KIDNEY STONE / RENAL CALCULI
In Ayurvedic literature, kidney stones are referred as Mutrashmari. Mutra means urine and Ashmari means stone. The basic causative factor for Mutrashmari is tridosha aggravation. When Vata is accumulated in urinary bladder, due to its dry- rough quality, it stimulates to dry up Urine, Shukra, converted to urine crystals. The Kapha dosha is dominant, oily, it builds up the crystals together to form stones. Renal calculi (nephrolith or urolithiosis), also known as kidney stones, are solid masses which are formed by the deposition of minerals and other toxins which need to be excreted through the urine.
CAUSES
- Improper diet
- A large amount of Animal Protein
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Excessive Sodium intake
- Obesity
- Medical conditions: Type 2 Diabetes, genetic diseases, intake of a few medications.
- Excessive calcium intake.
- Poor fluid intake.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Excessive use of medicines rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin A.
- Excessive consumption of foods rich in Oxalate.
Signs & Symptoms
- Frequent need for urination
- Excessive Sweating
- Severe pain in lower abdomen and back
- Painful urination
- Scanty urination
- Blood in urine and vomiting
TREATMENT
- Snehana or Mild oleation
- Medicines that are penetrative (teekshna ushna) & break the kidney stones (ashmari bhedana)
- Diuretics (mutrala dravyas) which help flush out small sized stones from the kidney
- Watery food intake
- Sufficient water intake
- Coolants (sheetala upachara) & remedies to balance the vata dosha
- SSS
- Barberry
- Buchu
- Burdock
- Cleavers
- Gokshura
- Goldenseal
- Hydrangea
- Manjishta
- Parsley
- Shilajit
- Uva Ursi
- Pashanbhed
- Ushir
- Punarnava
- Varun etc.
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
- Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, cold drinks, pickles, fish, poultry, meat, spinach, and chocolate.
- Avoid Sour, Heavy, and Dry food.
- Increase intake of liquids like water, juice, soup, lime water, etc.
- Avoid suppressing urges to urinate and defecate.