Everything You Need To Know About Renal Calculi (Kidney Stone)

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of salts and minerals that form inside your kidneys.  They may form due to the crystallization of lithogenic factors in the upper urinary tract, and they can subsequently move into the ureter and cause renal colic.

Types of Renal Calculi:

There are three major types of renal stones. They are as follows.

• About 80% is composed of either calcium oxalate or calcium oxalate mixed with calcium phosphate.
• About 10% are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate.
• Approximately 6% to 9% are either uric acid or cystine stones.

Causes of Renal Calculi:

There are different causes for different types of renal stones.

• Calcium oxalate stones are the most commonly occurring renal stones. They develop when your urine contains high levels of calcium and either uric acid or oxalate and low levels of citrate. Most individuals in this group happen to absorb excessive calcium from the gut (which is called absorptive hypercalciuria) and excrete it in the urine. It may occur in some due to calcium reabsorption’s primary renal defect (which is called renal hypercalciuria).
• Magnesium ammonium phosphate stones happen to occur in individuals with persistently alkaline urine resulting due to UTIs.
• Gout and diseases involving rapid cell turnover, such as leukemias, lead to high uric acid levels in the urine, thereby increasing the risk of the development of uric acid stones.
• Cystine stones may result due to a genetically determined defect in the renal transport of certain amino acids, which include cystine.

Predisposing Factors for Renal Stones:

Here are some predisposing factors for renal stones listed.

1. Low urine volumes: A low fluid intake and high ambient temperatures causing low urine volumes can be a predisposing factor for the condition.
2. Diet: Consuming diet which is high in protein intake, low in calcium, and high in sodium can lead to the kidney stone.
3. Ileal disease or resection (leads to increased oxalate absorption and urinary excretion)
4. High urinary sodium/oxalate/urate/citrate excretion
5. Renal tubular acidosis type I
6. Hypercalcemia of any cause.
7. Familial hypercalciuria
8. Medullary sponge kidney
9. Cystinuria

Symptoms of Renal Calculi:

Here are some common symptoms of kidney stones.

• Renal colic: The occurrence of sudden pain in the loin, which radiates to the groin, testis or labium, and in the first lumbar dermatome. Intensity steadily increases to reach a peak in a few minutes; and the patient may groan in agony.
• Pallor, sweating, restlessness, and often vomiting.
• Frequency, dysuria, and hematuria.
• Intense pain usually subsides within 2 hours but may continue for hours or days. Generally, the pain constant during the attacks, although the patient may experience slight fluctuations in severity. A dull loin ache may also follow.

Homeopathic Remedies for Renal Calculi:

Here are some homeopathic remedies for renal calculi.

1. Berberis vulgaris: Berberis vulgaris is one of the best homeopathic medicines for left-sided kidney stones. Stitching, cutting pain from the left kidney following the course of the ureter into the bladder, and urethra indicate this remedy. This homeopathic medicine is suggested to those who experience a bubbling sensation in kidneys and pass urine with bright red sediments and thick slimy mucus.

1. Lycopodium clavatum: Lycopodium is indicated for right-sided kidney complaints. Lycopodium clavatum is provided to the person who is having right-sided renal colic, whose pain worsens before urination, and who passes red sand in urine. The patient’s pain in the back may get relieved by urinating.

1. Cantharis vesicatoria: The burning pain and intolerable urging to urinate is the red strand of Cantharis. Constant urging to urinate but passing a few drops at a time which is mixed with blood indicates this remedy. When the patient suffers from the burning and cutting pain in urethra during micturition, this homeopathic remedy may help.

1. Sarsaparilla officinalis: It is indicated for kidney stones with severe, unbearable pain at the end of urination. Sarsaparilla officinalis is also indicated for right-sided kidney stones with excruciating pain downwards.

1. Hydrangea arborescens: It is also known as a stone-breaker. Hydrangea arborescens is indicated where there is a profuse deposit of white amorphous salts in the urine. When the urination is hard to start and sharp pain occurs in the loin region, particularly on the left side, this homeopathic remedy is recommended.

1. Tabacum: It is indicated when the patient has violent spasmodic pain along the ureter, particularly on the left side with deathly nausea and cold perspiration.

1. Pariera brava: It is indicated where there is black, bloody, thick mucus in the urine. Constant urging and great straining indicate this remedy. When the patient suffers from the pain down the thighs while trying to urinate and violent pain in the glans penis, this homeopathic medicine is recommended.

Diet for Kidney Stones:

Following some diet tips that you can help you prevent the formation of kidney stones. Here are some diet tips for avoiding the hazards of renal calculi.

1. Reduce the intake of peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, and sweet potatoes which contain high oxalate levels.
2. Include a diet rich in calcium, such as milk and yogurt. 1000-1200 mg of calcium per day is recommended.
3. Reduce sodium intake. Canned and processed food should be avoided.
4. Red meat, alcohol, sardines, shellfish, etc., which contain a high quantity of purines should be avoided.

So, make sure you follow these helpful tips and count on homeopathy if any time you happen to suffer from renal calculi.