(252) Kidney Stones

[HB KIM]

WESTERN DEFINITION
Kidney stones are one of the most common and painful disorders of the urinary tract.  A kidney stone is a hard crystalline mass that builds up on the inner surface of the kidney.  Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals.  The most common types of kidney stones are a combination of calcium plus oxalate or phosphate; other types of stones may be attributed to high levels of uric acid or urinary tract infections.

Insufficient fluid intake over a period of time is the most common cause of kidney stones, especially in those with a genetic predisposition for developing kidney stones.  Other conditions that may lead to kidney stones include gout, inflammatory bowel disease, excessive intake of Vitamin D, hyperparathyroidism or use of calcium-based antacids.

Kidney stones usually are asymptomatic unless the crystal has become large enough to block the flow of urine when it moves down the urinary tract.  When that happens, a person typically feels a sudden sharp cramping pain in the back, side, or lower abdomen.  Nausea and vomiting may occur.  Pain continues as the sharp crystal is squeezed through the tiny ureter, and blood may be visible with urination.  Fever and chills in conjunction with kidney stones may indicate an infection which calls for immediate medical care. 


EASTERN PATTERNS:
Stone Lin is the closest disease to Kidney stones in Oriental Medicine,  but Kidney stones may also fall under Lumbago, Bloody Urine or Taxation.  Kidney stones may be diagnosed according to the following Eastern patterns:   

1. Damp-Heat:  urinary stones, urinary difficulty, urine stopping midstream, sharp pain in the urethra, frequent urination, urgent urination, lower abdominal pain, turbid urination of possibly yellow or red color, red tongue with yellow coating, wiry and rapid pulse
6.0g  Che Qian Zi
6.0g  Qu Mai
6.0g  Bian Xu
6.0g  Hua Shi
6.0g  Zhi Zi
6.0g  Gan Cao
6.0g  Mu Tong
6.0g  Da Huang
6.0g  Jin Qian Cao
6.0g  Hai Jin Sha
6.0g  Ji Nei Jin
6.0g  Hu Po (amber)

2. Qi and Blood stagnation:  abdominal distension, sharp pain, severe hypochondriac pain radiating to the abdomen, hematuria, pale red tongue with thin white or yellow coating, wiry or wiry-thready pulse
6.0g  Mu Tong
6.0g  Hua Shi
6.0g  Zhi Gan Cao
14g   Zhi Zi (fried)
8.0g  Chi Shao
8.0g  Fu Ling
4.0g  Dan Zhu Ye
2.0g  Yin Chen
4.0g  San Qi
4.0g  Da Huang
4.0g  Xiao Ji
4.0g  Pu Huang

3. Yang deficiency:  low back pain, cold feeling in the low back, pale face, cold limbs, dislike of coldness, lack of thirst, scanty pale urination, swollen tongue with slippery white coating, deep and weak pulse 
9.0g  Fu Zi
6.0g  Fu Ling
6.0g  Ze Xie
6.0g  Shan Zhu Yu
6.0g  Shan Yao (fried)
6.0g  Che Qian Zi
6.0g  Mu Dan Pi
6.0g  Rou Gui
3.0g  Chuan Niu Xi
3.0g  Shu Di Huang
6.0g  Huang Qi
6.0g  Ji Nei Jin
6.0g  Hai Jin Sha

4. SP and KD deficiency:  low back pain, weakness in the lower legs, fatigue, indigestion, abdominal distension even with eating only small amounts of food, incomplete urination, heat sensation in the palms and soles, dizziness, tinnitus, thirst, red tongue without a coat, deep and thready pulse
8.0g  Ren Shen
8.0g  Bai Zhu
8.0g  Fu Ling
8.0g  Huang Qi (honey-fried)
8.0g  Ting Li Zi
8.0g  Shan Yao
4.0g  Mu Xiang
4.0g  Fu Zi
6.0g  Che Qian Zi
6.0g  Ji Nei Jin
6.0g  Hai Jin Sha

Empirical Formulas:  Promote urination and expel stones
12g  Hai Jin Sha
12g  Jin Qian Cao
12g  Ji Nei Jin
12g  Shi Wei
  9g  Dong Kui Zi
15g  Hua Shi
12g  Che Qian Zi