What to eat for gallstones and kidney stones

Generally, patients with gallstones and kidney stones can consume foods such as black fungus, lemon, watermelon, oatmeal, and mung beans. They may also take medications such as ursodeoxycholic acid capsules, lithotripsy granules, Shenshitong granules, Dan Ning tablets, and racemic anisodamine tablets as directed by a physician to alleviate symptoms. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Foods

1. Black Fungus

Black fungus is rich in various minerals and trace elements. Its plant alkaloids promote secretion from glands in the digestive and urinary tracts, lubricate stones, and facilitate their excretion. Additionally, its combination of enzymes and plant alkaloids can catalyze stones, causing them to disintegrate and be expelled from the body, benefiting patients with gallstones and kidney stones.

2. Lemon

Lemons are rich in citrate, which inhibits calcium salt crystallization, reducing the likelihood of stone formation. For patients with existing stones, citrate can bind with calcium ions in urine or bile, lowering their concentration, preventing further stone growth, potentially dissolving small stones, and helping alleviate the condition.

3. Watermelon

Watermelon has a high water content and diuretic properties, increasing urine output and continuously flushing the urinary tract, reducing stone deposition in the kidneys and urinary system, thus helping prevent and alleviate kidney stones. Meanwhile, adequate fluid intake helps dilute bile, reducing the risk of gallstone formation and alleviating symptoms.

4. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is rich in dietary fiber, which promotes intestinal motility, reduces cholesterol absorption, lowers cholesterol saturation in bile, and decreases gallstone formation. Dietary fiber also regulates intestinal flora, improves the intestinal microenvironment, and indirectly affects bile metabolism. For kidney stone patients, its rich nutritional components help maintain normal body metabolism and enhance immunity.

5. Mung Beans

Mung beans have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and relieving urinary discomfort. Their proteins and B-vitamins help eliminate toxins from the body, increase urine output, assist in expelling stones, reduce irritation to the urinary mucosa caused by stones, and alleviate symptoms of kidney stones. For gallstone patients, their heat-clearing and detoxifying effects also help reduce gallbladder inflammation.

2. Medications

1. Ursodeoxycholic Acid Capsules

Primarily used for treating gallstones, these capsules inhibit cholesterol reabsorption in the intestines, lowering cholesterol saturation in bile, causing cholesterol stones to gradually dissolve. They also alter bile composition, reducing cholesterol crystal formation, promoting bile secretion, and improving bile excretion function.

2. Lithotripsy Granules

Effective for kidney stones and smaller gallstones, these granules consist of multiple Chinese herbs such as Glechoma longituba, plantain seed, and Akebia stem. They clear heat, promote diuresis, relieve urinary discomfort, increase urine output, dilate the ureters, and promote stone expulsion. They also alleviate pain and inflammatory responses caused by stones.

3. Shenshitong Granules

Specifically for treating kidney stones, these granules contain ingredients such as Lysimachia christinae, Vaccaria segetalis, and Polygonum aviculare. They clear heat, remove dampness, promote blood circulation, relieve pain, dissolve stones, and facilitate stone expulsion. Lysimachia christinae promotes stone dissolution, Vaccaria segetalis improves blood circulation and local blood flow to aid stone expulsion, and Polygonum aviculare clears heat, promotes diuresis, and relieves urinary discomfort, collectively facilitating stone expulsion.

4. Dan Ning Tablets

Used for treating gallstones, these tablets contain ingredients such as rhubarb, Polygonum cuspidatum, and Citrus aurantium. They soothe the liver, promote bile flow, clear heat, and relieve constipation, enhancing bile secretion and excretion, regulating bile composition, reducing cholesterol deposition, and preventing and treating gallstones. They also alleviate pain and bloating caused by cholecystitis.

5. Racemic Anisodamine Tablets

Mainly used to relieve pain caused by gallstones and kidney stones, these tablets are anticholinergic drugs that block M-cholinergic receptors, relieving smooth muscle spasms, particularly in the ureters and bile ducts, thereby rapidly alleviating pain caused by stone irritation. They also reduce glandular secretions, alleviating discomfort caused by pain.

Patients with gallstones and kidney stones should follow a diet low in cholesterol and fat but high in fiber, consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat protein foods, and适量 low-fat dairy products.