What are Kidney Stones?

Our urinary system consists of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. The kidneys are vital organs that filter the blood, remove waste products and excessive fluid from the body. The waste products and fluid left after filtering blood is collectively referred to as urine. The urine, after being formed in the kidneys, passes through the narrow tubes called ureters. The urine gets collected in the urinary bladder which is voided via the urethra. The solid mineral deposits that get formed in kidneys or urinary bladder are referred to as kidney stones.

Can Homeopathic medicines break down kidney stones?

Although kidney stones are considered a case for surgery under the conventional mode of medicine, Homeopathic medicines can break down and dissolve kidney stones or help them pass out as it is without surgical intervention. In fact, Homeopathic medicines have shown the most remarkable results in treating the recurrent tendency towards formation of kidney stones. Some well recognised Homeopathic medicines in this category are Berberis Vulgaris, Lycopodium Clavatum, Hydrangea Arborescens, Cantharis Vesicatoria, Benzoic Acid and Sarsaparilla Officinalis.

What are the various types of kidney stones?

There are mainly five types of kidney stones. These include uric acid stones, calcium stones (mainly calcium oxalate stones and sometimes calcium phosphate), struvite stones (mainly form in persons with urinary tract infection), staghorn stones (struvite stones, when they get enlarged, are referred to as staghorn stones) and cystine stones (these run in families with tendency to pass too much cystine in urine – cystinuria).

What makes a person prone to kidney stones?

There are many risk factors that predispose a person to kidney stone formation. These are:

• High protein, calcium or oxalate intake in diet
• Low water intake
• Urinary tract infections
• Obesity
• Family history of kidney stones
• Cystinuria

How do kidney stones form?

Kidney stones form when the level of crystal forming  substances such as calcium, uric acid, or oxalate rises in urine. At the same time, the level of substances that prevent these crystals from sticking together falls. Both these factors together play a role in kidney stone formation.

Do all kidney stones cause intense pain?

Kidney stones that are small size may show no symptom at all and may lie dormant in the kidneys. In such cases, they usually get accidently revealed in ultrasounds done for some other purpose. However, stones that are large in size cause intense pain. Pain from small stones may also arise when they are trying to pass the pelviureteric junction or ureterovesical junction. The pain may be felt in the kidney region or in the flank area. Other attending symptoms are frequent urine, pain on passing urine, burning urination, scanty urine, blood in urine and nausea or vomiting.

What else does pain tell us about position of stones?

We know that kidney stones that are small lie dormant in the kidney and cause no pain. Pain arises when the stones are large and block urine flow. However, pain also arises, in case of both small and large stones, when they are trying to enter the ureter from kidney or enter the urinary bladder from the ureter.

Which tests does the diagnosis involve?

The tests to confirm kidney stones include ultrasound, X-ray KUB i.e. kidney ureter bladder, intravenous pyelogram and CT scan of KUB. In addition to this, renal function test also needs to be done.

Can kidney stones lead to complications, damaged kidney?

The pain from kidney stones is usually so intense that the person seeks immediate medical aid. There are usually no complications in such cases. However, complications may arise in case of a person who, unaware of kidney stones lying dormant for long periods of time without causing any discomfort or pain, does not approach a doctor. In such cases, due to persistent and severe obstruction of urine flow, there are chances of kidney damage.

What is renal colic?

The pain caused by kidney stones is known as renal colic. This pain is very intense and may be felt in the mid-back or flank area. The patient does not find any position comfortable when in acute renal pain due to severity of the pain.

Can Homeopathic medicines treat kidney stone located at junctions of the renal system?

There are two junctions in the renal system The pelviureteric junction (PUJ) and the ureterovesical junction (UVJ). The PUJ junction is present at the renal pelvis and ureter. The UVJ refers to the junction of the ureter and urinary bladder. Homeopathic medicines can treat kidney stones at both PUJ and UVJ junction when the stones are small in size and not linked with acute retention of urine or severe hydronephrosis.

