TCM Tips for Preventing Urinary Tract Stones

The best way to deal with these stones is to prevent them from forming, to begin with, and ensure they don’t recur.

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Stones in the urinary tract can cause unbearable pain. Stones, which are hardened clumps of minerals, can form in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. The best way to deal with these stones is to prevent them from forming, to begin with, and ensure they don’t recur.

The main symptoms of any of these stones are pain, blood in urine, or the excretion of “sand” or stones. The symptoms vary depending on where the stone is located.

Kidney Stones

The pain is in the waist, and it may be dull, tingling, or persistent and dull. It usually occurs after exertion and is often accompanied by blood in the urine. When renal colic (pain due to a stone in the urinary tract) strikes, the pain can spread from the waist to the lower abdomen. The patient will become restless and sweat, and it may last for a few minutes to a few hours. After the attack, small, sand-like stones may be passed in the urine.

Ureteral Stones

Over 90 percent of patients in this category have stones that originate in the kidneys and move down to the ureteral stricture, where they remain. Those with stones blocking the middle and upper sections of the ureter will experience lumbar cramping, often radiating to the ipsilateral groin and inner thigh. Pain may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, etc. In severe cases, shock may occur, and blood in the urine may be seen early in the condition. When stones block the lower ureter, they can cause bladder irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency to urinate, and painful urination.

Bladder Stones

Symptoms like pain in the lower abdomen occur during urination and may spread to the external genitalia. At the same time, urination may be difficult or interrupted but the individual may be able to urinate again after moving or changing position. It is often accompanied by terminal blood in the urine, frequent urination, the urgency to urinate, and other symptoms.

Urethral Stones

Urethral stones mostly come from the bladder and are more common in men. Stones that make their way into the urethra can cause pain during urination, difficulty urinating, and even involuntary urinary retention.