Called in medical terms kidney lithiasis, or popular "kidney stones", this condition is characterized by the presence of small pieces of minerals, usually composed of uric acid and calcium phosphate, which are deposited in the kidneys or urinary tract as a result of crystallization of salts present in the urine. Kidney stones or 'stones' range in size from a few millimeters to pea-sized deposits or even larger, which can cause unbearable pain.

Causes of kidney stones

If we are talking about kidney stones based on oxalates and calcium phosphate (the most common), then these are most likely due to dehydration, excessive intake of vitamin D, some medications (thyroid hormones or diuretics), but there are also some diseases that lead to kidney stones: cancer, kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism etc.

If we're talking about kidney stones formed from magnesium and ammonia (most common in women), then chronic bacterial infections of the urinary tract are responsible for the stones.

Last but not least, if we talk about kidney stones composed of uric acid (often found in gout patients, those undergoing chemotherapy). This is due to a diet too high in protein, which leads to the formation of uric acid in the urine.

Other important risk factors are:

• obesity;
• ingestion of pills or harmful substances;
• abuse of medicines (such as anti-inflammatories). 

Symptoms of kidney stones

Sometimes, the disease can be dull, but larger stones can cause pain in the lower back, sides of the torso, abdomen, pelvis or genitals. The pain is often unbearable. Pain can also come with other symptoms:

• nausea
• voma
• blood in urine
• frequent urination and painful micturition
• cloudy and foul-smelling urine
• fever
• loss of appetite
• diarrhea or, on the contrary, constipation
• profuse sweating.

Alternative therapies for kidney stones

Nutrition

First of all, a sufficient fluid intake (spring water, tea, etc.) helps to clean the urinary tract by diluting uric acid and preventing crystals from aggregating. It is important to drink fluids even in the evening before going to bed to avoid urine becoming too concentrated overnight.

Avoid carbonated drinks, cola-type drinks, which are too acidic, black tea or iced tea, which contain many oxalates.

Herbal treatments:

Raw fruit and vegetables

helps alkalinize urine, increasing the amount of citrates eliminated by the kidneys, thus preventing the formation of stones.

Magnesium 

has an important role in dissolving small deposits of calcium and minerals, so it is recommended to eat foods rich in magnesium such as lean fish, avocado, broccoli, spinach, green vegetables, nuts, strawberries, blueberries.

What kind of salt should we eat?

Avoid salt or salty products (e.g. peanuts or chips) as they favor the formation of calcium oxalate crystals. We recommend herbal salt or Himalayan salt, no more than 8g per day.

Recommended protein

Reduce your intake of animal protein and eat plant protein instead: chia seeds, tofu, beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, etc. Processed products should also be avoided as they promote the formation of urinary stones: ketchup, sausages, sweets, chips, etc.

One food that's good for kidney health is black cherries.

Rich in flavonoids, tannins, magnesium salts, salts of organic acids, vitamin C, etc.. Cherry is a real elixir for the recovery and maintenance of kidney health. With anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and diuretic action, black cherry helps to eliminate urates, the substances that lead to the onset of renal lithiasis and the elimination of stones from the kidneys and bladder. Studies have shown that black cherry can reduce the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the urinary tract.

The important thing is to have:

• good hygiene of the renal system, maintaining diuresis and preventing infections, and
• maintaining a pH towards alkaline, which can be controlled:
  • through an optimal intake of water and teas,
  • That's through an alkaline diet rich in fruits, vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts and nuts, and low in meat.

Phytotherapy

There are teas with beneficial effects on renal lithiasis, such as: alum tea, agris leaf tea, horsetail tea, beech leaves, bean leaves, bean sheaths, from the fruits of mace, white nettle, three strawberry, etc. Very useful are also tinctures of birch, catina, earth butter or propolis.

Homeopathy

After a specialized consultation, the homeopathic doctor can recommend the most appropriate remedy, depending on the constitution and associated symptoms. As a rule, remedies such as Belladonna, Licopodium, Dioscorea, Colocynthis, Sarsaparilla are indicated for right-sided renal lithiasis, and Berberis Vulgaris, Kali carbonicum, Lachesis for left-sided renal lithiasis, while Calcarea Carbonica, Cantharis, Coccus cacti, Erigeron, Medorrinhum, Sulphur, Tabacum are recommended for non-lateral lithiasis. 

Adjuvant therapies in the treatment of kidney stones

Jade is called the "kidney stone" because of its powerful healing effect. The jade stone stores 30 minerals that resonate with our body and help you absorb the necessary minerals from food. Jade and infrared therapy is natural, preventative, looking for the roots of problems and acting holistically, treating the whole body. 

You can also try the therapeutic techniques of Chi Kung and Tai Chi which helps cleanse the kidneys and amplify their energy. In the Taoist view, each organ is associated with a particular emotion. In the case of the kidneys, fear and anxiety are the emotions that destabilize these organs, the exercises also aim at emotional balance.

Spa treatments

In kidney and urinary tract diseases - Kidney failure without stasis or obstruction

Importance (uric, phosphate, oxalic), Chronic inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract,

Chronic nephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis (10-12 months after the acute onset) mineral waters are indicated as crenotherapy:

a. Hypotonic oligomineral waters (acratopege- diuretic waters). Recommended states:

Baile Olanesti, Calimanesti, Slanic Moldova;

b. Sulphurous, calcareous, magnesian mineral waters - Baile Olanesti, Calimanesti-Caciulata, Baile Herculane

c. Hypotonic carbonated mineral waters - Baile Tusnad, Borse, Buzias, Slanic Moldova

Diuresis cure: 35-40ml/kg in 24 hours, in 5-6 intakes, one in the evening. The total amount is 2000-2500-3000ml/24 hours. The drinking cure is a major element of the hydromineralization diuresis cure and consists in the ingestion of mineral water at the establishment's drinking bottle. The water sources indicated for each patient must be specified by the specialized doctor, taking into account the disease present (lithiasis or infection), its stage (subacute or chronic), the purpose of the cure, therapeutic or prophylactic, and the associated diseases.

Diuresis cure is recommended for:

1.  Profilactic in people with conditions favoring the development of lithiasis or urinary tract infections, people with a history of 1-2 renal colic with stone discharge without morphological or functional changes in the urinary tract, or urinary tract infections

2. Therapeutic:

- in patients with renal lithiasis with caliceal, basinetal, urethral calculi, compatible with elimination, with permeable urinary tract, preoperatively, operated, 3 months after surgery

- chronic non-uberculous chronic urinary tract infections

- chronic glomerulonephritis, after the acute onset has passed, cured with sequelae (proteinuria or moderate hematuria)

- chronic pyelonephritis, excluding acute exacerbations, without decompensated renal failure phenomena, without hypertension

- gout, hyperuricemia.

On the specialist's recommendation may also be recommended:

- Hydrotherapy - showers, baths

- Thermotherapy

- Kinetotherapy

Dr. Gabriela Dogaru
Primary Doctor Recovery, physical medicine and balneology - Clinical Hospital for Recovery Cluj Napoca
First Vice-President of the Romanian Association of Balneology

Sources: http://www.formula-as.ro/2011/958/terapii-alternative-58/pietrele-la-rinichi-13437 , http://www.homeopatie.ro/insuficienta-renala-256.htm