My USG shows multiple small kidney stones, the largest 6mm. Can Homeopathic medicines dissolve them?

Yes, Homeopathic medicines can definitely dissolve the stones in your case. Kidney stones of up to 8mm to 9mm have good scope of treatment with Homeopathic medicines. This does not, however, mean that Homeopathic medicines will not work on stones of a larger size. They will, but in such cases, Homeopathic medicines can only be started after making sure that the renal function tests are normal and there is no acute urinary retention.

My urologist has advised surgery for kidney stones. Can it be avoided with Homeopathic medicines?

Homeopathic medicines are very effective in treating kidney stones. In several cases, surgery can be avoided. To what extent Homeopathic medicine can help depends upon the size and location of the kidney stone. In case of acute retention of urine or severe hydronephrosis from kidney stone, the urgency of treatment demands that allopathic medicines be used as a first step.

Can high uric acid cause kidney stones?

Yes, there are chances of kidney stone formation in persons with high uric acid levels.

I have recurrent kidney stones. Does Homeopathy have a permanent solution?

Yes, Homeopathy can completely cure this tendency towards recurrent kidney stones. Homeopathic medicines, along with proper diet management, yield positive long-term results. In such cases, Homeopathic medicines are selected after an in-depth analysis and study of symptoms involved.

Can Homeopathic medicines offer help in acute renal colic?

Yes, Homeopathic medicines offer help in acute renal colic, but only if there is no urine retention. Renal colic with acute urine retention is an emergency scenario. In such cases, immediate allopathic help must be sought.

Which are the most effective Homeopathic medicines for treating kidney stones?

Homeopathy offers a vast range of medicines to choose from for treating kidney stones. Major among these are Berberis Vulgaris, Hydrangea Arborescens and Lycopodium Clavatum. Berberis Vulgaris shows best results in kidney stone of the left side. Hydrangea Arborescens is the stone breaker of Homeopathy. It is most efficient and successful in crushing and breaking kidney stones. Homeopathic medicine Lycopodium Clavatum is useful for right-sided kidney stones.

I have kidney stone of right side. Which Homeopathic medicines will work for me?

For your right-sided kidney stone, Lycopodium Clavatum is a well indicated Homeopathic medicine. Another Homeopathic medicine that can be of great help to you is Sarsaparilla Officinalis, also used to treat kidney stone of the right side.

Which are the best Homeopathic medicines for kidney stone of left side?

The two major Homeopathic medicines that are most useful for kidney stone of the left side are Berberis Vulgaris and Hedeoma Pulegioides.

In case of nausea/vomiting with renal pain, is it advisable to take Homeopathic medicine?

Yes, Homeopathic medicines are very useful in treating renal pain attended with nausea or vomiting. Ocimum Can and Tabacum are significant names in this category.

Does Homeopathy have a medicine for kidney stones with burning urination?

Cantharis Vesicatoria and Sarsaparilla Officinalis are two wonderful Homeopathic medicines for kidney stones with burning urination. Cantharis Vesicatoria works wonders where burning is present before, during and after urination. Homeopathic medicine Sarsaparilla Officinalis is the best prescription where intense burning is present at the close of urination.

I have kidney stones with pain radiating from the kidney to thigh. Which Homeopathic medicine would you suggest?

Homeopathic medicine Pareira Brava is prominently indicated for such a condition and effectively treats kidney stone pain that radiates from the kidney to thighs.

In case of kidney stones with high uric acid levels, which Homeopathic medicines would you prescribe?

Two significant Homeopathic medicines for treating kidney stones with high uric acid levels are Urtica Urens and Benzoic Acid.

