Re: Medullary Sponge Kidneys

I consulted a book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Fourth Edition) by Phyllis A Balch, CNC. It's an extraordinary resource for chronic health problems, including kidney disease and kidney stones. You can get it at most good health food stores or order it from Amazon.com. I strongly recommend this book, but use your own good judgement and with the added advice of a knowledgeable physician (preferably one who specializes in kidney disease). If you need a wholistic doctor, you can search at
http://www.acam.org
against your zip code. These doctors typically know a great deal about nutrional healing. Also, why has your doctor not recommended shockwave therapy to break up lodged stones? There are also medications to help prevent different types of stones. These too are listed in the book. I'm not sure if any of the meds can help break up stones once they form. Your doctor should know.

According to the book ...

There are four kinds of kidney stones. The most common are calcium oxalate (80% of all stones). Another type are uric acid stones that can form if the volume of urine excreted is too low or the volume of uric acid levels in the blood is too high. Apparently, the latter condition is or can be associated with gout. Struvite stones are formed by infections. Cystine stones are the result of another congenital defect that cause stones formed of the amino acid cystine to form.

Some of the advice differs (even contradicts) depending on the type of stone. As a result, it helps enormously to know the type of stone being formed. Nevertheless, the author has literally dozens of seemingly sensible recommendations, a few of which are repeated below. You can use the book to start acquiring recommended supplements and/or herbs that you deem to be safe to start until you can get with the right doctors. Be sure to read the section on kidney disease too; there are some related issues and advice.

Aloe Vera juice, taken at levels that do not produce a laxative effect, can be useful in preventing stone formation and in reducing the size of a stone during an acute attack.

Vitamin C (unbuffered, per my other post) with bioflavonoids apparently acidifies the urine and reduces some stone formation, unless you are forming uric acid stones. Pure Cranberry juice (unsweetened) also helps acidify the urine.

Marshmallow root tea (1 quart daily) is recommended to cleanse the kidneys and expel stones (I think this could be dangerous if the stone is big). Uva ursi to help relieve pain. Other herbs that may help include cleavers, gravel root, horsetail, juniper berries, and pipsissewa. Not sure why.

Always drink plenty of water (at least 8 ten ounce glasses daily) and (for pain relief) drink the juice of half a fresh lemon in 8 ounces of water every half hour. I assume you're supposed to combine these two therapies, otherwise you'll drink dangerous amounts of water (that can happen). Chronic dehydration is a major factor in stone formation in 15-20 percent of people. The author recommends distilled water. Drinking water is deemed to be the single most effective means of preventing new stone formation.

The typical American diet (cheap carbs and too much animal protein) contribute greatly to stone formation, up tenfold in the past one hundred years. Refined Sugar and the products that contain it causes the pancreas to release insulin which, in turn, increases calcium in the urine. There are other foods to avoid to reduce oxalic acid as well.

Also, do your best to remain active. If you become too inactive as a result of chronic pain, calcium tends to accumulate in the blood. Exercise pulls it back into the bones.

Good luck!
Dirk
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