macro and kidney stones

[heitara]

Hello, I'm new here although not totally new to macrobiotics. I have been having kidney stones for the past three years. The problem is they started to form while I was on a vegetarian/macro diet, although not very strict. I always assumed a lot of sugar. Seven months ago, totally exausted by my neverending colics and stones ( I got rid of them easily, formed new ones in fifteen days) I went to one of the top dietician in my area. She said I was doing it all wrong. That whole foods are full of calcium oxalates (my stones are oxalates) and that in order to stop the stones I should switch to a diet full of red meat, potatoes, white rice and so on. I was so desperate and hopeless that I abided. I have to say that in these seven months I didn't form any stone, but I kept forming gravel (tiny stones) that passed continuously causing me at least three light colics a month. Plus, eating all that meat made me really sick and I gained weight. Yesterday I went to another dietician. He's a macrobiotic doctor. He said my main problem was the excess of sugar and that if I had switched back to macro and had assumed some medicine to balance my urine ph in a month I would have gotten rid of the problem. I also developed one bladder stone and I blame it on my recent meat diet. Bottom line is..I don't know what to believe anymore. I'm sick and tired of being ill and in pain. I'm here seeking for some help and advice. Last night and today I had wonderful meals: my familiar whole rice, tofu, vegs and bancha tea. I feel at ease but..will macro really help me to get out from this mess??
Thanks for your help
Heit

[Jeannette]

Hi.

Have you ever thought of maybe just eating a diet that is natural, yet a bit more broad? No sugar, no artificial stuff, but maybe a bit of animal protein (not excess!), plenty of veggies, maybe more fruit, grains...not quite macro yet balanced in its own right? I used to be macro, but now I feel that there isn't one diet that is correct for everyone...you must use your own judgement and do what is best for YOU, not anyone else. Macrobiotics is an amazing, healing diet, but when I was doing it, I felt it was a bit too rigid, and I need to expand a bit more. I feel great, healthier than ever, and I'm still following the principles of macrobiotics (to a certain extent). The body knows what it needs, listen to it. I don't care what anyone says...my grandfather lived until he was 90 and consumed plenty of meat and dairy. Yet his diet was pure and natural and balanced. I think that is what matters most. I think a lot of macros will disagree with me, but that's what I don't get. Macrobiotic people are supposed to be open-minded and non-judgemental, but when it comes to understanding and be open to other diets, that isn't the case! I hope you find the right diet for you. Good luck!

[AgentX]

This is not 100% macrobiotic but it got rid of my kidney stones, my wifes, and my sisters brother in laws stones.

Drink a tall glass of apple juice daily (fresh pressed if possible-this works to disolve stones), take magnesium 500mg in am and once again in pm (magnesium dialates vessels and passages and makes getting rid of matter from kidneys easier).

We all did this for 10 days ONLY and it worked.

[heitara]

Thaks, AgentX, I read your message only today and I'm already preparing my juice...I also have one gallbladder stone and I hope either you have a suggestion for that, or that the apple helps with those too.

[heitara]

PS:
Are you sure about the quantity of magnesum? I've been told you shouldn't take more than 400 mg per day.
Thanks again

Try a tea of gold coin grass (lysimachia), eucommia & corn silk. That oughta do it. Eucommia is a funny looking, smelly "herb" - actually the bark of a kind of rubber tree (they don't kill the tree to get the bark).

I;ve used Congee to help and prevent. Congee is easy to make.

1 cup of organic brown long grain rice simmered in 5-6 cups of pure water. I make it in a crock pot on high over night. Drink a hot cup or two of this rice water every morning.

I once had a great book, which I unfortunately loaned out and therefore can't give you the exact name - I believe it was the word for brown rice in Japanese, small word, started with G, I think, sorry. If anybody knows of it would greatly appreciate having the right title and author.

The author tells of the story of his baby who was not thriving at all, everything he (baby, tho not sure if was male or female) ate he threw up. He was very fortunate he said to finally go to a doctor who admitted he (doctor) had no idea what could help the baby (and this after many many painful tests and experiments for poor baby) and then the father remembered having read about mb in some magazine and that started the wonderful healing path both for the baby and as the story continues, also for the father, who it turned out also suffered greatly, tho he thought he was eating "right" all his life, you know, meat to make you strong, lots of vitamins, but he was always getting weaker and sicker.

And what turned things around for baby was what you mentioned below, the rice milk, rice cooked in great amount of water for a long time and then the liquid strained and drunk. This is a remedy given for very ill people who cannot digest anything else.

I think your drink would be more more beneficial if you cook it on gas, rather than in an electric slow cooker. I'm sure there must be discussions here on that whole issue. And sorry for nit picking, but why long grain as opposed to short grain??

Heit, I saw you started this thread back in April - how are you doing??

Klara