Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of our fist. They’re located in back of our abdomen on each side of the spine, and their main function is to remove excess fluid, unneeded electrolytes and wastes from the blood in the form of urine. The ureters carry urine from kidneys to bladder, where it’s stored until we eliminate it from the body. The kidney acts as a filter for blood, removing waste products from the body and helping regulate the levels of chemicals important for body function. The urine drains from the kidney into the bladder through a narrow tube called the ureter. When the bladder fills and there is an urge to urinate, the bladder empties through the urethra, a much wider tube than the urethra.

When the stone sits in the kidney, it rarely causes problems, but should it fall into the ureter, it gives lot of pain. The kidney continues to function and make urine, which accumulates behind the stone, stretching the kidney. This pressure build up, causes the pain of a kidney stone, but it also helps push the stone along the course of the ureter. When the stone enters the bladder, the obstruction in the ureter is relieved and the symptoms of a kidney stone are resolved. When a tubular structure is blocked in the body, pain is generated in waves as the body tries to unblock the obstruction. These waves of pain are called colic. Renal colic or kidney stone pain has a classic typical when a kidney stone is being passed. The pain is intense and suddenly. Passing kidney stones can be excruciating. The pain they cause typically starts in the side or back, just below the ribs, and radiates to lower abdomen and groin. Painful as they are, kidney stones usually cause no permanent damage. Those affected cannot find a comfortable position, and many writhe in pain. Sweating, nausea and vomiting are common. Blood may be visible in the urine because the stone has irritated the ureter. Blood in the urine, however, does not always mean a person has a kidney stone. Urinalysis with a microscope may detect blood even if it is not visible by the naked eye.

There is little a person can do with debilitating pain and vomiting other than approaching hospital for emergency treatment. If there is fever associated with the symptoms of a kidney stone, this becomes a more urgent problem, and medical care should be accessed immediately.

For those who have a history of stones, then home therapy may be appropriate. Most kidney stones, given time, will pass on their own, and treatment is directed towards symptom control.

The signs and symptoms of kidney stone:

• Fluctuations in pain in severity and duration
• Pain waves radiating from the side and back to the lower abdomen and groin
• Bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Painful urination
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent desire to pass urine
• Fever and chills if there is an infection

These factors may increase your risk of developing kidney stones:

• Lack of fluids
• Family or personal history
• Age and sex
• Diet. A high-protein, high-sodium and low-calcium diet may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones.
• Limited activity
• Geographical location
• Obesity
• Medications like excess calcium-containing antacids, Indinavir used in HIV can form indinavir stones, Topiramate which is an anti-seizure drug
• Diseases like Gout, inflammatory bowel disease, High blood pressure, Gastric bypass surgery, chronic diarrhea

If a stone stays inside one of the kidneys, it usually doesn’t cause a problem unless it becomes so large it blocks the flow of urine. This can cause pressure and pain, along with the risk of kidney damage, bleeding and infection. Smaller stones may partially block the thin tubes that connect each kidney to your bladder or the outlet from the bladder itself. These stones may cause ongoing urinary tract infections or kidney damage if left untreated.

Prevention is always the preferable way to treat kidney stones. Remaining well hydrated and keeping the urine dilute will help prevent kidney stones from forming. The patient should consume enough oral fluids. While kidney stones and renal colic probably cannot be prevented, the risk of forming a stone can be minimized by avoiding dehydration. Keeping the urine dilute will not allow the chemical crystals to come out of solution and form the nidus of a stone. Making it certain that the urine remains clear and not concentrated will help minimize stone formation.

For people with a history of kidney stones, doctors usually recommend passing at least 2 – 3 liters of urine a day. To do this, you’ll need to drink about 14 cups (3.3 liters) of fluids every day or even more if you live in a hot, dry climate.

What should you drink? Water is best. Include a glass of lemonade every day, too. Make your own with real lemons, or use a liquid or frozen concentrate, but avoid powdered lemonade mixes. Lemonade increases the levels of citrate in your urine, and citrate helps prevent stone formation.

In addition, if you tend to form calcium oxalate stones, you may recommend restricting foods rich in oxalates. These include rhubarb, star fruit, beets, beet greens, collards, okra, refried beans, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, almonds and soy products. What’s more, studies show that an overall diet low in salt and very low in animal protein can greatly reduce your chance of developing kidney stones.

As a general rule, restricting intake of calcium doesn’t seem to lower the risk. In fact, researchers have found that women with a high calcium intake are less likely to develop kidney stones than are women who consume less calcium. Because dietary calcium binds with oxalates in the gastrointestinal tract so that oxalates can’t be absorbed from the intestine and excreted by the kidney to form stones.

An exception to this rule occurs when an individual absorbs too much dietary calcium from the intestine. In such a circumstance, restricting calcium intake is useful.

Calcium supplements seem to have the same protective effect as dietary calcium, but only if they’re taken with meals.

Role of Homeopathy in kidney stones:
Homeopathy can not help you from problems of kidney stone when it has reached a size where surgical intervention becomes necessary. But homeopathy has significant role to play when stone is smaller in size and it is not causing any enlargement of kidney (hydronephrosis). In such cases where the stone size is small, patients do experience episodes of pain every now and then. Repeatedly they have to resort to pain reliving pills and even antibiotics. Homeopathy can help in such situation. Homeopathic medicines also help in getting rid of minor size stones purely by a regular course of few months. It is the most harmless way of treatment and we are able to save patient from undergoing surgery. Besides this homeopathy also helps in improving the clearing process of the kidney

Kidney stones are one of the most common urological disorders and one of the most painful ones too. They are basically solidified concentrates concentrates of the crystals which normally are present in the dissolved form in urine. Kidney stones are more common in middle-aged adults than in the elderly and are much more prevalent in men as compared to women.

