A Review on Urolithiasis and its Treatment using Plants

A kidney stone, also known as a renal calculus (from the Latin ren, "kidney" and calculus, "pebble") is a solid concretion or crystal aggregation formed in the kidneys from dietary minerals in the urine. Stone formation in the kidney is one of the oldest and most wide spread diseases known to man. Urinary stone disease has afflicted humankind since antiquity and can persist, with serious medical consequences, throughout a patient's lifetime. In addition, the incidence of kidney stones has been increased in western societies in the last five decades, in association with economic development. Most calculi in the urinary system arise from a common component of urine, e.g. calcium oxalate (CaOx), representing up to 80% of analyzed stones. The problem of urinary stones or calculi is a very ancient one and many remedies have been employed during the ages these stones are found in all parts of the urinary tract, the kidney, the ureters and the urinary bladder and may vary considerably in size. The present day medical management of lithiasis includes lithotripsy and surgical procedures. Unfortunately, these techniques do not correct the underlying risk factors. Also, the overuse of synthetic drugs, which results in higher incidence of adverse drug reactions, has motivated humans to return to nature for safe remedies. Many plants conveniently available in India are used in traditional folklore medicine for the treatment of lithiasis (kidney stone).Herbs and herbal drugs have created interest among the people by its clinically proven effects like immunomodulation, adaptogenic and antimutagenic. In the present article, an attempt has been made to emphasis on herbal option for urinary stone.