Herbal Alternative for Kidney Stone Diseases

Kidney stone disease is an increasing disorder of humans. It affects about 12% of the world population. Epidemiological data have shown that calcium oxalate is the predominant mineral in a majority of kidney stones. [1] It has been associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal failure. Kidney stones   result from a succession of several physicochemical events including super saturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation, and retention within the kidneys. Kidney stones may cause extreme pain and blockage of urine flow .The average life time risk of stone formation has been reported in the range of 5-10 %.Recurrent stone formation is a common part of the medical care of patients with stone disease.[2] Kidney stone disease is usually treated with medications that may cause a number of side-effects. Even improved and besides the high cost that imposes, compelling data now suggest that exposure to shock waves in therapeutic doses may cause acute renal injury, decrease in renal function and an increase in stone recurrence. Data from in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials reveal that phytotherapeutic agents could be useful as either an alternative therapy in the management of urolithiasis. The present review therefore critically explains the potential usefulness of herbal medicines in the management of urolithiasis. Keywords:  Kidney stones, Calcium oxalate, Herbal plant extracts, Alternative medicine