• CAUSES
• * Hereditary: 1] : People suffering from gout, parathyroid problems, inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic urinary tract infection are predisposed to stone formation 2) Increased urinary concentration due to dehydrations – Most stones arise in the kidney when urine becomes supersaturated with salts and crystals that are capable of forming stones.
• Hyperparathyroidism may also lead to hyper calcuria.
• Increase of calcium intake i.e. more than the required amount (e.g. intake of too much of chocolates, strawberries, etc
• Urinary inadequate drainage – slow obstructive urine flow will encourage salt precipitation due to stagnation
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Increased intake of vitamin D, Calcium, protein, tea or fruit juice
• Prolonged immobility where stone formation is due to hypercalcuria.
• Metabolic order
• Decrease in fluid intake may precipitate formation of stones
• Prolonged bed rest
• Chronic use of antacids containing calcium

SINE AND SYSMPTOMS:

1. The most common symptom of kidney stone is severe back or abdominal pain. The renal colic type of pain is the sudden onset of very severe pain which radiates from the interior towards the anterior region of the groin.
2. Nausea and vomiting with excessive sweating
3. Urinary tract infections – Symptoms may include fever, chill , sweating and pain with urination.

It is not a part of the presentation of uncomplicated nephrolithiasis

PREVENTION

• Urinate as soon as possible when the urge is felt and empty the bladder completely
• Drink 3-5 litres of water if you are suspected of having a stone or if you are doing strenuous work in a hot humid climate. But if you live in an area that has hard water, do not drink more than 2 litres a day
• Avoid milk and milk products if you are prone to develop kidney stones
• Also avoid chocolates, beans, beets, spinach, celery, asparagus
• Avoid strawberries, grapes, rhubarb, plums, etc
• Avoid red meat which causes uric acid levels to increase
• Avoid egg, meat, fish, liver oils if suffering from crystal stones
• Avoid foods that raise uric acid levels like sardines, organ meats, anchovies
• Avoid foods containing sucrose and lactose
• Reduce uric acid by eating a low-protein diet
• Reduce salt intake to no more than 3 grams per day. Increase fibre-intake like bran
• Beer is good for flushing out the stone but do not over-indulge
• Barley water helps is removing stones
• Increase intake of Vitamin A rich foods
• Avoid high-dose long-term supplementation with Vitamin C
• Take Vitamin B6 and magnesium supplements
• Avoid calcium containing pain-killers
• Avoid calcium, Vitamin D supplements and calcium containing antacids which can increase calcium oxalate levels
• Increase exercise but avoid strenuous exercise that can get you dehydrated
• Lose excess weight
• Never self-medicate

Investigations

Abdominal X-rays : – Small stones may not be detected by this method and plain abdominal radiography should be performed if the suspicion of stones is high.

Kidney ultrasound : – Ultrasound is more sensitive in detecting nephrocalcinosis and may detect radiolucent stones. Ultrasound cannot be used to find small stones

Urinalysis : will identify PH, and microscopy will identify cystine crystals, haematuria, pyuria and bacteria.

Intravenous pyelogram : – Various reactions have been attributed to intravenous contrast agents including nausea, vomiting, urticaria, bronchospasm and cardiac arrhythmias.

Abdominal CT scan and abdominal/kidney MRI : will also give a clear picture about the disease condition.

Complications

1) Infection
2) Kidney damage – affected kidney will become functionless with ydronephrosis

HOMEOPATHY MEDICINE:

BERBERIS VUL: Head Remedy for renal colic, specially when the pain is on the left side and extends from kidney to urethra, with urging to urinate With similar symptoms it also cures pain on the right side.

LYCOPODOUM : In chronic cases when the acute pain is over there is flatulence in abdomen, especially right side with red send in urine. It should be given 30 dilutions not more then twice daily morning and evening for about three months.

CANTHARIS : Uremia delusions with sense of persecution .suppression of urine with restlessness , flushed face, sparkling eyes, Urge to pass urine but nothing is voided, there being no urine in bladder. Pain and burning in urine while passing urinations. burning sensations constantly after passing urine. Patient had low grad fever and body ache. Urine is scanty and bloody.

SARSAPARILLA: Its specially for child kidney stone. While passing child crying urinations. For white sediments. Urine becomes turbid like clay water immediately after passing. Much pain at the end of urinating. Urine scanty, slimy, and flaky. Tenesmus of bladder.

TEREBINTHINA : Violent drawing pain in the region of kidneys. Violent burning and cutting in urine. Burning in urethra. Blood and albumin in urine. It is said to prevent and dissolve renal colic in which case it may be given in IM dilution.. Urine red, brown black or smoky in appearance.

BELLADONA : shooting pain in the renal region along the ureter through which the calculus makes its way.

Other homeopathy medicine is dioscorea, millifolium, causticum, chin.sulf, pareira B, Urtica Urens, Calcarea Carb. etc.

Homeopathy Dosage Directions

Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used.