Homeopathy for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones form in the kidneys, as the name suggests, out of minerals and salts. They are a very common and potentially very painful condition. When the stones are in the kidneys there are not normally any symptoms. Issues begin when larger stones become lodged in the ureter and cause a backup of urine in the urethra, bladder, ureter, or kidney. The larger the stone, the greater the chance of experiencing very painful symptoms.

Causes of kidney stones include chronic dehydration, a high-protein high-sugar diet, family history, previous stomach or intestinal surgery, certain medications, diabetes, gout, obesity, and parathyroid disease. The majority of stones are composed of calcium oxalate with calcium phosphate. Less commonly, they are composed of uric acid, struvite, and cysteine.

If you find yourself an unfortunate sufferer of this condition, the following are the most commonly used remedies to consider:

Berberis vulgaris (Berb): Typically used for stones on the left side. Shooting pains in the kidney extend to the bladder. Burning, bubbling, or pressure is felt around the kidney. There is soreness in that area and sensitivity to touch. Jarring motions make the pain worse.

Lycopodium (Lyc): Most often used for stones on the right side. There is a severe backache before urination that is better after voiding. There may be red or yellow sediment in the urine and an increased urge to urinate, particularly at night. Abdominal bloating may be present.

Cantharis (Canth): Pain is present before, during, and after urination. The pain in the kidney is cutting, burning, tearing, or stinging. The pain may also be heavy and dull accompanied by nausea and vomiting. When urine passes, the stream is thin, weak, and burning.

Urtica urens (Urt-u): Helpful in cases where there are high uric acid levels in the body. The person may have experienced gout at some point. Urination is painful and frequent and the urine is scanty with force needed to expel it. There may be blood in the urine.

These are just a few to consider. Other remedies that may be helpful for you would be, as is everything in homeopathy, based on your individual symptoms. Get in touch with your practitioner if you have questions about what might be best for you.