Kidney Stones and Ayurvedic Treatment

KIDNEY STONES AND AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

- Dr. Murali Manohar Chirumamilla, M.D. (Ayurveda)

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. People, whose diet is rich in animal protein and low in fibre and fluids, are at higher risk of developing kidney stones. People working under high stress levels with a family history of kidney stones, patients who are bedridden, and people with high blood pressure are also prone to develop kidney stones.

The incidence of kidney stones has been increasing over the past 20 years. On an average, men have an incidence of one in 14 and women of one in 30. People between the ages of 20 and 40 are more likely to develop the condition, as are those with persistent heartburn and those who take antacids for long periods.

Crystals that form in urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney can form stones in the kidney, the ureter, or the bladder. These stones contain various combinations of minerals and other chemicals, some of which are derived from your diet.

Normally, urine contains factors that inhibit stone-building substances from forming crystals, like magnesium, citrate, pyrophosphate etc. A deficiency in these protective substances can result in the formation of crystals. Changes in the pH of the urine, that causes acid or alkaline imbalances, can also affect stone precipitation.

Other causes of kidney stones are a disorder of uric acid metabolism, gout, excess, intake of vitamin D, and blockage of the urinary tact. Certain diuretics or calcium-based antacids may increase the risk of forming kidney stones by increasing the amount of calcium in the urine.

About 70 per cent to 80 per cent of all kidney stones are composed of calcium generally combined with oxalate. Oxalate or oxalic acid is found in a number of common vegetables, fruits, and grains. About 2 per cent are composed of calcium phosphate. About 10 per cent of stones are made up of uric acid, which is the end product of purine metabolism—a nitrogen compound found in protein. Another 9 per cent to 17 per cent of stones are struvite: they are made of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Struvite stones are usually associated with certain urinary tract infections.

Symptoms

	In many cases, kidney stones develop silently. You may not experience symptoms in the beginning.
	However, when symptoms occur, they frequently include severe pain and blood in your urine. Remember, the size of the stone does not necessarily predict the severity of the pain. You may notice blood in the urine if the stone becomes large. There may be nausea and vomiting. If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms, you should suspect a urinary tract infection.

Guidelines

	A good step to prevent any type of stone is to drink plenty of liquids—water is best.
	Minimise the intake of foods like apples, tomatoes, asparagus, beer, berries, black pepper, cabbage and cauliflower, cheese, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, cola drinks, figs, grapes, ice-cream, milk, oranges, butter, pineapples, spinach, tea, vitamin C, and curd. Avoid food with added vitamin D and certain types of antacids that have a calcium base.
	If you pass acidic urine, you may need to eat less meat, fish, and poultry.
	Avoid sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, do not expose yourself to extreme temperatures and dehydrating conditions.

Ayurvedic Remedies

	The bark of henna plant (Mehendi) is an effective remedy for removing urinary stones. Make a decoction by boiling one part of the bark in 20 parts of water until it boils down to a quarter of its original quantity. Take this decoction in doses of 20 to 30 ml, twice or thrice a day.
	Alternately, take the decoction made from leaves and seeds of radish (mooli) to expel the stones.
	Horse-gram (Dolichus biflorus) soup is an excellent food supplement.
	Paashanabheda and varuna are the two important herbs, which have proved to be effective in the treatment of urinary caliculus. Either the rhizome of paashanabheda in the form of powder or the bark of varuna in the form of decoction can be taken internally.
	Kshaara parpati, Shilajit, Ashmari hara kashaaya, Chandra-prabhaa vati are some of the effective medicines used to treat the condition. Gokshura kada is an oral liquid, promoting easy urination and relieves burning sensation. It should be taken 3-4 times per day in doses of 15 ml with equal quantity of water. Ber patthar bhasma is another effective remedy. You can use them after consulting your ayurvedic physician.

Note

As we all are genetically different with different constitutions and patterns, we respond to treatments in many different ways. Hence Standard Ayurvedic Treatments are always individually formulated. This article is intended only for information. It is not a substitute to the standard medical diagnosis, personalized Ayurvedic treatment or qualified Ayurvedic physician. For specific treatment, always consult with a qualified Ayurvedic physician.

Address

Dr. Ch. Murali Manohar, M.D. (Ayurveda)

Ayurvedic Specialist

Raksha Ayurvedic Centre,

Opp. Directorate of Women Development,

Yousufguda Main Road (Sarathi Studio Road),

Ameerpet, Hyderabad - 500073.,

Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

Phones: Land: +91 (040) 23742146; Mobile: 09246575510

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