Journal of Case Studies in Homeopathy

Cite it as: Abhijit Chakma Ratan, Chandra Shil. Renal

Calculus: A Case Treated with Homeopathy. Journal of
Case Studies in Homeopathy 2014; 2(1):1 5
Available online at www.jcshom.com

Original Paper Case Study

Renal Calculus: A Case Treated with Homeopathy

Abhijit Chakma1*; MD (Hom.), Ratan Chandra Shil2; MD (Hom.)
Abstract
A 55 years male, known case of left renal calculus, attended the clinic with pain in hypogastrium. After case
analysis and repertorization, Lycopodium, a frequently used right sided remedy was prescribed for left sided
renal calculi. The patient got rid of calculi and improved symptomatically.
Keywords: renal calculi, individualization, totality of symptoms, repertorization, homeopathy
Introduction
Renal calculus (or commonly called kidney stone)
is a common clinical problem, prevalence being
increasing worldwide. The lifetime risk of having
urolithiasis is higher in Middle East (20-25%) and
Western countries (10-15%) and less common in
Africans and Asian population [1]. Renal calculi are
most common between 30 to 60 years of age,
predominantly affecting males (3:1) [2]. These are
mainly composed of calcium salts, uric acid,
cysteine, and struvite. Calcium oxalate and calcium
phosphate are the most common types accounting
for > 80% stones, followed by uric acid (8-10%)
and cysteine, struvite in remainders [1]. Among risk
factors for development of renal stones are
infections, urinary obstruction, and confinement to
bed for a prolonged period, less water intake,
excess of oxalate, calcium or cystine as altered
constituents of urine. [2] Dietary factors probably
play a part in determining the varying pattern. [3]
The majority of urethral stones less than 0.5 cm in
diameter pass spontaneously. [4]
Clinical presentations vary according to the size,
shape & position of the stone and the nature of
underlying condition.

1Senior

Research Fellow (Homoeopathy), Clinical Research Unit (H),

Agartala (Under CCRH, Dept. of AYUSH, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of
India), Main Road, Colonel Chowmuhani, Krishnanagar, Agartala,
Tripura (West), India. Pin-799001, E-mail dr.abhijit24@gmail.com,
Mobile- +9189741228967
2Medical

Officer (AYUSH), Integrated AYUSH Hospital (Under Health &

Family Welfare Society, Govt. of Tripura), Rajib Gandhi Memorial
Hospital, Khailashahar, Unakoti Tripura, India, E-mail
78rcshil@gmail.com, Mobile- +919436535170

Patients usually complaint of intermittent dull pain

in the loin or back, which increases by movement.
There may be renal colic, if a stone lodged in
ureter, [3] infection, stricture of ureter, anuria and
malignant change in chronic cases. [2]
A Case of Renal Calculi
A man, aged 55 years assisted by his younger son,
attended the clinic on 29-09-2013 with pain and
heaviness in hypo-gastric region for last six
months. The pain aggravates on standing, after
walking a while and ameliorates with rest. Patient
also complaint of recurrent feverish feeling for past
four months.
History of present complaints
The chief complaint started gradually. Patient took
allopathic medicines for renal calculi for past two
and half years as revealed by previous X-ray & USG
reports. He also underwent surgery for impacted
stone in left ureter in year 2010. The calculi again
formed after six months of surgery. Feverish
feeling occurs on and off mainly in the evening
hours with mild chilliness. Patient took anti pyretic
on and off.
Past history
Patient suffered from jaundice twice in childhood
and at 20 years of age. In both occasions, he was
treated with folk medicines with complete
1

 Journal of Case Studies in Homeopathy

Cite it as: Abhijit Chakma Ratan, Chandra Shil. Renal
Calculus: A Case Treated with Homeopathy. Journal of
Case Studies in Homeopathy 2014; 2(1):1 5
Available online at www.jcshom.com
recovery. He also suffered from eczema in both
legs at 19 years of age, which was treated with
allopathic medicines. The eczematous eruptions
disappeared with recurrence time to time, but for
last 15 years there was no such recurrence.

company of family members, household affairs,

and even to life due to under performance of work
in office.

Family history

Patient found to be stable, average built, having

temperature of 98.4F, mild pain in hypo-gastric
region & in left loin area on pressure, and no
organomegaly.

Mother died of heart attack and elder brother

suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis.
Physical generals
The patient has desire for sweets, warm food, with
moderate thirst, scanty sweat and is thermally a
hot patient.