Homeopathic Medicines for Kidney Stones

• Berberis Vulgaris and Hedeoma Pulegioides – Well indicated Homeopathic medicines for kidney stones of left side –Berberis Vulgaris is one of the top listed Homeopathic medicines for kidney stones formed on the left side. A unique symptom guiding use of Berberis Vulgaris is pain in left kidney that radiates down the ureter and into the urinary bladder. The pain can be shooting, stitching, cutting or stinging in nature. The pain may worsen from motion or jarring movement. Urine may be yellow and may contain slimy sediments. The kidney region is also sensitive to touch. Hedeoma Pulegioides is another well indicated Homeopathic medicine for kidney stone of the left side. The guiding feature for using Hedeoma is dragging pain from the left kidney to ureter. In some cases, burning pain may be present in the left kidney. A frequent desire to urinate is also observed. Red sand in the urine may be found.
• Lycopodium Clavatum – Effective Homeopathic medicine for kidney stone of right side – Lycopodium Clavatum is an excellent choice of Homeopathic medicine for treating kidney stones of the right side. The person needing Lycopodium Clavatum has pain in the right kidney or right ureter. The pain worsens before urination. Urine is scanty. The kidney pain subsides after passing urine. Red sediments may appear in urine. In some cases, the urine may be purulent, turbid, or pale.
• Hydrangea Arborescens – Wonderful Homeopathic medicine for kidney stone with white or yellow sand in urine – Homeopathic medicine Hydrangea Arborescens is popularly known as the stone breaker. Hydrangea Arborescens is used to crush kidney stones, stones in ureter as well as bladder. A significant symptom to look out for is white deposits or yellow sand in urine. If one notices white or yellow sand deposits, then Hydrangea Arborescens is the sure shot cure. Soreness in kidney region may also be felt in such cases. In some cases, blood may appear in urine.
• Cantharis Vesicatoria – Homeopathic medicine for kidney stone with burning urination Homeopathic medicine Cantharis Vesicatoria is of great help in kidney stone where there is intense burning on passing urine. The burning may also be present before urine is passed and may continue after urination. Another attending feature is kidney pain with frequent urge to pass urine. Tenesmus of bladder may also be marked where the urge to pass urine is almost constant, together with unsatisfactory urination. Urine may contain jelly-like mucus.
• Sarsaparilla Officinalis – Wonder medicine for kidney stone with burning at close of urination In case of kidney stone with excessive burning at the close of urination, Sarsaparilla Officinalis is the Homeopathic medicine that you can count on. Urine passed is scanty. Urine may contain slimy or sandy particles. Sarsaparilla Officinalis is also prescribed for right-sided kidney stones.
• Ocimum Can and Tabacum  – Homeopathic medicines for kidney stones when pain is attended with nausea/vomiting For kidney stones with pain attended with nausea/vomiting, Homeopathic medicines Ocimum Can and Tabacum benefit most. Homeopathic medicine Ocimum Can shows remarkable results in kidney stone of the right side with nausea or vomiting while Homeopathic medicine Tabacum is indicated for left-sided kidney stone with nausea or vomiting. Other features to look out for before prescribing Ocimum Can are red/saffron coloured urine, bladder tenesmus, burning on urinating and restlessness. Some accompanying symptoms that will decide on Tabacum as the best Homeopathic medicine are – sensitive renal region, yellow-red urine and cold sweat.
• Pareira Brava – Best Homeopathic medicines for kidney stones when pain from kidney radiates to thigh – Pareira Brava is a valuable Homeopathic medicine for kidney stone, especially in cases where pain from the kidney radiates down the thigh. In some cases, the pain may radiate down to the feet from the kidney region. There is also a constant urge to urinate. Urine is passed with marked pain. In men, pain may also be felt in glans penis while urinating. Red sand or stingy mucus may be observed in the urine.

Lifestyle changes play a significant role in managing as well as preventing kidney stone complaints. Some minor changes that may help are:

• Increase of fluid intake. Lemon juice could be included
• In case of kidney stones with high uric acid levels, dietary products such as meat and seafood which are rich in purines should be avoided
• In case of calcium oxalate kidney stones, spinach, chocolates, nuts and rhubarb should be avoided

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