Urologists have calculated that about 50% of all patients turn to them because of urolithiasis. How to deal with this common disease?
Urolithiasis is a disease characterized by the formation of stones in the kidneys and urinary tract.
Urolithiasis has been known to mankind since ancient times. The oldest kidney stone was discovered by the British archaeologist William Smith at the beginning of the 20th century in one of the Egyptian mummies, whose age dates back to the 7th millennium BC.
Galen in the 2nd century AD substantiated the dependence of stone formation on climate, water composition, diet, race, and metabolic disorders. In the 11th century, Avicenna explained the occurrence of calculi in the urinary tract by the peculiarities of the diet and disturbances in the outflow of urine.
Some famous personalities, such as Peter the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte and Isaac Newton suffered from urolithiasis.
Since the mid-80s of the twentieth century, in the medical community, urolithiasis, along with diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and a number of other diseases, has been referred to as “diseases of civilization”. Indeed, the lifestyle of a modern person is conducive to the occurrence of urolithiasis: physical inactivity, the predominance of protein in the diet, reduced immunity – all of these are proven risk factors.
Urolithiasis occurs in almost all age groups, even in the paediatric population.
Why are kidney stones formed?
Currently, there are various theories of the formation of kidney stones.
The main factor contributing to the formation of stones is the excess concentration of salts in the urine – calcium salts (carbonates), oxalic acid (oxalates), phosphoric acid (phosphates), uric acid (urates), etc. The chemical composition of the stones depends on the geographical area, environmental conditions, salt content in drinking water and food, diet, age. In the elderly, urates and phosphates are more often detected, but in the young people – oxalates.
When the concentration of these salts is exceeded, for example, due to a lack of liquid, they precipitate in the form of crystals. Later, the stones are formed from the crystals.
Another common cause is kidney or bladder inflammation. Less often, the formation of stones is associated with the anatomical features of development (e.g., a narrowing of the urinary tract).
Urolithiasis is asymptomatic for a long time.
Are there any reliable methods for its diagnosis?
The easiest and most reliable method to determine kidney stones is to do an ultrasound of your kidneys. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another diagnostic method. This is a more accurate diagnostic method. It helps to see even small stones in the lumen of the ureter, which are not always visible using ultrasound.
Finally, urine analysis can determine the composition of stones (phosphates, oxalates, uric acid, etc.). Urinary crystals, which will definitely be in the urine, will show this.
What would happen if urolithiasis is not treated?
One of the frequent complications of urolithiasis is pyelonephritis (renal pelvis inflammation). Another fairly common complication is the ingress of small stones into the lumen of the ureter, impairing the outflow of urine. If the stone is not removed from the ureter in time, this can cause the kidney to stop functioning. Therefore, it is necessary to treat urolithiasis in time, while there are no complications yet.
Size matters
The size of the stones may vary, ranging from as small as a millimetre in diameter (known as sand) to 10 centimeters or more. It is believed that stones up to a centimetre in diameter should come out independently. In such cases, conservative treatment is carried out, including adherence to a diet and taking medication. Doctors usually do not prescribe procedures for crushing stones.
Larger stones either need to be crushed or removed surgically.
What is important for patients with urolithiasis to know?
Unfortunately, kidney stone disease often leads to relapses. Therefore, once stones have been removed, it is possible to encounter this problem again in the future. Therefore, it is recommended that all patients who have undergone treatment undergo a kidney ultrasound once a year. It is important for people with problematic kidneys not to get too cold, and always keep the lower back warm. It is also necessary to promptly treat inflammatory processes of the urinary organs to avoid provoking the development of various complications.
A course of treatment based on medicinal herbs is an effective method of preventing the formation of stones. Medicinal herbs have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and, unlike chemical synthetic drugs, are safe for long-term use.
When prone to kidney stone formation, herbs with so-called litholytic properties, i.e. the ability to dissolve stones, will come to the aid. In this regard, one cannot forget about Rubia L. – a plant that has been used in folk medicine as an effective remedy for urolithiasis for a long time. Rubia L. contains unique substances with a chemical structure that dissolves small stones in the kidneys and bladder. Thanks to its spasmolytic and gentle diuretic action, Rubia L. helps to eliminate small stones.
A very valuable property of Rubia L. is its ability to provide nephroprotective effects, meaning that the plant protects the kidneys from various toxic substances, such as antibiotics, cytostatics (used in the treatment of cancerous diseases), pesticides, and others.
As kidney stone disease is a complex problem, its treatment and prevention should also be approached comprehensively. Therefore, it is advisable to use combined herbal remedies, which include plants with different properties. In addition to litholytic action, in kidney stone disease, it is important to reduce the inflammatory process, increase immunity, as well as suppress pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
It is well known that pain in diseases of the urinary system is primarily associated with spasms. Therefore, it is important to use agents with spasmolytic properties. This is where the well-known Rosmarinus officinalis L. comes to the aid.
Rosmarinus officinalis L. is highly revered in Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Since ancient times and even now, it has been a symbol of abundance, prosperity, and eternity. In some countries, there is a tradition to give a sprig of rosemary to the newlyweds during weddings.
Currently, rosemary is widely used in cooking as a spice, as well as in cosmetology and medicine, primarily due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Rosemary contains about 10 different compounds, including rosemary oil, which exhibit an antimicrobial effect against more than 40 microorganisms, including those that cause cystitis.
After applying rosemary, the smooth muscles of the bladder and ureters relax, the spasm and the pain go away.
Nokamen* is an effective phytocomplex with a multifaceted effect on the urinary system. Nokamen contains a carefully selected balanced composition of medicinal plants and minerals. Due to its unique composition, Nokamen protects the urinary tract, improves kidney function in urolithiasis, removes small stones and prevents the formation of new stones in the urinary system.
How to use Nokamen: adults should take 1-2 tablets with water twice daily after meals.
Duration of use is 45-60 days.
Always consult your doctor before taking the remedy.
*- Food supplement. Ii is not a medicinal product.
You can buy Nokamen in pharmacies of your town.