferers of kidney stones. Certain populations that get high doses of Vitamin D such as lifeguards have been shown to have higher levels of kidney stones. Interestingly, high intake of Vitamin A protects against too high levels of Vitamin D.
So how do you get more Vitamin A and D in your diet?
Vitamin A - Liver, egg yolks, full fat dairy
Vitamin K2 – Liver, ghee, butter, fermented cod liver oil, natto
Reduction
One traditional way to reduce kidney stones is to add some lemon juice to your water. The citric acid in lemon juice inhibits stone formation and breaks up small stones beginning to form. Citrate binds with calcium in the urine and makes the urine less acidic which inhibits the development of calcium oxalate and uric acid stones.
Magnesium has also been shown to reduce kidney stone formation, although the mechanism is unknown. The best way to get magnesium is 400mg daily of chelated magnesium such as malate or citrate as they are well absorbed. Also increase your intake of pumpkin seeds, spinach, almonds and chard. In the clinic we also like the topical applied magnesium in oil and gel application to the skin, or just have an Epsom salt bath.
Traditional herbs that are useful and commonly found on the market are: Phyllanthus Niruri/Chanca Piedra (stone breaker), Hydrangea Arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea) and Eupatorium Purpureum (Gravel Root).
Stone Size
Stone size varies person to person and with duration. 98% of small stones (less than 5 mm in diameter) will pass spontaneously within 4 weeks, however only 53% of larger stones 5-10mm will pass in this time.
Chinese Medicine
In Chinese medicine we have various approaches to kidney stones. There are 2 common herbs that we use to dissolve the stones which are Jin Qian Qiao and Hai
Jin Sha. To this we add certain herbs such asJi Xue Teng to nourish the blood and relax spasm so the stones can pass easily, Tian Qi if there is any bleeding and Jin Yin Hua if there is any infection or inflammation.
There are various acupuncture points and protocols that can be used. One effective protocol recommended by Dr Jake Fratkin is; place needles at Ki 5, Bl 23, GB 25, and Sp 6. The GB 25 location should be dead-center at the most painful area. All needles are attached to electric micro-stim, with dense dispersal sequence, alternating between 5 hz and the highest hertz frequency available on the machine. (Certain Japanese machines can go to 1500 Hz). This will dilate the ureter and allow passage of the stone into the bladder. Do for 10 to 30 minutes, until the stone is discharged. If not, repeat with 30 minute breaks in between [5].
If you find yourself in severe pain and/or suspect kidney stones, always check in with your doctor or hospital first for assesment, accurate diagnosis and treatment options.
As a management of small stones and to prevent return of stone formation, Chinese medicine offers safe, effective and informative treatmnet options.
[1] Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium,Tolerable upper intake levels: calcium and vitamin D, pp. 403–56 in Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium (2011)
[3] Riley, J. M.; Kim, H.; Averch, T. D.; Kim, H. J. (Oct 2013). "Effect of Magnesium on Calcium and Oxalate Ion Binding". J Endourol 27 (12): 1487–92. doi:10.1089/end.2013.0173. PMID24127630
[4] Goodwin, JS; Mangum, MR (1998). "Battling quackery: attitudes about micronutrient supplements in American academic medicine". Archives of Internal Medicine 158 (20): 2187–91.doi:10.1001/archinte.158.20.2187. PMID9818798.
Chinese medicine, massage and acupuncture combined with lifestyle and diet changes can offer treatment for various conditions including Kidney Stones, female infertility, prostatitis, BPH, asthma, IBS, weight loss, pelvic pain, rectal pain, infertility, morning sickness, period pain, general pain and many more.
Chris Eddy is a registered doctor of Chinese medicine and university lecturer. He has been treating for the last 10 years in his city practice in Melbourne Australia.
Chris focuses his practice on treating and helping men and women with health conditions such as infertility.
Melbourne Acupuncture Clinic- Chris Eddy- Dr Chinese Medicine Melbourne CBD- 712/365 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000 ph 03 8676 0599
