The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys,
ureters, bladder, and urethra. These organs work together to
produce,
transport, store, and excrete urine, the yellowish
fluid that contains waste products removed from the blood. Urine
contains the by-products of our body's metabolism, salts,
toxins, and water. For instance, blood, protein, or white blood
cells in the urine may indicate injury, infection, or
inflammation of the kidneys. Glucose in the urine may be an
indication of diabetes.
Problems in the urinary system can be caused
by ageing, illness, or injury. As you get older, changes in the
kidneys' structure cause them to lose some of their ability to
remove wastes from the blood. Also, the muscles in your ureters,
bladder, and urethra tend to lose some of their strength. You
may have more urinary infections because the bladder muscles do
not tighten enough to empty your bladder completely. A decrease
in strength of muscles of the sphincters and the pelvis can also
cause incontinence, the unwanted leakage of urine. Illness or
injury can also prevent the kidneys from filtering the blood
completely or block the passage of urine.
Urinary stones are generally formed by
calcium, phosphates or oxalates. The main parts of the urinary
tract are the kidney, ureter, bladder and urethra. The stones
are formed primarily in the kidney and sometimes remain there
without being noticed for a long time. In certain circumstances
they are slowly dissolved or dislodged and come down, and during
this process, they become lodged in a narrow part of the tract,
giving rise to excruciating pain.
Stones are formed in the body because of vayu. It creates a type
of dryness I the body because of which the chemicals start
accumulating over the nucleus, that ultimately takes the shape
of a stone. At times the entire kidney is filled with these
stones and it becomes calcified and stops functioning. If urine
is not excreted through the kidneys or excreted in small
quantities, uremia sets in and causes many complications. The
same phenomenon takes place if a piece of stone gets lodged in
ureter or bladder.The patient experiences pain in the lumber region of the kidneys
at the back of the body.
What causes Urinary
stones?
Urinary stones form when there is a decrease in urine volume
and/or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine. The
most common type of kidney stone contains calcium in combination
with either oxalate or phosphate. Other chemical compounds that
can form stones in the urinary tract include uric acid and the
amino acid cystine.
Dehydration from reduced fluid intake or strenuous exercise
without adequate fluid replacement increases the risk of kidney
stones. Obstruction to the flow of urine can also lead to stone
formation. In this regard, climate may be a risk factor for urinary
stone development, since residents of hot and dry areas are more
likely to become dehydrated and susceptible to stone formation.
Urinary stones can also result from infection in the urinary
tract; these are known as struvite or infection stones.
Herbs which is useful :
Chandan (Santalum album):
When
Sandalwood is used for urinary problems, it is usually given
in combination with other drugs that flush out or disinfect
the urinary system.
Actions : Antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic,
expectorant, astringent, bactericidal (aureus pyogenes), and
carminative properties have found use with a number of
digestive and genito-urinary problems.
It is used for purifying for bladder infections, cystitis,
kidney or bladder inflammation or congestion, pelvic and
prostrate congestion.
In Asian medicine Sandalwood is also used for abdominal pain,
burning sensation, difficulty in swallowing, stomach pain,
headache, abnormal thirst, and vomiting. Folk uses include
treatment of heat and sunstroke, gonorrhea, and excessive sex
drive.
Shilajeet (Mineral Pitch, Asphaltum):
Shilajeet
is a compact mass of bituminous substance ejected from
crevices of rocks in the lower Himalayas, and Nepal, during
hot weather.
Action: Diuretic, alterative, anodyne, antiphlogistic,
antiseptic, aphrodisiac, cholagogue, disinfectant,
expectorant, intestinal antiseptic, mildly laxative,
lithotriptic, parasiticide, rejuvenative, respiratory
stimulant, and tonic.
Shilajit is an effective tonic for anemia, general debility
and urinary problems. It is used as an antiseptic in parasitic
diseases of the skin; a paste is locally applied to relieve
rheumatic pain in joints, and in paralysis.
Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris):
Action: Diuretic, analgesic, aphrodisiac, lithotriptic,
nervine, rejuvenative, tonic
This herb is used in the treatment of urinary disorders and
impotence, Kidney diseases and gravel, diseases of the genito-urinary
system, calculus affections, gout etc. It is also useful for
uterine disorders, diseases of the heart, and many other
conditions.
Ayurveda practitioners consider this herb to be very valuable
in improving vitality. It revitalizes the emaciated human
system. It strengthens the postpartum woman.
Punarnava (Boerrhavia diffusa):
This
herb is found in India. This is one of the prized ayurvedic
herbs.
It contains an alkaloid punarnavine. The herb is a diuretic
that acts on the glomeruli of the kidney through increasing
the heart-beats and strengthening and raising the blood
pressure as a result.
Action: It is bitter, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic,
expectorant, laxative, rejuvenative, stomachic.
Root- anthelmintic, febrifuge, purgative.
Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia):
Action: Diuretic, alterative, antiperiodic, bitter tonic,
febrifuge
This herb is used in seminal weakness and urinary affections.
It
is also a valuable tonic. Other applications of this herb
include: fever, gout, jaundice, torpidity of the liver, skin
diseases, secondary syphilis, rheumatism, constipation,
tuberculosis, and leprosy. It is a blood purifier and is
useful in the treatment of immune diseases. It is also being
proposed for cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.
Diet :
Hot spices are to be strictly avoided. The
patient should be given as much water as possible to drink.
Fresh lemon juice, fresh coconut water, orange juice,
sugarcane juice and pineapple juice are extremely useful in
this condition. The patient should be given fruits like apple,
grapes, peaches and plums in good quantity.
Life Style :
The patient should not
expose himself to sun or heat. Excessive perspiration takes
away lot of water from the body and the urine thus becomes
concentrated. Passage of this concentrated urine through the
urinary tract causes irritation and gives rise to burning
sensation.
Yoga to relief Urinary disorder :
Gomukhasana (Cow's face pose)
Pawanmuktasana (The knee to
chest)
Ardha Matsendra Asana
(Half spinal twist)
