[Stones] Chinese herbs

[texg at cavyinfo.com]

Kelly,

I currently have a piggie (Baby Hamlet) with stones, and because he is  
exhibiting no symptoms, we have decided to take a very conservative  
approach - periodic x-rays to monitor the stones. If it becomes  
evident that they are a problem, surgery is in order.

Females have it a bit easier: often, they are able to pass the stones.  
A number of the Stones list members have used shilintong with good  
results. As far as the safety: I personally would be a great deal less  
concerned about problems with an herb product that is produced for a  
"specialty" market. The recalls, etc. have been, in most part, for  
items that were mass-produced for consumptoion in the USA commercial  
markets. Shilintong is a "specialty" herb, with a very small consumer  
base. There are a number of websites that offer herbs with  
"guaranteed" purity (in that they do their own testing, or closely  
monitor the manufacturing process). You might look into one of those  
if you decide to try shilintong.

Nine months is young for a piggie to be forming stones; what is her  
diet? Sometimes sludge and stones can occur if there is too much  
phosphorus. The polycitra syrup is basically potassium citrate, which  
helps the body in dealing with calcium/phosphorous metabolization, so  
even if it doesn't eliminate the current stone, it may help the  
current one from growing, or others from forming.

All is just my opinion, of course.

Tex