Treatment of Kidney Stone Using Natural Ayurvedic Remedies

Almost one-sixth of the global population is affected by the formation of kidney stones due to salt or mineral imbalance in the urinary system. These stones are formed due to the excess or lack of crystal-forming minerals in the urine. These stones obstruct the flushing of toxic substances outside the body through the urine. Kidney stones may be formed because of low liquid intake, inactiveness, excess of vitamin intake (vitamin D supplements), high protein intake, various metabolic deficiencies that cause substances, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, to accumulate in the urine. Its chances of recurrence are higher in men than in women even after its treatment if proper measures for its prevention are not adopted.

In Ayurveda, kidney stone disease is generally known as Mutrashmari, where Mutra means urine, and Ashmari means stone. It describes the formation of kidney stones to be due to the imbalance of any of the tridoshas (Vatashmari due to Vata dosha, Pittashmari due to Pitta dosha and Kaphasamri due to Kapha dosha). When the Vata becomes aggravated, it may dry up the Kapha present in the urinary bladder. This may in turn when mixed with urine leads to the formation of renal stone, which may cause consistent and extreme pain in the stomach followed by frequent episodes of vomiting and urination.

Kidney stones are formed due to dehydration caused by less water intake, overeating, holding urinal discharge, irregular eating habits, caffeine, junk foods and aerated drinks, regular meat and alcohol consumption, gas-causing food, certain dietary supplements, and drugs. Stones may also be caused due to genetic heredity, obesity, digestive disorders, and urinary tract infections.

One should avoid taking foods with a high amount of oxalates, such as spinach, tomatoes, potato chips, French fries, beets, almonds, and chocolates. People suffering from kidney stones should avoid too much sodium intake in their diet as it increases the amount of calcium in the urine. Moreover, they should cut down the consumption of a high amount of animal protein, such as eggs (white) and meat, in their diet as it causes reduction of citrate levels in urine, which inhibits stone formation.

Fruits, such as orange, lemon, and grapefruit, which contain a high level of citrate that reduces stone formation should be consumed. However, calcium intake from natural sources, such as milk, cheese, egg yolks, and yogurt, should be increased to reduce the oxalate level in the body. One should consume vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, which are low in sodium and potassium, contain many beneficial vitamins and nutrients.

Kidney stones generally up to 7 mm in size can be flushed out of the body by adopting some ayurvedic remedies with the right kind of diet.

The very first thing to take note of is to incorporate the habit of drinking a lot of water in your routine. Regular intake of lemon water also helps in reducing the chances of stone formation. Lemon contains citrate that increases the amount of urine citrate that binds with calcium and thus helps in reducing the accumulation of calcium in stone formation. Juice of radish leaves, watermelon, cucumber, aloe vera juice, coconut water, and apple vinegar mixed (1 tablespoon) in a glass of water helps in reducing the kidney stones. The kidney patients should regularly take the juice of coriander powder (1 tablespoon) mixed in a glass of water to clean the kidney. Regular intake of a garlic clove is also beneficial for kidney patients.

Basil (Tulsi) contains acetic acid that helps in dissolving the kidney stones. Basil leaves mixed in hot water could be taken as tea or juice with honey on a regular basis for a few months to remove the stones.

Air plant or miracle leaf (Bryophyllum pinnatum) also called Pattharchatta in Hindi is also a very good remedy for the natural removal of kidney stones. It’s a perennial plant having thick leaves with teeth on the edges marked with reddish boundary. One to two leaves of pattharchatta should be consumed either fresh with an empty stomach or as leaves extract twice a day on a regular basis for 1 month. The pattharchatta leaves are very effective in removing small-size stones from 4 mm to 7 mm.

The citrate present in lemon helps in breaking the stone while the olive oil lubricates the ureters to flush the stone outside the body without causing pain.

Coconut water has a high presence of potassium (1456 mg/L), chloride, and citrate resulting in increased urinary citrate, which inhibits calcium stone formation by making a complex with calcium and blocks crystal formation thereby decreasing the risk of urinary stone formation.

Horse gram is highly rich in iron, molybdenum, and proteins. Mainly grown in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand in India, this pulse is highly valued for its anti-lithiatic and immense medicinal properties in Ayurveda. It helps in reducing the size of calcium oxalate stones and human kidney stones, thereby effective in flushing them out of the body through urine.