Kidney stones are one of the painful urological disorders. Urine is the mixture of salt and water. A supersaturated solution has tendency to form crystals of some solids dissolved in it. These solid constituents are salt of calcium, oxalate phosphate, magnesium, ammonium, urates and uric acid. When the concentrations of these substances exceeds this solubility due to low water content, the crystals precipitate and get bound by an organic mucois matrix and a stone is formed. There are many types of stones. They are, 1. Calcium stones – calcium, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate. 2. Uric acid stone. 3. Cystein stone.
4. Infectious stones – Ammonium- magnesium phosphate stones. 5. Xanthine stones, etc.

Many factors work together in a susceptible individual, resulting in stone formation

  • Recurrent urinary infection
  • Vitamin – A deficiency
  • Improper calcium metabolism
  • Climate or occupation giving rise to excessive sweating
  • Prolonged immobilization
  • Prolonged retention of urine
  • Defects in urinary tract
  • Excessive production of hormones by endocrine glands like parathyroid
  • Heredity play a part in some persons
  • Race, climate, diet, nutrition, environment, socio-economic condition, etc are also involved.

Symptoms are,

  • A sharp, cramping pain at the back and side of the lower abdomen that spread to the groin later.
  • Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur.
  • When stone moves to the ureter, the feeling of urination will be more often and burning sensation occurs during urination.
  • Due to infection, fever and chills may accompany.

Dietary advice

  • Dietary restrictions depend upon the type of stone formation. Water is the best remedy to prevent stones and it is the cheapest medicine too. Drink at least 10 – 12 glasses of water daily.
  • Reduce salt intake in diet as less dietary sodium may decrease the amount of calcium in urine.
  • Reduce animal protein – fish and red meat. Vegetarian diet is the best.
  • Excess of calcium in the diet is not advisable. So restrict dairy products other than milk. Two cups of milk a day is permitted. Plantain flower, spinach, amaranth and curry leaves, cashews, cucumber, wood apple, drumstick, etc are also to be excluded.
  • Avoid coffee, cola and juices of apple and grapes. Instead, citrate rich citrus fruits like orange and lime protect against stone disorder.
  • Oxalate rich foods like beetroot, beans, green red gram, brinjal, spring onion, drumstick, sweet potato, seasame, peanut, chocolate, tea, dried fruits, etc should be avoided.
  • Uric acid stones are due to hyperuricaemia. So, the person should avoid the foods rich in purines to decrease the increased level of uric acid in blood. Organ meat, fish, shell-fish, beef, sweet bread, cauliflower, etc are rich in purines and are to be avoided.
  • Avoid the supplements of vitamin-C and D for prolonged period as they may lead to stone formation.
  • Increase fibre in the diet. A lot of salad is advised as part of daily food.
  • Above all the advices, drinking the juice of plantain stalk with butter milk, weekly twice or thrice may give fantastic result. It has the capacity to dissolve the urinary stones in kidneys.