KIDNEY STONES

A friend asked me to send whatever information I had on kidney stones. The following is a copy of my e-mail.

I found more information but stayed with what can be grown here or is readily available at most health food stores or supermarkets. I did include couch grass because of its many other uses. I also sent the following URL http:www.jumpandbump.com. My friend's feed back indicated the jump and bump method worked.

Preventative and relief. Cornsilk tea is said to be one of the finest remedies for weak or compromised kidney function and kidney stones. Add 2 teaspoons of fresh or dried cornsilk to 1 cup of boiling water and steep covered for 20 minutes and strain, sweeten with honey if desired. Drink 1/2 cup lukewarm every 3 to 4 hours.

As a preventative. Combine two chopped red radishes and 1/2 cup of red wine to your blender and blend. Drink the mixture slowly over the next fifteen minutes. Can be used twice daily. Some sources say it helps with difficult urination problems. An old English remedy consists of basically the same procedure except uses juice from 2 cups of chopped daikon or black Spanish radish.

The juice that remains after steaming parsnips is said to strengthen the kidneys and prevent kidney stones and gallstones when consumed as a tea . To be effective, the tea must be consumed on a regular basis. Logic would indicate that consuming steamed parsnips on a regular basis would also be of benefit.

Cranberry juice has been proven to help dissolve stones in clinical tests. Drink a glassful twice daily. Buy organic if possible and do not use sweetened juices. All commercial, store bought juices have to be pasteurized and most are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Buy cranberries and make your own juice: add a 1/2 cupful of cranberries to to 2 cups of water, adjust as desired, and whir up in your blender. Strain if desired but eat the bits and pieces. Drink a glassful twice daily. Doing this two or three times a week may help with prevention.

Relief, crush a handful of squash or pumpkin seeds, add to a quart of boiling water, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, remove from heat and steep for additional 1/2 hour. Strain and drink several cups per day until relief is obtained. I have never had kidney, liver or gall bladder stones.

Burdock. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of chopped, fresh or dried burdock root. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add 3 teaspoons of chopped or cut fresh or dried catnip. Steep for 1-1/2-2 hours, then strain. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice per cupful. Can be sweetened with honey, pure maple syrup or blackstrap molasses to taste. Drink entire amount slowly. Ten minutes after consuming, orally take 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Repeat three times daily, upon rising, at noon and before retiring. Upon retiring at night, after last cup of tea and teaspoon of olive oil, sleep on your right side, knees pulled up to your chest and with a pillow underneath your armpit. This is said to remove stones more easily. If you are comfortable sleeping on your back, put 2-3 pillows under your back so that your upper body and chest are elevated above your abdomen.

The following is from the Chinese Journal of Surgery. To dissolve stones: Take 2-1/4 cups of raw walnuts, cook in pure olive oil at medium to high heat until crisp, (Journal of Surgery info says deep fry: remember eat no fried foods) grind to a coarse powder, add 2-1/2 tablespoons of dark honey and mix into a paste. Entire quantity should be consumed in a two day period, taken at uniformly spaced times during waking hours. Can also be used periodically as a preventative.

Couch grass (quack grass) as preventative. Probably won’t find it growing here, too cold. Can be purchased on the Internet. Make a tea, 8-10 teaspoons of root/rhizome, chop add to two cups boiling water, steep for ten minutes, drink 2-4 cups per day.

Any mints, most will grow here, as a tea should be helpful, add some cardamom and drink as a strong tea as often as desired.

Add 3/4 cup of sorrel herb to one pint of boiling water, cover and set aside to steep for 20 minutes. Drink 2 cups daily between meals. Helps alleviate pain and may be a possible preventative.