What are the kidney stones?

          Kidney stones as stone like lumps that can develop in one or both of the kidneys. The medical name for stones in the kidneys is nephrolithiasis. If the stones causes severe pain, this is known as renal colic.

Kidneys

       The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that are roughly four inches in length. They are located towards the back of the abdomen (stomach) on either side of the spine.The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and transfer them into the ureter, along with excess fluids, The ureter is the tube that attaches each kidney to the bladder. From there, the waste products and excess fluid are disposed of as urine. The clean blood is then transferred back into the body,

 

To better understand a kidney stone, it helps to understand the anatomy of the kidneys.

The kidneys are located in the back of the abdomen, below the ribcage and on either side of the spine. Each kidney weighs about 1/4 pound (0.6 kg) and is about the size of a fist. The kidneys filter waste from the bloodstream and produce urine. The kidneys also regulate the salt and water balance for the body.  

 Example:-

·Kidney cross section    ·    Kidney cross section  close-up                 

·Kidney collecting system 

Renal Calculi.

Kidney stones, renal stones, renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis refer to the hard solid mass resulting from crystallisation of some dissolved substances in the urine. It is a common problem. There is a tendency in some people who have kidney stones. They often get them again in the future. Kidney stones often occur in premature infants. Certain conditions like renal tubular acidosis and resultant nephrocalcinosis are are seem to be risk factors. Some types of stones tend to run in families. Certain kinds of stones can occur with bowel disease, ileal bypass for obesity, or renal tubule defects.

Causes of Kidney stones

Kidney stones can form when the urine contains too much of certain substances. These substances can create small crystals that become stones. It also form when the components of urine — fluid and various minerals and acids — are out of balance. When this happens, the urine contains more crystal-forming substances, such as calcium and uric acid, than the available fluid can dilute. At the same time urine may be short of substances that keep crystals from sticking together and becoming stones. Kidney stones are also prone to develop in highly acidic or highly alkaline urine. Sometimes it is due to the problems in the absorbtion and elimination of substances like calcium. An inherited metabolic disorder or kidney disease can also be a cause. and indinavir (Crixivan), which is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS also can cause kidney stone formation. Inflammatory bowel disease and gout promote specific types of kidney stones. 'Drugs including furosemide (Lasix), used in treating heart failure and high blood pressure; topiramate (Topamax), an anti-seizure drug;

Risk factors.

These factors may increase the risk of developing kidney stones:

* Lack of fluids: Not drinking enough fluids, especially water, would make the urine to have higher concentrations of substances that can form stones. That is why people live in a hot, dry climate or exercise strenuously without replacing lost fluids often suffer from kidney stone.* Family or personal history: If someone in the family has kidney stones, others more likely to develop stones too. And if a person already had one or more kidney stones, he/she is at increased risk of developing another.* Age and sex: Most people who develop kidney stones are between 20 and 70 years of age. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than are women.* Diet: A high-protein, high-sodium and low-calcium diet may increase the risk of some types of kidney stones.* Limited activity: People who are bedridden or very sedentary for a long period of time are more prone to develop kidney stones. That is partly because limited activity can cause the bones to release more calcium.* Obesity: High body mass index (BMI), increased waist size and weight gain have been linked to kidney stones in long-term studies of large populations. The relationship is strongest in women.* High blood pressure: Having high blood pressure doubles the risk of forming kidney stones.* Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea: Changes in the digestive process affect the absorption of calcium and increase the levels of stone-forming substances in the urine.

Types of Renal stones.

* Calcium stones: Roughly four out of five kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is found in some fruits and vegetables, but the liver produces most of the body's oxalate supply. Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several different metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine.* Struvite stones: Found more often in women, struvite stones are almost always the result of urinary tract infections. Struvite stones may be large enough to fill most of a kidney's urine-collecting space, forming a characteristic stag's-horn shape.* Uric acid stones: These stones are formed of uric acid, a byproduct of protein metabolism. People who eat a high-protein diet they are more likely to develop uric acid stones. Gout also leads to uric acid stones. Certain genetic factors and disorders of the blood-producing tissues also may predispose you to the condition.* Cystine stones: These stones represent only a small percentage of kidney stones. They form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete excessive amounts of certain amino acids (cystinuria).

Symptoms of Kidney stones

* Abdominal pain* Abnormal urine color* Blood in the urine* Chills* Excess urination at night* Fever* Flank pain or back pain (colicky (spasm-like), may move lower in flank, pelvis, groin, genitals, on one or both sides, progressive, severe)* Groin pain* Nausea, vomiting* Painful urination* Testicle pain* Urinary frequency/urgency* Urinary hesitancy

Diet for Kidney Stone Prevention.

How does diet affect the risk of developing kidney stones?

Diet is one of several factors that can promote or inhibit kidney stone formation. Other factors include heredity, environment, weight, and fluid intake. The body uses food for energy and tissue repair. After the body uses what it needs, waste products in the bloodstream are carried to the kidneys and excreted as urine. Certain foods create wastes that may form crystals in the urinary tract. In some people, the crystals grow into stones. For people who have had a kidney stone, preventing another will be a priority. In addition to dietary changes, a person may need medicine to prevent kidney stones. The first step in preventing kidney stones is to learn what kind of stones a person’s body typically makes.

Homeopathic Treatment for Kidney stones.

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. 
Following homeopathic medicines have been found effective in many cases of Kidney stones:
Berberis vulgaris, Ocimum canum, Lycopodium, Sarasaparilla, Pareira Brava, Calcarea carbonica, Urtica urens, Nat phos, Terebinth, Belladona, Dioscorea, Cantharis, Hydrangea, Millefolium, Uva ursi, etc.

HOMEOPATHIC REPERTORY