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Curejoy Expert Janardhana Hebbar Explains:
A kidney stone is usually formed when a small amount of mineral settles out of the urine into the kidney or the ureter. This is a tube that links the kidney to the bladder.
However, since knowing the type of kidney stone helps determine the cause, let me first tell you, in brevity, about the types of Kidney Stones. It can basically be classified into 4 types depending on the chemicals that make up the stones. These are calcium, ammonia, uric acid, and cystine.
Certain medical conditions can lead to an unusually high level of these substances in your urine, thereby leading to forming kidney stones. Kidney stones may form when the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other substances found in urine changes. How this balance changes determines the type of kidney stone you have.
Causes Of Kidney Stones
Calcium Stones
More than half of the Kidney Stones in patents are caused by calcium, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in different foods including some fruits, vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate. Moreover, even liver produces oxalate. Thus, these dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine, thereby leading to forming a kidney stone.
Uric Acid Stones
This also a common type of stone formed in kidney. Uric Acid Stones form in the kidney of people who drink less water or fluids or who lose too much fluid. Also people who eat a high-protein diet and those who have gout have a chance of getting this disease. Moreover, researchers suggest that even genetic factors may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
Cystine Stones
Cystine Stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria). Moreover, cystine stones are the rarest form of kidney stone. Cystine tends to precipitate out of urine and form stones (calculi) in the urinary tract.
Struvite Stones
Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
There are still other types of stones, but these are again the rarest of the kidney stones found.
Home Remedies For Kidney Stones
There are several home remedies for kidney stones, here are few that you might want to be aware of.
Lemon Juice and Olive Oil: The combination of lemon juice and olive oil is traditionally used as a home remedy to expel gallbladder stones but it can also be used to treat kidney stones.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar helps dissolve kidney stones. It also has an alkalinizing effect on blood and urine.
Pomegranate: Both the seeds and juice of pomegranates have astringent properties that can help in the treatment of kidney stones.
Nettle Leaf: The nettle leaf helps maintain the flow of water through the kidneys and bladder, thus promoting smooth urination.
Watermelon: Watermelon is a great way to treat kidney stones composed of calcium and magnesium phosphates and carbonates.
