Kidney Stone Homeopathic Remedies

Urinary stone disease is present in mankind for a long time. The oldest renal stone on record was described by Shattock in 1905 and was found in an Egyptian mummy in a tomb dating to approx 4400 B.C

Synonyms: Renal Stone, Nephroliathisis, Urolithiasis, Renal lithiasis

What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone forms when chemicals that are present in the body are concentrated in urine for a very long time resulting in crystal formation and this crystal grows over time.

Stones which are known as calculi in medical terms are basically hard masses that form in the urinary tract. It causes pain, bleeding, infection. Sometimes the kidney stone can travel down the ureter (which is a tube between the kidney and the bladder). If it reaches the bladder, it can

pass out of the body in urine, and so symptoms are relieved. But when it lodged in the ureter, it blocks the urine flow from that kidney and causes pain. In long run, it can cause the kidney to swell which is medically known as hydronephrosis, which causes severe pain.

Most important thing is to remember is that these stones begin to form in a kidney and may enlarge in a ureter or the bladder. So, depending upon its location it can be urolithiasis, renal lithiasis, or nephrolithiasis.

Type of stones

1- Calcium Stones (80% of stones)

These stones are the most common. They can be made of calcium oxalate which is most common, phosphate, or maleate. Some high oxalate foods include potato chips, peanuts, chocolate, beets, and spinach can cause this type of stones.

2- Uric Acid (5-10 % of stones)

This type of kidney stone is more common in men than in women. The patient usually complains of gout. Diet rich in fish, shellfish, and meats can cause this type of stone. Uric acid crystals do not dissolve well in acidic urine and instead will form a uric acid stone.

Acidic urine may occur from overweight, chronic diarrhea, type 2 diabetes.

3- Struvite (Magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate) (10 % of stones)

This type of stone is found mostly in women with urinary tract infections. These stones can be large and cause urinary obstruction. If urinary tract infection is treated at right time it can prevent the development of struvite stones. These stones are often large, with branches, and they often grow very fast.

4- Cystine (Less than 1 % of stones)

Cystine is an amino acid that is in certain foods. It is one of the building blocks of protein.

These stones are very rare. They can occur in both men and women. This is associated with a genetic disorder known as cystinuria, in which an acid that occurs naturally in the body leaks from the kidneys into the urine.

Causes of Stones

1. Mostly in people with certain diseases like hyperparathyroidism, dehydration, a diet high in animal-source protein, or a diet rich in vitamin C.
2. Also, seen in people who do not consume enough water or calcium.
3. Sometimes genetic factors also cause this disease.
4. People who have undergone surgery for weight loss may also have the chance to form a renal stone.
5. Some other causes are secretion of an excessive amount of oxalic acid, uric acid, citric acid, xanthinine, conditions mainly hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, hypocritic aciduria, and hyperxanthinuria.
6. Some birth defects like posterior urethral valves, bladder exstrophy, vesicoureteric reflux, meatal stenosis, medullary sponge kidney, and pelviuretric junction obstruction, neuropathic bladders resulting from spinal Bifida may lead to stone formation.
7. Urinary tract infection causes kidney stones in infants and younger children.
8. Diet rich in excessive vegetables, high levels of animal protein such as beef, chicken, and lamb,
9. milk and ice cream is associated with renal stone.

Risk factors for Kidney Stones

1. Dehydration
2. Gastric bypass surgery
3. High-protein, salt, or glucose diet
4. Hyperparathyroid condition
5. Inflammatory bowel diseases increase calcium absorption by taking medications such as diuretics, anti-seizure drugs, and calcium-based antacids.
6. Obesity

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

1. Sharp pain in the back and side. It moves to the lower abdomen, and near thighs. Pain often starts suddenly and comes in waves. It can come and go as the body tries to get rid of the stone. The pain can last 20-60 minutes.
2. Burning feeling during urination
3. Chills
4. Discolored or foul-smelling urine
5. The feeling of intense need to urinate
6. Fever
7. Frequent urge to urinate
8. Men feel pain at the tip of their penis
9. Nausea Vomiting
10. Urinating small amounts of urine
11. Urine dark or red due to blood. Sometimes red blood cells are so less than urine color does not change.

Prognosis of stones

1. Stones smaller than 4 mm- This kind of stones will pass on their won. It takes almost 31 days to pass in the urine.
2. Stones 4mm or larger- Chances of passing a stone of this size are lower. This type of stone only surgical procedure. This can be controlled with medication. Stone size and the chance it will pass
3. Smaller than 4 mm– Chances is about 80% and takes 31 days to pass.
4. 4 to 6 mm– About 60% chances are there. It takes 45 days on average to pass in the urine.
5. Larger than 5mm– About 20% chances are there to pass in the urine. It takes 12 months to pass in the urine.

