Kidney stones and their homoeopathic treatment.

Homoeopathy for layman

Kidney stones / Nephrolithiasis

Kidney stones, one of the most painful urologic disorders, have a history of more than 7,000-years in an Egyptian mummy. Even now, statistics indicate that more than 600,000 patients went to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems and it included more men than women.

Though most of the kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician but a few become serious surgical concern.

What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone is a concretion formed by the deposit of one or more of the solid constituents of the urine. It may be single or multiple. All are radiopaque except for uric acid stones and are therefore visible by routine abdominal radiography.

Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent or inhibit the crystals from forming.

Are all kidney stones alike?

There are four major types of kidney stones. The most common are Calcium oxalate, while others are struvite, uric acid and cystine stones.

What causes kidney stones?

Causes

1. Over –saturation of urine which may be due to

Too little urinary output.

Increased amount of stone constituents excreted over a period of time such as calcium, oxalates, urates etc.

Altered urine ph: Below ph of 5.5, uric acid crystals predominate as it decreases

the solubility of uric acid.

High urinary ph favours formation of calcium phosphate & struvite stones.

Dietic :-

a. Vitamin A & B6 deficiency predisposes for stone formation.

b. Increased intake of foods rich in calcium, oxalates & purines.

Hereditary.

Chronic urinary tract infection.

Prolonged immobilisation from any cause.

Hot weather.

What are the symptoms?

Many stones are asymptomatic until they begin to move down the ureter, causing pain due to obstruction. Pain is the main complaint. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Some times nausea and vomiting occur. As a stone grows or moves, blood may appear in the urine. If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms, an infection may be present.

How are kidney stones diagnosed?

They are diagnosed by their presence in the X-ray or Sonography or an IVP.

Recurring stones also warrant an investigation into possible parathyroid gland disease.

Management

Diet for kidney stone patients:

Not- Advisable:- Palak, Tomato, Amla, Chickoo, Cashew nut, cucumber, black grapes strawberries increase oxalates.

Advisable: - Coconut water, barley, corn silk tea, pineapple juice, bananas, almonds, carrots, Karela, kulthi dal.

Other Preventive measures:-

1. Increasing fluid intake: Patients should try to drink enough liquids throughout the day to produce at least 1200 ml of urine in every 24- hour period.

2. Avoid dairy products: If you are on calcium supplements in hopes of strengthening your bones, you may actually be increasing your risk of stone formation. Dairy products are the greatest dietary source of calcium.

3. Vitamins - "B" fortified. Vitamin B6 reduces the risk of stone formation.

"C" less. People prone to kidney stones should stay away from vitamin C supplements.

Exercise: Regular exercise also lessens the risk of stone formation

Role of Homoeopathy

In homoeopathy there are many medicines which can relieve pain, break the kidney stones and flush them out side kidney also. In addition to this, homeopathy also removes the tendency of formation of kidney stones in an individual. So, homoeopathic treatment is recommended even after surgical removal of stone.

Remedies

1.Berberis vulgaris

Excellent remedy for left sided renal calculi. Pains shooting, radiate from a point. Least motion aggravates. Sits over to painful side for relief. Pains run up into kidneys and down into bladder.

2. Nux vomica

It is indicated for pains caused by a stone in the ureter. It relaxes the circular fibres of ureter causing the relief in pain and passage of calculi. Indicated in renal colic when one kidney (especially the right) is the seat of the disease. Pains extend down the leg, with nausea and vomiting.

3. Tabacum:

Left sided stones. Pains down the ureter, with deathly sickness and cold sweat. Nausea with burning heat in abdomen, the rest of the body being cold. Patient persists in uncovering the abdomen.

4. Benzoicum acidum

Constitutions with a predisposition to develop kidney stones. This remedy should be considered for people who are careful with their diet yet develop stones in the kidneys all the time, accompanied by frequent kidney colic. There is frequent vomiting during the kidney colic which is usually left sided. Urine deep-red, of strong odour.

5. Hydrangea arborescens

It has a traditional reputation as a "Stone-breaking" remedy. It is particularly useful for profuse deposits of white amorphous salts in the urine; and has arrested the tendency to formation of calculi; relieves distress from renal calculus, with soreness over region of kidneys and bloody urine.

6. Cantharis vesicatoria

Dull, heavy distensive pain in region of kidney, either side, no relief in any position; continued rolling and twisting of body, with groans and cries, resulting in nausea, retching and vomiting, unless the stomach is empty; no great desire to urinate. Burning pain, with intolerable urging to urinate.

7. Pareira brava

Excessive pain in kidneys shoots down left ureter; urine passes drop by drop with violent tenesmus, nausea. Constant urging to urinate: pain extorts screams. Must go down on all fours to urinate. Copious sediment of uric acid and blood.

8. Sarsaparilla officinalis

This medicine is indicated for a stone in the bladder; it so changes the character of the urine that it is no longer possible for the stone to build up and it grows smaller by continually dissolving off from the surface. Extreme pain at conclusion of urination: yells with pain

As in Homoeopathic system, each patient is regarded as a unique individual the selection of medicine, dose, potency & repetition should be under the supervision of a Homoeopathic physician so that benefit is derived at the earliest.

Dr. Dushyant Kamal Dhari. M.D. (Hom)