Causes of Renal Stones
When salts in the urine crystallize, kidney stone formation takes place. This crystal settles on the inner surface of the kidney. These crystals are very small and pass out of the body through the urinary tract without much pain. Kidney stone if not treated in due time may cause severe pain in the back and spreads to the front of the abdomen down in the scrotum.
Four major types of renal stones are:
- A part of calcium we intake with our normal diet, which is not used by the muscles and bones, settles down in the kidney. Generally kidney flushes out excess calcium with urine but some extra calcium stays behind and joins other wastes and thus forms a stone. Calcium stone combines with either phosphate or oxalate. These chemicals are present in our normal diet. This type of kidney stone is the most common type of stone.
- Sometimes infection in the urine also leads to formation of stone known as struvite, which contains waste product ammonia and mineral magnesium.
- Too much of acid in the urine may also cause formation of a stone. This type of stone is known as uric acid stone. Eating too much of meat should be avoided in this case.
- The forth kind of stone is quite rare known as cystine stone. This type of kidney stone is a hereditary disease.
- Kidney stone may be caused by eating food high in substances, drinking insufficient fluid or chronic infection. Metabolic disorder often causes kidney stones.
Home Remedies for Renal Stones
Ayurvedic and herbal remedies to remove renal stones are also possible. Ayurvedic herbs are very effective for the kidney. Ayurvedic capsules are available for removal of kidney stones. Best herb for the kidney is Gokshura, when added with coriander leaves, soothes and cools the membranes of the urinary tract helping smooth flow of urine. Herbal remedies such as Corn silk, Crampbark, Stone root, Khella and Bearberry are considered amazing remedies. Corn silk or Zea mays, helps in reducing the formation of kidney stone and also relieving existing stones.
Yoga asana gives us many health benefits. Yoga is the practice of holding different postures for an extended period of time while breathing deeply and calmly. Regular practice of yoga increases flexibility and strength. Yoga also helps break up kidney stones without causing pain.
Surgery should be the last option if all other methods fail. Lithotripsy is a popular way to remove kidney stones. In this a lithotripter delivers highly concentrated focused ultrasound waves through the skin to the exact location of the stone and shatters the stone in minute pieces. These stones can be removed either by surgery or may pass naturally by the body. Another method to remove stone by lithotripsy is by inserting a viewing instrument into the kidney then ultrasound probe is introduced to break the stone. Then stones are removed by nephroscope.