Mental symptoms
Patient gets angry easily from contradiction and
has indifference to everything especially to

General status & systemic examination

Ultrasonography (USG) of whole abdomen was

done on 04-10-2013 and a calculus (11 mm) was
seen in calyx of middle part of left kidney.
After evaluation of symptoms, totality of symptoms
was formed and repertorization was done with the
help of Synthesis repertory, using RADAR software
(8.1 version) [8]. After repertorization, Lycopodium
clavatum was found to be covering the symptom
totality. (Figure I)

Figure I: Repertorization table

 Journal of Case Studies in Homeopathy

Cite it as: Abhijit Chakma Ratan, Chandra Shil. Renal
Calculus: A Case Treated with Homeopathy. Journal of
Case Studies in Homeopathy 2014; 2(1):1 5
Available online at www.jcshom.com
Treatment & follow up schedule
Date of visit
29-09-2013

Presenting complaints
After consulting materia medica [9,
Lycopodium was selected for the case.

06-10-2013

The USG report, shows a calculus of 11 mm in

left kidney in a calyx of middle part. (Figure
II)
No change in presenting complaints and had
temperature of 99F for past two days.
Patient reported that he had severe pain in
back and left loin area for almost 1 hours in
the evening of 06-11-2013. The pain was
radiating to the left groin area and aggravating
on standing and ameliorating on rest. A stone
was passed through urethra in the morning of
07-11-2013 while passing urine with slight
bleeding and pain. Patient could not keep the
stone as it was lost in lavatory.
Patient was doing well. No new symptoms or
recurrence of any pain or fever. The patient
was reluctant for USG. He was counselled and
USG was advised again.
Patient came with USG report which shows
normal study. (Figure II)
Patient last reported without any appearance
of new or recurrence of old complaints.

27-10-2013
10-11-2013

08-12-2013

05-01-2014
02-02-2014

10,

11]

Action taken with justification

Lycopodium 30C, twice daily for three days was
prescribed and patient was advised to drink plenty
of fluid, and was asked to done a USG.
Prescribed placebo for 15 days.
Lycopodium 200C two doses followed by placebo for
15 days was prescribed.
Placebo for 15 days and advised for USG.

Placebo for 15 days and advised for USG.

As there was no apparent complaint, patient was

given placebo for one month.
Advised to continue plenty of fluids and revisit in
case of any need.

Investigation reports: Figure II and III.

Discussion and Conclusion
Medical management should be used judiciously in
all patients with kidney stones, with appropriate
individualization. Clinical presentation, proper
history and laboratory investigations help to
identify whether one needs urgent surgical or
medical treatment or not. A homeopathically
recorded case including detailed history of present
illness, family history, history of previous similar
illness and previous interventions is warranted.
There are only few reported evidence based work
in homoeopathy on renal calculi viz. utility of
Lycopodium in Urinary calculi; [5] role of
homoeopathic therapy in urolithiasis; [6] evidence
based pilot study on the role of Homeopathic drugs
in cases of kidney stones. [7] Therefore, the need of
hour is more number of reported work so that this
area may be strengthened from every study design,
be it clinical or fundamental.

Renal calculi present as an important and

challenging clinical problem. [1] The case presented
provides encouragement to our approach towards
a disease which often needs surgical intervention.
[4] This case showed the usefulness of homeopathy
in expulsion of an 11 mm renal calculi. The aim of
homeopathy is not only to treat renal calculi but to
address its underlying cause, and individual
susceptibility. Homeopathy may be used as a safe
alternative to surgical intervention especially
when the calculi are not of large size or staghorn. It
also suggests that proper and rational use of
repertories is helpful in prescribing a commonly
known right sided remedy for a left sided
complaint. Though study of a single case does not
constitute a strong opinion but it might encourage
fellow physicians, researchers to take up further
study on usefulness of homoeopathic medicines in
expulsion
of
renal
calculi.

 Journal of Case Studies in Homeopathy

Cite it as: Abhijit Chakma Ratan, Chandra Shil. Renal
Calculus: A Case Treated with Homeopathy. Journal of
Case Studies in Homeopathy 2014; 2(1):1 5
Available online at www.jcshom.com

Figure - II
References
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Figure - III
4. Dennis LK, Eugene B, Anthony SF, et al.
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4

 Journal of Case Studies in Homeopathy

Cite it as: Abhijit Chakma Ratan, Chandra Shil. Renal
Calculus: A Case Treated with Homeopathy. Journal of
Case Studies in Homeopathy 2014; 2(1):1 5
Available online at www.jcshom.com
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