Stones, in general, are formed in an acidic, anionic internal environment. This is the same medium that creates calcifications (especially when calcium isolate supplements are taken) and cholesterol plaque (when other buffering agents, including anti-inflammatory steroids, water, and calcium, won’t suffice).
Although the various stones (cholesterol stones, pigment stones, calcium oxalate stones, struvite stones, etc.) occur through differing mechanisms, they generally occur for the same reason: acidosis.
Stones vary in size from a grain of sand at the beginning, all the way to eventually becoming the size of a golf ball. The size, location, symptoms experienced and your overall state of health will determine how you should approach your situation – and sometimes medications (pain killers particularly), emergency care and treatment procedures from the medical profession is necessary.
However, rarely is removal of an organ ever something that should even be considered if you act quickly and make the appropriate changes in your lifestyle to prevent the situation from getting worse and to reverse the problem naturally.
Chances are you already know that gravitating away from overly processed and harmful junk food immediately is critical. Depending on your situation, a gradual transition is likely to be out of the question as well; so consider switching to a diet of raw fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
The next step in the process is to learn about the various tools you can use to assist in breaking up, dissolving and expelling the stones.
Four relevant herbal actions to know about include:
- antilithic (aids in disintegrating stones)
- demulcent (mucilage-rich herbs that help by coating tissue in a soothing, slippery substance which contributes to expelling stones)
- relaxant (relaxes tissues, limiting resistance to passing stones)
- diuretic (increasing amount of urine being expelled from the body through various mechanisms; helps to expel stones)
Liver/Gallbladder Stones
For liver or gallstones, consider doing a liver flush. But before you start, unless there's an acute need, have a 30 to 60-day preparation period consuming a predominantly or exclusively raw food diet. Using herbs to support the liver and gallbladder, and drinking fresh, homemade juices containing apples and lemons (for their malic acid content) will help to soften the stones in preparation for the liver flush.
Outside of a single or a series of liver flushes, you can still maintain a juice regimen that emphasizes apples and lemons for any stones you may have stored in the body.
Chanca piedra, otherwise known as “stone-breaker,” among other names, is a phenomenal liver, gallbladder, bladder and kidney supportive herb.
It's also a well-known antilithic (stone disintegrating) herb used for liver stones, gallstones, and kidney stones. Using this herb as an adjunct to a holistic regimen that factors in proper diet, support of the organ(s) involved, and progressive reversal of systemic acidosis, will be beneficial in helping you eliminate stones.
Chamomile, as a very bitter but potent cholagogue infusion, is an excellent ally where acute gallbladder attacks – or any other gallbladder-related problems – are concerned. This same infusion can prevent the need for surgical removal of the gallbladder (known as an cholecystectomy procedure) in which case the cost difference is immense: $15-25 USD per pound of chamomile flowers + great chance of keeping your gallbladder vs. $10.000-20.000 USD for the entire process of preliminary steps and testing prior to surgery, through completion of surgical removal of the gallbladder.
With acute liver and gallbladder problems, you may want to keep intake of fats low. Initially, it’s preferable that you stick exclusively with low-fat fruits and salads, until the acute stage has passed.
Frequent consumption of chamomile tea or a chamomile short infusion (steeping for a max of 8 minutes instead of 2 hours) will support fat digestion and is very helpful for those who’ve already had their gallbladders removed.
Not only is chamomile an effective cholagogue (also aiding in digestion of fats), it also has calming, relaxant, nerve tonifying and stress-relieving properties which are highly valued in a hectic, acute situation where you’ve just been told that a financially, emotionally, and mentally exhausting removal of your organ is the only way out.
The situation will dictate how strong the infusion should be made, but the general guidelines for making a mild or strong chamomile herbal infusion can be found here.
In addition, applying castor oil transdermal packs over the liver/gallbladder in times of acute need can prove very helpful.
Whole World Botanicals’ Chanca Piedra:
- [Tincture] Stone-Breaking Chanca Piedra Liver/Gallbladder Support formula can be purchased here.
- [Capsules] Stone-Breaking Chanca Piedra Liver/Gallbladder Support formula can be purchased here.
Kidney Stones:
When kidney stones are involved, gravel root is an excellent herb to consider. Chanca piedra, castor oil transdermal packs, marshmallow root cold infusions (very mucilaginous), homemade juices containing apples and lemons (malic acid), and other kidney supporting herbs (which are usually diuretics) will also be very helpful.
In the case of an urgent situation (that hasn’t yet resulted in hospitalization), short-term emergency implementation of magnesium (oxide or citrate) and vitamin B6 (or a B-complex) supplementation can be used to benefit from their stone formation inhibiting effects. Nutrient isolates can usually be readily found at local health food stores.
Combine the isolate(s) (magnesium and/or B6) with the appropriate herbal remedies as soon as possible, and discontinue once the acute phase has passed (while continuing the herbs for maintenance purposes until no longer needed).
Acute Magnesium & Vitamin B6 Usage (preferably use together)
- Magnesium: 500 milligrams every 2 hours for 24 hours.
- Vitamin B6: 200 milligrams every 1 hour for 24 hours.
Maintenance Usage
Magnesium Oxide/Citrate Usage:
Ages 9 through 16: 350 milligrams daily
Ages 17+: 500 milligrams daily
Product suggestion(s):
- Thorne Research’s Magnesium Citrate (500 mg. capsules)
- Carlson Labs’ Magnesium Oxide (350 mg. capsules)
- Douglas Laboratories’ Magnesium Oxide (500 mg. caspsules)
Vitamin B6 Usage:
Ages 9 through 13: 50-100 milligrams daily
Ages 14+: 100-150 milligrams daily
Product suggestion:
- Nature’s Plus Vitamin B6 (100 mg. capsules)
B-Complex Usage:
Follow usage guidelines provided on the bottle.
Product suggestion:
- Thorne Research’s B-Complex
Whole World Botanicals’ Chanca Piedra:
- [Tincture] Stone-Breaking Chanca Piedra Kidney Support formula can be purchased here.
- [Capsules] Stone-Breaking Chanca Piedra Kidney Support formula can be purchased here.
Follow-Up Test
If you’re cooperating with a medical physician from the beginning, you may want to consider requesting an appropriate follow-up test to monitor progress (it’s not absolutely necessary, but it’s an option).
This test can be conducted 3-6 months after you’ve made changes to your diet and lifestyle. Which test they'll advise (e.g. ultrasound scan, X-ray scan, Computerized Tomography aka. CT or CAT scan, CT Urography) will depend on the type, location, and size of the stones and the severity of your symptoms.