Kidney stones are generally formed due to calcium, oxalate and uric acid deposits present in the impure blood. They are extremely harmful and can cause severe pain as they block the passage (urethra), through which urine makes a gradual movement from the kidney to the bladder. Urinating in such case is very painful experience.
Drinking insufficient water is one of the main causes of the formation of kidney stones. Other causes are poor diet, family history, low physical activity, humid climates, and side effects of certain medications. Foods rich in acid, calcium, uric acid, phosphorus and oxalic acid produce stones. They are also formed due to irregular food intake, more white flour, pungent spices, condiments, meat, coffee, tea, and over eating.
Stones are of two types - primary and secondary. Primary stones are formed due to acidic blood as in alcoholism, constipation, sedentary life and eating of meat products. Secondary stones are due to infection and are formed in alkaline urine. These stones are formed with either calcium oxalate or phosphates. Some stones are formed with magnesium, ammonium and calcium, and phosphates. About 90% of them are made of calcium oxalate. These are the simplest type of kidney stones to pass naturally with home remedies.
Diet plays a crucial role in the treatment of kidney stones. People who frequently use horse gram in their diet will not suffer from this disease. The patients suffering from kidney stones must avoid acid and alkaline foods as alcoholic preparations, pickles, pungent and spicy foods, radishes, tomatoes, and watercress.
One of the simple home remedy for kidney stone is to soak 50 grams of horse grams (kulthi) seeds in 250 grams of water at night. Boil in the morning. When 100 grams of water is left, stop heating it and drink it when it is warm. Drink twice a day, morning and evening and the stones will come out by itself after being broken into pieces. It is a long procedure of 3 to 4 months. After drinking the water make a recipe of the rest of the horse gram by adding clarified butter (ghee) with some black pepper (kaali mirch), black salt, cumin seeds (jeera) and turmeric (haldi) and eat wheat bread (chapati). This will help in the treatment.
Horse grams soup is helpful in the inflammation of kidneys and in backache. It also increases lubrication in the bones. If the horse gram recipe is prepared and taken daily along with wheat bread (chapati), the kidney stone will be broken into pieces and passed along with urine. Horse gram removes excess of vata and kapha and stops its accumulation. It stops the formation and reformation of stones. Its regular use decreases fat and is helpful in liver and spleen problems.
Lichee (litchi) and grapes are rich sources of potassium and good for both kidney and gallstone. Carrot, beetroot and cucumber juice together dissolve the kidney stone gradually if taken regularly. Powder of peels of muskmelon (kharbuja) taken daily with water relieves kidney pain. Start from half teaspoon and gradually increase to two. Coconut water, sugarcane juice and barley water are also beneficial in relieving almost all urinary ailments.
Take Indian gooseberry (amla), cucumber, watermelon seeds, green gram (moong), pineapple, barley and 6-8 glasses of plain water along with this treatment. Tomatoes, ladyfinger, rice, chocolates, tea, dry fruits, alcohol and non-vegetarian food are contraindicated. Do not retain urine and do not sit continuously in one position.