Dr. Raja R

The kidney is a vital organ that regulates the levels of fluids, minerals, salts, and other such substances in our body and when this balance gets disrupted, it results in the formation of Kidney stones. This problem is medically known as Nephrolithiasis and can cause pain when the stone moves about the urinary tract.

Types of Kidney Stones
There are several types of kidney stones and knowing the same can help in determining the cause and offer a valuable insight into how to get rid of them. The common variants of kidney stones are:

1. Calcium stones- This is the most common type of kidney stones which are usually found in the form of calcium oxalate. It is a natural substance available in foods and also produced daily by the liver. Certain fruits, nuts, vegetables, and chocolate have high oxalate content. High doses of vitamin D, metabolic disorders, and intestinal bypass surgery can increase the concentration in the urine.
2. Struvite stones- This type of kidney stones form in response to infection, and they can grow fast and become large in size within a short span of time with few or no symptoms.
3. Cysteine stones- When a person has a hereditary disorder causing the kidneys to give out too much of amino acids or cystinuria, then cysteine stones start forming.
4. Uric acid stones- When a person does not drink enough amount of water or lose too much fluid or eat a high amount of protein on a regular basis then he or she may have uric acid stones.

Causes and Risk Factors
Kidney stones tend to have no definite or a particular cause even though numerous risk factors can surge the risks. Kidney stones are formed when the urine contains an excessive amount of crystal-forming substances including uric acid, oxalate, and calcium. Also, when urine lacks the crucial substances which may prevent the crystals from sticking together, the formation of kidney stones can occur.

A person with a family history of this problem is likely to have kidney stones. Other risk factors include dehydration, certain diets, obesity, digestive diseases, surgeries, and other medical conditions such as renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, and hyperparathyroidism.

Lifestyle changes recommended to improve the situation
Lifestyle changes can indeed dramatically reduce the occurrence of kidney stones.

1. Drinking more fluids can reduce the recurrence of stones by 40% and risk is reduced by 80%. Also, the urinary system is healthy and is flushed out of toxic chemicals.
2. Follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
3. Reduce salt, sugar, and animal protein.
4. Limit the consumption of foods with high oxalate content. If you have calcium oxalate stones restrict foods rich in oxalates like beets, okra, spinach, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate, black pepper and soy products.

How Homoeopathy is beneficial to break down Kidney stones? 

Although Kidney stones are considered a case of surgery, but with Homoeopathic medicines we can break down and dissolve Kidney stones and help to pass the dissolved stone without surgical intervention. Not only does Homoeopathy treat Kidney stones, it also has shown remarkable results in treating the recurrent tendency towards formation of kidney stones. Homoeopathic medicines beneficial to treat kidney stones are: Lycopodium, Berberis.vulgaris, Sarsaparilla, Cantharis and Hydrangea to name a few. These medicines should be taken under the guidance of a qualified Homoeopath.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hello, I am Dr Anil Agarwal I am a practising neurologist from last 15 years and I specialise in minimally invasive treatment for kidney stones. Kidney stones may cause pain, blood in the urine, infection, obstruction and damage to the kidney. These stones may be located either in the Kidneys along with the line of the ureter in the urine bladder or sometimes it will be stuck in the urethra. Then when there is a patient of urinary stones we investigate either by ultrasound, X-Rays, CT-Scans, kidney function test and urine examination. For very small stones in the Kidneys or in the ureter medications maybe try and they are sometimes very helpful in removing the stones, especially patients who have uric acid stones may be treated with medication. Surgery for kidney and urinary stones has now become very simple it has evolved a lot over the years and now minimally invasive treatment is available which is very safe. For Stones in the urethra and urinary bladder endoscopic surgery is done surgery where there no cuts and stitches patient can go home on the same day and he is back to work on the next day, it is so easy and simple. For Stones in the lower ureter patients undergoes the ureterorenoscopy surgery discharge next day, back to work in two days and treatment is very easy there are no cuts and stitches it is very simple for stones in the upper ureter and kidneys. There are three forms of treatment that we do, one is the ureterorenoscopy surgery second is retrograde internal surgery or RIRS or third is PCNL, now we have come down to mini PCNL, in which there is endoscope that is passed through the urethra into the ureter the stones are broken and remove. In PCNL and it was a small puncture in the kidney in mini PCNL we break the stones and take them out, a patient needs maximum hospitalization of one or two days and then back to work very early. Earlier they used to be open surgery that was the only form of treatment, now open surgery is only reserved for patients very few patients, it may be around 1 in 1000 only. There is one more treatment that is available for kidney and ureteral stones, that is Lithotripsy or ESWL in with shock waves are passed to the stone, the stone is broken by the machine and patient passes small fragment in urine. Now I must also tell that this treatment the success rate is up to 90% in very few selected store. Now in a nutshell what I have told you that don't be afraid of kidney stone, the treatment is very simple you just need to consult an experienced urologist who may help you with treatment options that are available and remove your stones. Now what happens, if you ignore this problem the stones and what happens next? The problems that may arise are repeated infections, now if the stone is obstructing then it may damage the kidney I have seen patients who have damaged their kidneys to extend that they are on dialysis and this is only because they have not followed the proper medication and advice by Neurologist. So I urge you all to consult a Urologist and take a proper remedial step so that your stones are removed and your kidneys are saved. Thank you all for your patience and wish you all a very happy and healthy life and wish to make every person stone free thank you.