Kidney Stones
The formation of stones in the kidneys or urinary
tract is a fairly common disorder. The stones are formed from the chemicals
usually found in the urine such as uric acid, phosphorous, calcium and oxalic
acid. They may vary in consistency from grit, sand and gravel-like obstructions
to the size of the bird’s eggs.
Stones may form and grow because the concentration of
a particular substance in a urine exceeds its solubility. This disorder occurs
more frequently in middle age, with men being afflicted more often than women. The
kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, lying below the waist on either side of the
spinal column on the back wall of the abdomen. They are soft, reddish brown in
colour, and, on an average, measure 10 cm. in length, 6 cm. in width and is 2.5
cm. thick at its centre. They are filtering plants for purifying the blood,
removing water and salts from it which are passed into the bladder as urine.
Symptoms
Kidney stones usually cause severe pain in their
attempt to pass down the ureter on their way to the bladder. The pain is first
felt in the side and thereafter in the groin and thighs. Other symptoms of
kidney stones are a desire to urinate frequently, painful urination, scanty
urination, nausea, vomiting, sweating, chills and shocks. The patient may also
pass blood with the urine. Sometimes, large stones may remain in the kidneys
without causing any trouble and these are known as silent stones.
Causes
The formation of stones in the kidneys is the result
of defects in the general metabolism. They usually occur when the urine becomes
highly concentrated due to heavy perspiration or insufficient intake of fluids.
They are aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle. The other causes are wrong diet,
excess intake of acid-forming foods, white flour and sugar products, meat, tea,
coffee, condiments and spices, rich foods and overeating. Lack of vitamin A and
an excessive intake of vitamin B may also lead to formation of stones.
Types of Stones
Chemically, urinary stones are of two categories,
namely, primary stones and secondary stones. Primary stones are ordinarily not
due to infection and are formed in acidic urine. They usually result from
alcoholism, sedentary life, constipation and excessive intake of nitrogeneous
or purine-rich foods. Secondary stones are due to local infection and are
formed in alkaline urine.
Most kidney stones are composed either of calcium
oxalate or phosphate, the latter being most common in the presence of
infection. About 90 per cent of all stones contain calcium as the chief constituent.
More than half of these are mixtures of calcium, ammonia, and magnesium, phosphates
and carbonates, while the remainder contain oxalate. Uric acid and cystine
stones represent about four percent and one per cent respectively of the total
incidence of stones.
Treatment
A majority of patients suffering from kidney stones
can be treated successfully by proper dietary regulations. These regulations
will also prevent a recurrence of the symptoms. Only a few cases require
surgery. The patient should avoid foods which irritate the kidneys, to control
acidity or alkalinity of the urine and to ensure adequate intake of fluids to prevent
the urine from becoming concentrated. The foods considered irritants to the
kidneys are alcoholic beverages, condiments, pickles, certain vegetables like
cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, water-cress and those with
strong aroma such as asparagus, onions, beans, cabbage and cauliflower, meat, gravies
and carbonated waters.
In calcium phosphate stones, over -secretion of
parathyroid hormone causes loss of calcium from the bones resulting in a high
blood level of calcium with increased excretion of calcium in the urine. An
abnormally high intake of milk, alkalies or vitamin D may also result in the formation
of calcium phosphate stones. For controlling the formation of calcium phosphate
stones, a moderately low calcium and phosphorous diet should be taken The
intake of calcium and phosphates should be restricted to minimal levels
consistent with maintaining nutritional adequacy. The maintenance level of
calcium is 680 mg. and of phosphorous 1000 mg. In this diet, milk should
constitute the main source of calcium and curd or cottage cheese, lentils and
groundnuts should form the main sources of phosphorous. Foods which should be
avoided are whole wheat flour, Bengal gram,
peas, soybeans, beets, spinach, cauliflower, turnips, carrots, almonds and coconuts.
When stones are composed of calcium and magnesium
phosphates and carbonates, the diet should be so regulated as to maintain
acidic urine. In such a diet, only half a liter of milk, two servings of fruits
and two servings of vegetables (200 grams) should be taken. The vegetables may
consist of asparagus, fresh green peas, squash, pumpkins, turnips, cauliflower,
cabbage and tomatoes. For fruits, watermelon, grapes, peaches, pears,
pineapple, papayas and guavas may be taken. On the other hand the urine should
be kept alkaline if oxalate and uric acid stones are being formed.
In this diet, fruits and vegetables should be
liberally used and acid-forming foods should be kept to the minimum necessary
for satisfactory nutrition. When the stones contain oxalate, foods with high
oxalic acid content should be avoided. These foods include almonds, beetroots, brinjal,
brown bread, cabbage, cherry, chocolate, French Beans, potatoes, radish,
spinach and soybeans.
Uric stones occur in patients who have an increased
uric acid in the blood and increased uric acid exertion in the urine. Since
uric acid is an end product of purine metabolism, foods with a high purine
content such as sweet bread, liver and kidney should be avoided.
Kidney beans, also known as French beans or common
beans, are regarded as a very effective remedy for kidney problems, including
kidney stones. It was Dr. Ramm of Germany , who first discovered the
value of kidney beans as a medicine for kidney and bladder troubles. He employed
it for over 25 years with beneficial results. The method prescribed by him to
prepare the medicine is to remove the beans inside the pods, then slice the
pods and put about 60 mg. in four liters of hot water, boiling slowly for four
hours. This liquid should be strained through fine muslin and then allowed to
cool for about eight hours. Thereafter, the fluid should be poured through
another piece of muslin without stirring. According to Dr. Ramm, a glassful of
this decoction should be given to the patient every two hours through the day
for one day, and thereafter it may be taken several times a week. Dr. Ramm also
says that this decoction will not work if it is more than 24 hours old. The
pods can be kept for longer periods but once they are boiled, the therapeutic
factor disappears after one day.
The basil, known as tulsi inthe vernacular, has a
strengthening effect on the kidneys. In case of kidney stones, basil juice and
honey should betaken for six months. It has been found that the stones can be
expelled from the urinary tract with this treatment. The celery is also a
valuable food for those who are prone to stone formation in the kidneys or the
gall bladder. Its regular use prevents future tone formation.
Research has shown the remarkable therapeutic success
of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine in the treatment of kidney stones. This treatment
has to be continued for several months for obtaining a permanent cure. The
patient should take a low protein diet, restricting protein to one gram per kg.
of food. A liberal intake of fluid up to 3,000 ml. or more daily is essential
to prevent the production of urine at the concentration level where the salts
precipitate out.
The patient should be given a large hot enema,
followed by a hot bath with a temperature of 100°F, gradually increased to 112°F.
The head should be kept cold with cold application. Hot fomentation applied
across the back in the region of the kidneys will relieve the pain. Certain yogasanas
such as pavan-muktasana, uttanpadasana, bhujangasana, dhanursana and halasana
are also highly beneficial as they stimulate the kidneys.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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