About the best that can be said of kidney stones is that once you go through the experience, you may find yourself willing to go out of your way to make sure they do not come back again. For most people I know who have had kidney stones, one bout was enough to persuade them to start drinking herbal teas and to make some radical changes in their diets. Unfortunately, about half the people who get kidney stones will suffer them again, along with the symptoms of sudden, sharp waves of pain, nausea and profuse sweating that accompany this problem. Severe cases are also accompanied by bleeding and, if there is an infection, even fever. As with any kidney condition, you must see your physician to determine the exact cause of your symptoms and the severity of the condition.
Kidney stones are mineral deposits made up of calcium, uric acid or the amino acid cysteine.
Medical experts agree, however, that diet is certainly a factor. For instance, kidney stones develop in vegetarians and other people who eat plenty of fresh vegetables only about half as often as in those whose diet does not include these important foods. Obesity and repeated kidney infections are also risk factors. You are also at greater risk of developing this problem if there is a history of kidney stones in your family. In some herb books, it is said that lemon juice reduces the size of kidney stones, but most herbal remedies, including those based on lemon juice and hydrangea , do not actually dissolve stones.