Kidney Stones

I have a BIG problem with kidney stones. I seem to be getting them once a year. Even though I drink gallons of water and changed my diet somewhat they still pop up. As a matter of fact I am suffering right now until they pass or have them removed by surgery.

Siegfried Gursche in "Encyclopedia of Natural Healing" (Alive Publishers, Canada, (800) 663-6580 or Natural Life Publishing Inc., U.S. (800) 663-6513) recommends sipping 1-2 cups of horsetail tea while soaking in a horsetail bath for 20 minutes, them wrap in a "warm cotton-terry robe and sweat in bed for one hour" to stimulate excretion of kidney gravel and stones. The usual recipe for tea is: one teaspoon of the dried her to a cup of boiling water, covered and steeped for 15 minutes. Another recommendation is thyme and knotgrass tea twice daily to help dissolve stones. You will find more information on causes, prevention and cures in this book.
The type of stone should be determined by a medical laboratory in order to efficiently treat and prevent kidney stones. Depending on the type of stone: With phosphate stones, vinegar helps to dissolve them and fish should be eliminated from the diet. With oxalate stones, bicarbonate of soda helps to dissolve them and oxylate containing foods such as rhubarb, strawberries and tomatoes should be avoided. Shellfish and offal should be avoided with urate stones.
Other herbs that are used in kidney stones are: Rubia tinctorium (madder) to dissolve the stone, Eupatorium purpureum (Gravel root) to break up the stones, Parietaria diffusa (Pellitory -of-the-wall) to nourish and restore the kidney, and Viburnum opulum to relax the ureters. Doses should be determined in consultation with a natural health practitioner.
Lots of water should be taken to flush out the stones and avoid bacterial build up.