Q My dad is prone to kidney stones (calcium oxalate stones) and is looking for natural ways to prevent them. Fortunately, so far, his stones have been small and he’s not required surgery, but he’s worried he may not be so lucky next time. Can you recommend any holistic solutions?
S.P., via email
A Kidney stones—when hard deposits of minerals and salts form inside the kidneys—are a common disease of the urinary tract.1 Usually made of calcium oxalate, the stones can cause symptoms when they move around in the kidney or pass into the ureters—the tubes that carry urine to the bladder. If a stone lodges in the ureters, it can block urine flow and lead to severe pain, nausea, fever and pink or brown urine.
If you have small stones, you’ll probably be advised to drink plenty of water, use painkillers and possibly take an alpha blocker, a drug to ease the passage of stones with