Tests recommend for kidney stones

1. Blood tests for calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, and electrolytes
2. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine to assess kidney functioning
3. Urinalysis to check for crystals, bacteria, blood, and white cells
4. Examination of passed stones and finding their type.
5. Abdominal X-rays
6. IVP
7. Retrograde pyelogram
8. Ultrasound of the kidney
9. MRI of the abdomen and kidneys
10. Abdominal CT scan

Homeopathic Medicines for renal stone

Berberis Vulgaris

It is associated with sore pain in the region of the kidney. There is soreness of the muscles of the back. The pain travels from the kidney region to the front of the abdomen. It has characteristic pain that shifts from one place to another and radiates from one place to another. There is burning and stitching pains. The kidney region is sensitive and it is difficult to touch. Urine is dark, foamy, and excessive sedimentation. The patient has a constant desire for urination. Urine at times is hot, dark, or blood-red in color.

The patient feels a high-grade fever with chill due to secondary infection. There is intense abdominal pain with sore and bruised feeling (as if beaten up by a person) with stiffness and loss of sensation in the renal region and back. The patient has a pale and sickly look on the face. There is a loss of appetite. There is a weak digestion.

Worse-By movement, lying on abdomen, standing.

Dosage- Q (mother tincture),7 drops of each in some water thrice daily for 5 days.

Sarsaparilla

It is a very good remedy for renal stones on the right side. It is severe in the right kidney region from back to front. There is great muscular pain of the kidney region and muscles near this region which makes the patient bend double, lies in the knee-chest position. The patient has so severe pain that he posses in the bed. The patient cries out due to pains. When the patient sits, there is constant dribbling of urine. The patient can also pass the small stones with urine, which often associated with blood, painful retention of urine. There is an increased frequency of urination. There is violent pain at the end of urination. All organs of the body are weak. Digestion is slow. If there is an injury to any part of the body it is slow to heal. There is weak circulation all over the body. Due to this, the patient has extreme weakness all over the body. He looks older than his age. Skin is loose and multiple skin eruptions appear in the spring season. Urine flows freely while standing.

The patient is timid, slow, unable to concentrate, sensitive, sluggish, lonely, and ill-humored.

Worse– Warm food and drinks, night, after urination

Better– Cold drinks and water.

Dosage– 30 potency, 4 times a day for 7 days.

Calcarea carbonica

There is a decrease in the quantity of urine and due to excessive thirst and sweat. There is a vast possibility of stone formation. Bladder stones and kidney stones in young people. Urine is copious white deposits in urine. Urine looks turbid like lime water. At times, there is bloody urine. Cutting pain is felt, with an ineffectual urge to urinate.

This remedy is suitable for a young child who fails to digest and so their growth is affected. The patient is usually fat, fair, flabby, and anemic. There is a desire to eat indigestible material like chalk, charcoal, clay. there is the deposition of calcium salts increases in the urine. The patient is sensitive to cold and there is a tendency to take cold. Cold sweat on forehead and after slight exertion sour taste in the mouth. The patient has a dry tongue. There is difficult and slow digestion.

Mentally patient is sad and lonely. The patient has fear of death. The patient cannot sleep, if at all he sleeps, has horrible dreams.

Worse– Cold, wet weather, after urination.

Better– Dry weather, warmth.

Dosage-30 potency, 3 times a day for 15 days.

Cantharis

There is intolerable urging to pass urine. There is cutting and burning in the whole region with a painful urge to urinate. The patient passes urine drop by drop. There is cutting pain in the kidney region. There is a constant desire to pass urine. At times blood pass urine.

The tongue of the patient is deeply furred with eruptions. There is burning in the mouth, often seen after talking. Burning is a characteristic symptom of the remedy. Vomiting of water during left renal colic. The patient has a tendency to gangrene. Burning in soles at night.

Mentally patient is anxious, restless, and has increased sexual desire.

Worse– touch, after passing urine

Better– rubbing and pulling of organs.

Dosage– 200 potencies, 3 times a day, for 15 days.

Ocimum Canum

There is foamy urine. Also, there is the formation of crystals of uric acid. Urine is thick, full of pus, bloody deposits, and white albumin deposition. There is intense pain in the kidney region. There is severe renal colic with a sense of vomiting. The patient rolls in bed during the attack. After the attack urine is brick red. A large quantity of blood in the urine. The patient has the intolerable smell of musk. Often there is red sand in urine. Renal colic is generally seen on the right side.

Dosage– 30 potency, 4 times a day, for 10 days.