Kidney Stone: Causes, Symptoms And Ayurvedic Treatment

Kidney Stone: It is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. At the same time, single/multiple stones can be in the kidney /ureter. They are small pebbles of salt and mineral in the urine.

Calcium stones are more common. Mostly, they are occur in men b/w ages 20-30 yrs. Calcium when combine with other substances, then it forms stone.

Oxalate is also very common, present in certain foods like spinach. Also, it is found in Vit-C supplements. Mainly,these stone is risky in small intestine diseases.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Stones may be asymptomatic/can cause hematuria alone.
• Obstruction of the passage occur due to which pain in the region of bladder and umbilicus occurs.
• Obstruction can leads to severe pain, often radiating to groin, sometimes accompanied by intense visceral symptoms like nausea, vomiting etc.
• UTI (Urinary Tract Infection).

IN GENERAL

• Pain in the region of umbilicus, bladder during micturition due to obstruction of the passage, discontinuity of urinary stream.
• When obstruction is cleared, the person voids urine with no precipitation, is black and eliminated with ease.
• Urine is mixed with blood when injury occurs due to its friction, the person feels different kinds of pain while running, jumping and other activities.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR KIDNEY ST0NE DISEASE?

• If you are not comfortable in standing, sitting, or lying down positions.
• Have nausea and serious pain in belly.
• Blood in urine.
• Feeling pain in urination.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

• Dehydration due to less intake of fluids.
• High intake of animal protein.
• High salt diet.
• Excessive vitamin-D supplementation.
• Oxalate containing foods intake in excessive such as Spinach.
• Hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism.
• Chronic dehydration.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Chronic UTI(Urinary Tract Infection), ulcerative colitis, bowel problems.
• Obesity due to disturbed BMI.
• Gout.
• certain antibiotics, diuretics, high blood pressure, HIV and AIDS drugs.

DIAGNOSIS

• X-rays
• CT- scan 
• Ultrasound
• Blood tests
• Urine tests

GENERAL TIPS

• Drink enough water ( app. 2 liters ).
• Skip high Oxalate foods such as spinach, beets, almonds.
• Drink 1/2cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water.
• Cut back on animal protein intake.
• Basil leaves tea.
• Celery/pomegranate/ dandelion root/ wheat-grass juice

WHAT TO AVOID?

• Hot, spicy, salty and sour diet.
• Curd
• Tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach.
• animal protein food and supplements.
• sea-foods.
• excess non-veg food.
• less intake of water.
• Oxalate and calcium rich foods.

WHAT TO EAT?

• old rice
• watermelon, benincasa hispida.
• cucumber 
• lemon fruits.
• tender coconut water daily.
• 2-3 liters water daily.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 
Q.1) What exactly is Kidney stone?
Ans.- It’s a solid mass formed from those substances which becomes highly concentrated and crystallize due to insufficient urine volume. Mainly stone- forming substances are calcium, oxalate, uric acid, phosphate.

Q.2) How dangerous are Kidney stones?
Ans.- It can cause damage if they are in repetitions/ serious infections/ kidney blockage for a long time. Prolong kidney stones can lead kidneys to stop working.

Q.3) How common are Kidney stones?
Ans.- One in ten people are facing this issue. Peak age for stones is between 20-50 years. 

Q.4) How lifestyle can cause kidney stones?
Ans.- Lifestyle is the main reason for developing kidney stones in our body such as intake of less amount of water and fluids, more animal protein diets,sea-foods, more intake of Oxalate and calcium rich foods, antibiotics, other kidney diseases, etc. 

Q.5) How kidney stones are related to Ayurveda disease?
Ans.- In Ayurveda, kidney stones are commonly called as Ashmari which is generally classified according to signs and symptoms of vata, pitta and kapha.

Q.6) Is there any proper cure for kidney stones in Ayurveda?
Ans.- Yes, Ayurveda includes treatment which includes Panchakarma procedures like snehapana, bashpa sweda, virechana in it.With this procedure it also includes shamana chikitsa in which certain ayurvedic drugs and their formulations are generally included.

Q.7) How Kidney stones are generally diagnosed?
Ans.- It is mainly diagnosed by ultrasound, CT-scan,MRI. Also, it includes lab tests like blood tests and urine tests which mainly detect oxalate/calcium crystals or other causing crystals and substances.

Q.8) Can drugs intake cause kidney stones in our body?
Ans.- Yes, certain antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, sulfa antibiotics, diuretics, high blood pressure medications, HIV and AIDS drugs, etc. Can develop kidney stones in our body.

Q.9) How intake of water can help to lessen kidney stones?
Ans.- Drinking plenty of water mainly helps to overcome dehydration and it helps to urinate properly which helps to function nephrons in kidney and slowly-slowly it helps to urinate some amount of crystals/stones from body with urine.

Q.10) What are the types of kidney stones?
Ans.- Most common type of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones. Various other stones are also form kidney stones like calcium phosphate stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones.