by Mohinder Singh Jus, director of SHI Homoeopathic College, Switzerland

It is a very painful condition caused by the movement of the calculus. In Homeopathy we have a double fold treatment. One is to treat a patient constitutionally so that the tendency for further stone formation is removed. The second line of treatment is during the acute crisis. The locality of the pain is dependant on the site of the stone. It may be in the kidneys, pelvis of the kidneys, ureter or bladder. The pain may radiate to other parts. Apart from the strong pain, usually there is strong nausea or vomiting. The pain and shock symptoms are directly dependant on the sensitivity of the patient.

Various factors may provoke a renal colic: psychic factors like fear, anger, disappointment or anxiety and stress about forthcoming event can also provoke such a colic. Other factors responsible are too much alcohol, heavy food, overeating, constipation, flatulence, chilling and overexertion. In my experience from India the attacks of renal colic are often met in Winter or cold months when people drink less liquids. In warm months when naturally people drink more water, the episodes of renal colic were less.

• drink lots of water to flush the stone
• one for tendency for stone formation should avoid vegetables high in oxalciacid like ginger, spinach, tomatoes, aubergines etc.
• see that the stool is regular. Avoid constipation by taking fibre rich food, drinking abundantly and exercising regularly
• avoid eating too late or at irregular hours
• avoid eating too much and do not mix eating and drinking
• whisky, wine, brandy bear to be stopped
• beer drinking though helps the stone in the bladder to be flushed out
• as beer itself can be addictive and have its own side effects, I would recommend to drink water, lemon water or barley water
• once a stone is out, the problem is not solved. One should contact his homeopath for a proper constitutional therapy

Depending on your condition and the condition of the organs, homeopathy has a great role to play in alleviating the renal colic and also correcting this constitutional defect.

Even later effects by the passage of the stone such as bleeding or soreness of the urethra can be very rapidly relieved by homeopathy.

• Berberis vulgaris
• Arnica
• Lycopodium
• Ocimum canum
• Pareira brava
• Nux vomica

• indicated for people who suffer often from liver problems or take lot of medicine against rheumatism or gout. People suffering from haemorrhoids.
• Berberis-patients feel lifeless, no desire to do anything
• everything seems a project
• think of Berberis when a patient develops kidney stones or kidney cysts after haemorrhoids or anal fistula operation
• for patients who have a tendency for bladder and kidney infections
• for patients who as child had a nephritis and later in life suffer from kidney stones

• left-sided renal colic
• pain radiates to the left ureter down in the testis and by ladies it goes to the vulva and further to the left tigh
• bubbling feeling in the left kidney
• burning pain comes in waves and it becomes hard to breathe.
• burning in urethra when not urinating
• pain < before and after urination, > during urination
• after urination feeling something remains in the bladder
• dry mouth without thirst or foamy sticky saliva
• bitter taste in the mouth
• nausea and vertigo with fainting feeling
• constipated, hard stool like sheep dung
• strong backache
• sweats from least exertion

The colic is aggravated by:

• uncontrolled or sudden movement
• jerks
• standing up after sitting
• sitting
• lying down
• standing

and better by

• warmth
• after urination
• burning in urethra is better during urinating

Arnica

• Renal colic from mental shock, death of a friend, loss of property or financial loss
• it is often indicated when a colic is provoked due to a shock from an accident or injuries to the back or kidneys or a fight with anger. Other factors are excessive physical exertion, too much alcohol.

• Patient is awfully sensitive, does not let you touch, examine
• wants to be left alone, in peace, wants no help, pushes everyone out who approaches for help
• oversensitive to pain, feels hopeless, sure of dying but to avoid company he tells everybody "I am fine, don't worry, just leave me alone"
• it should be thought of for people trying to leave alcohol habit or drugs when their organs make such extreme reactions
• will not talk, fear of being approached
• with colic pain scratches the walls or the floor, looks under complete shock
• red congested face, dry mouth, great thirst, but when trying to drink it provokes vomiting
• constantly burping something like rotten eggs
• cutting pain in the kidneys. Afterwards feeling of wound, as if hurt
• urine retention or involuntary dribbling of urine
• bladder feels like hurt, pains like a wound. Every strain to urinate hurts
• useful after passage of stone where there is bleeding and wound like feeling in the urinary tract
• chilliness in general with red hot face and head
• feeling of hardness on whatever he sits or lies
• constant sleepiness
• palpitation by least movement
• extreme tiredness after stool and urination

The colic is aggravated by:

• touch
• jerk
• cold
• noise

and better by:

• warmth
• when alone
• lying down

• Lycopodium-types are uric acid constitutions and this medicine is indicated often as a constitutional remedy in the treatment and cure of kidneys stone tendency. But it is of great value even in the treatment of acute renal colic.
• Exciting factors: mental stress, fear, apprehension, swallowed anger, when he has to decide something, alcohol, raclette, fondue, heavy fried food, cakes, cream, vegetables producing flatulence

Symptoms:

• patient quiet but internally worried about his condition. He thinks of all the incurable diseases. Thinks he will die. Suddenly becomes very sweet to his wife and family. He may begin to apologise to his family members for having neglecting them for his work. Weeping, tearful at every small thing. Totally confused and anxious. Worried about his job, about his appointments of the following day, about his family. Wants his wife to be nearby. Doesn't like when he is alone in the house, when his wife is under the shower or gone for shopping.
• Lycopodium-colic mostly begin from indigestion and constipation.
• Mostly right-sided colic. Pain from right kidney, travels down the ureter to the bladder.
• lots of flatulence in the lower abdomen, which feels ballooned up. Wants to pass wind, cannot.
• Tension in the abdomen and in the back. cannot tolerate tight clothes or a belt.
• must press hard to pass urine. Often desire to urinate.
• feeling of coldness in the kidney region
• feeling of something moving in the abdomen
• Back also feels cramped and stiff
• urine starts in drops with horrible pain before and beginning of urination. As urine flows, many patients can pass wind at the same time, which relieves.
• red sand-like sediment in urine
• face and feet become icy-cold or they may be difference of temperature in the right and left side of the body
• face yellow, pale. May develop twitchings and may stammer
• dry mouth without thirst
• drinking even a little sip of water bloats up the stomach
• sometimes warm drinks help the colic pains
• renal colic attacks mostly come in late afternoon between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The colic is aggravated by:

• tight clothes
• belt
• eating or drinking least quantity
• pressure
• when alone

and better by:

• after passing wind
• burping
• stool
• urine
• warm drinks

Ocimum canum

this remedy needs a proper proving, but here are some of the clinical experiences.

• right-sided renal colic.
• stitching pain from the right kidney radiating to the ureter and bladder.
• patient in agony, crying, does not find peace in any position.
• constant vomiting bitter or sour
• oedema on the legs and feet
• constipated or massive diarrhoea
• ureter feels wounded
• Urine almost saffron colour
• Urine smells like musk

The colic is aggravated by:

• bending
• stretching backwards

and better by:

• warmth

This remedy needs also proper proving. Clinical experience confirmed its invaluable role in the treatment of renal colics

• renal colic in gouty patients or alcoholics
• patients who had gonorrhoea and at present suffer with enlarged prostate
• also useful in acute cystitis and urethritis
• left-sided renal colic
• bruised pain from left lumbar spine, radiates to the left groin ( Berberis is also left-sided but has burning pains). Sometimes the pains shoot till the toes
• patient cannot sit, stand or walk
• extreme fullness of the bladder but urine only passed in drops
• has to go on all fours and press his head against the floor to urinate
• severe pain during passing urine. Flow interrupted ( Berberis is better during passing urine)
• testis feel hard and drawn up
• patient remains on the knees for a long time after urinating as this is the only relatively comfortable position
• itching all along the urethra
• urine bloody and smells like very strong ammoniac ( Nit-ac )
• patient breaks out into cold sweats
• colic attack mostly during early morning between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.. Almost no attacks during the day

• mostly right-sided renal colic but when indicated on the totality of the symptoms it proves equally efficient in left-sided colic
• exciting factors: dietetic disorders, too much alcohol, heavy food, overeating, spicy hot food, anger, stress, business and financial worries.
• renal colic after removal of haemorrhoids
• Nux vomica also antidotes the side-effects of cortisone, antibiotics and other drugs.
• These people drink too little water if at all then in the form of coffee, black tea or Coca-Cola
• patient has full feeling in the whole abdomen. Feels a pressure up- and downwards. With that ineffectual desire to vomit, to burp, to urinate or pass stool
• cannot bear tight clothes
• pains are too violent for him. He is oversensitive to pain and angry from it.
• pains worse from noise, music, any unusual smell, light or contradiction
• thinks his end is near
• worse consolation
• pains radiates from the right kidney down to the bladder, genitals and to the leg
• whole abdomen feels wounded. Painful on speaking, shouting, laughing, sneezing, coughing
• skin of the abdomen painful to touch
• painful urging to urinate
• urine flows in drops, feeling of residual urine
• pain much better after urinating
• dry mouth without thirst
• sour smelling breath
• posterior half of the tongue white coated
• bitter or sour taste in the mouth
• painful hiccough
• anxious expression, angry, dissatisfied about everything. Does not like to be touched
• he is absolutely fixed about his inability to vomit, urinate or pass stool. He asks for a medicine that he could have it all out
• chilly, yawning and tired
• these people neglect their soul and body. They always depend on medicines to sleep. to digest and to have a stool. They believe in quick removal of their symptoms so that they could feel fit and be functional again. Their constitution is mostly a packet of problems which they keep suppressing in one direction and it begins to leak in the other. Their main motto is to be able to work, have a large business and earn a lot and be rich and powerful.

The colic is aggravated by:

• touch
• tight clothes
• walking
• jerks
• eating

and better by:

• sitting
• rest
• bending double
• hot water bottle
• hot drinks
• after sleep
• after urinating
• after stool
• after vomiting
• after burping or passing wind

In homeopathic treatment of renal colic any remedy could be indicated. One should not confine himself to the list of the few remedies discussed above. Homeopathy treats the individual patients and not their diseases. Further think of: Coccus cacti, Sarsaparilla, Dioscorea, Colocynthis, Cantharis, Eryngium aquaticum or any other remedy which covers the totality of the symptoms.

The main therapy begins after the colic has disappeared. The constitutional treatment removes the miasmatic disorders responsible for this obstinate condition. Homeopathy has a lot to offer in palliative and curative treatment of renal diseases.