One of the fairly common disorders of the kidney and the urinary tract is the formation of stones. The stones are formed from the chemicals usually found in the urine such as uric acid, phosphorus, calcium and oxalic acid. They may vary in consistency from grit, sand and gravel-like obstructions to the size of bird`s eggs. When the concentration of a particular substance in the urine exceeds its solubility, stones may form and grow. This disorder occurs more frequently in middle age, with men being afflicted more often than women.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones:
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 shock. 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 of Kidney Stones:
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 D may also lead to formation of stones.

Treatment of Kidney Stones by Nature Cure:
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.

Diet:
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, watercress and those with strong aroma such as asparagus, onions, beans, cabbage and cauliflower, meat, gravies and carbonated waters. For controlling the formation of calcium phosphate stones, a moderately low calcium and phosphorus diet should be taken. The intake of calcium and phosphates should be restricted to minimal levels consistent with maintaining nutritional adequacy. 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 phosphorus. Foods, which should be avoided, are whole-wheat flour, Bengal gram, peas, soyabeans, 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 an acidic urine. In such a diet, only half a litre 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 soyabeans.

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 urine metabolism, foods such as sweet bread, liver and kidney should be avoided. The basil has a strengthening effect on the kidneys. In case of kidney stones, basil juice and honey should be taken for six months. It has been found that 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 stone formation.

Water Treatments:
The patient should be given a large hot enema, followed by a hot bath with a temperature of 100F, 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.

Treatment of Kidney Stones By Yogic Asanas:
Certain yogasanas such as pavan-muktasana, uttanpadasana, bhujangasana, dhannurasana and halasana are highly beneficial as they stimulate the kidneys.