Peace. Serenity. Happiness. Silence. We are not all at peace with every one we know or have met in our lives. Some of us are not at peace with ourselves. Are you at peace with yourself for today? Just for today. Think about that! I have come to realize that peace is always within me whenever I want to have it. Lately, I want inner peace all the time. I try to make the time to have inner peace. Prayer and meditation are KEY to PEACE.
There is one disease entity which will not allow you to be at peace- it is the passing of a kidney stone. If you have had one you know what I am talking about. It is about the worst pain there is, with the exception of childbirth. It is estimated that about 10% of men and 3% of women in the US have kidney stones. There are many types of stones. The most common is made up of crystals of calcium oxalate or uric acid. 80% of the stones are mainly made of calcium. You can prevent recurrent stones by analyzing the stone and tailoring your new lifestyle so as not to form stones. This means changing your dietary lifestyle and using other disciplines of medicine, especially herbal, homeopathic and aromatic therapies.
Dehydration alone will not form a kidney stone. There is usually another cause such as recurrent urinary tract infections, foods high in oxalate, certain drugs (like the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide) and bodily disturbance.
The passing of a stone usually requires medical intervention. This usually involves a pain killer like morphine as the stone passing is unbearable. I personally have never had a kidney stone but have treated many a 'stone' in my clinical years. An old folklore remedy is drinking 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil every day. Another one is fresh lemon juice in lukewarm water every morning. I recommend this for everyone regardless if you have a stone or not, as this remedy alkalizes the body. The Chinese use ginseng and plantain to alleviate formation of stones.
As an herbalist I have been using celery seed, parsley and gravel root. The latter is not that tasty, but I always say the worst the herb tastes the better it is. For acute passage of a stone I use lots and lots of yarrow. The essential oils I have been using for patients with a history of kidney stones are fennel, juniper and of course, lemon. I ask massage therapists to use this during massage in the area of the bladder and flanks of the body where the kidneys are located.
Yes, it is painful to pass a stone, but these remedies can help. The most important aspect is plenty of water and any necessary changes in dietary lifestyle. A diet rich in animal meat can form uric acid stones. Get a list of foods that are high in oxalate. Some of these foods are beneficial, like berries and greens but contain high amounts of oxalate.
Learn to eat better.
Until tomorrow...
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