The Magic of Herbal Remedies in Kidney Stone – A Review Article

Kidney stones are the third most common urinary tract problems after urinary tract infections and prostate pathology with high recurrence. Kidney stones may cause extreme pain and blockage of urine flow. The problem of urinary stones or calculi is a very ancient one and many remedies have been employed during the ages these stones are found in all parts of the urinary tract, the kidney, the ureters and the urinary bladder and may vary considerably in size. They are usually treated with medications that may cause a number of side-effects. overuse of synthetic drugs, which results in higher incidence of adverse drug reactions, has motivated humans to return to nature for safe remedies. Medicinal herbs are used in different cultures as a reliable source of natural remedies. Herbs and herbal drugs have created interest among the people by its clinically proven effects. A total of 503 species, 365 genera and 119 families were cited for treating kidney stones. The most common used plant parts are root and rhizome (25%), mode of preparation decoction (62%) and route of administration is oral in all cases. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive information about traditionally used antiurolithiatic plants and Polyhebal formulation present in market having scientifically proved pharmacological activities like analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, litholytic, lithotriptic, antiurolithiatic, antispasmodic, ACE inhibition and Phospholipase A2 inhibition as a plausible mechanism of action. Alternative to synthetic agents, many herbal plant's with antiurolithiatic activity are known from across world. This review focuses on kidney stone with all related information and plants Species and polyherbal formulations used for the treatment of kidney stone. The purpose of this paper is to critically review available literature on herbal medicines and their possible role in the management of urolithiasis.