09/01/2026
📌WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?
Kidney stones are hard masses of minerals and salts that form inside the urinary tract: Kidneys, ureter, bladder or urethra.
They form from high levels of natural waste products in the urine, which include:
- Calcium
- Oxalate
- Urate
- Cystine
- Xanthine and
- Phosphate.
Overtime, these salts crystallize together and form a stone.
Types of Kidney stones
Yes, there’re 4 major types:
- Calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common and account for 80% of kidney stones.
- Uric acid stones, which are mostly seen in people who lose too much fluid or eat a high protein diet.
- Struvite stones, which are mostly due to a bacterial infection e.g constant UTIs
- Cystine stones, which are due to an inherited disorder.
Each type has a different cause and treatment.
WHAT INCREASES YOUR RISK OF KIDNEY STONES?
- Dehydration
- Diet high in salt, protein, sugar or oxalate (spinach, nuts, beets)
- Obesity
- Digestive diseases like IBD and Crohn’s disease
- Family history
- Some medications like calcium based antacids and loop diuretics.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
So many people are not aware of kidney stones till they block the urinary tract.
Common symptoms include:
- Severe flank or lower back pain (that radiates to the groin)
- Pain while urinating
- Blood in urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constant urination
- Cloudy or foul smelling urine
- Fever/chills (If this is present, it’s best to see a doctor)
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS?
Ignoring kidney stones can lead to:
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Kidney infection
- Hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney)
- Permanent kidney damage
- Sepsis (Blood infection)
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Seek medical help immediately if you have severe pain, blood in urine, or fever.
Diagnosis is made using Urinalysis, Imaging tests (CT scan, Ultrasound) and blood work.
Based on the type/size of stone, treatment is administered.
LIFESTYLE TIPS AND PREVENTION
It’s important to prevent kidney stones in the first place.
You do this by:
- Drinking plenty of water (Aim for 2.5 to 3 liters daily). This helps reduce the concentration of urine.
- Reduce sodium intake (Think salted snacks and packaged foods)
- Limit animal proteins and foods rich in oxalate (beet, spinach), especially if you have a family history of kidney stones.
- Don’t overdo calcium supplements
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Treat underlying cause of the stones (UTIs, gout etc)
- Monitor urine pH frequently if prone to uric acid stones.
I am a Professional Natural health practitioner, stone breaker tea is the best herbal medication for kidney stones.
