Stone (Ashmari in Sanskrit) is a disease caused by many factors such as unnatural diet and lifestyle, consumption of incompatible food items, suppression of natural urges of stool and urine, excessive use of oily substances, and prolonged consumption of a single type of medicine.

It mainly occurs in two places:

1. Gallbladder

2. Urinary bladder

When the body becomes diseased, its effect falls on the liver. Due to this, the bile formed in the liver becomes vitiated and, upon reaching the gallbladder, causes swelling and pain. As a result, the bile stored in the gallbladder, mixed with phlegm and air, dries up and hardens. This hardened mass is known as a stone.

Similarly, when unnatural bodily activities disturb the air in the pelvic region (basti), the waste matter such as stool, urine, phlegm, bile, and semen present there dry up and harden, which are then called urinary bladder stones.

Symptoms

When stones develop, the following symptoms appear:

• Severe, unbearable pain in the affected area.

• Sometimes vomiting occurs along with the pain.

• Loss of appetite.

• In gallbladder stones, digestion becomes poor, and indigestion is a constant complaint.

• Constipation causes restlessness in the patient.

• Persistent mild pain from the ribs to the navel area.

• In urinary bladder stones, urination occurs with pain and intermittently.

Causes

If a person consumes too many oily substances, the cholesterol level in the bile increases. As a result, the bile salts and soluble cholesterol turn insoluble, forming stones in the gallbladder. When these stones attempt to leave the gallbladder, the narrow passage causes friction, resulting in severe liver pain.

Similarly, due to negligence or consuming contaminated food, the blood becomes impure. These vitiated substances get filtered by the kidneys, form urine, and collect in the urinary bladder, from where they usually pass out through the urinary tract. But sometimes this natural process gets obstructed. When the heated air in the body dries the impure urine entering the bladder, forming paper-like deposits, the pain of urinary bladder stones begins to trouble the patient.

Treatment

By following a proper diet and lifestyle, eating balanced meals, and consuming certain herbs and medicines as prescribed, one can prevent stone disease. However, if stones are already present, Ayurvedic treatment can be done as follows:

• Mix 30 ml of tinda juice with 10 grams of javakhar and drink continuously for about a week to get relief.

• Take Apamarg plant alkali with sheep’s urine.

• Mix 2 grams javakhar and 2 grams raw borax, grind together, and mix in 20 grams gokhru juice — drink to dissolve stones.

• Give okra root decoction in the morning and serve okra as a vegetable and juice with meals for benefits.

• Prepare a decoction of kulthi (horse gram) seeds and drink regularly for a few days to dissolve and expel stones.

• Mix a small amount of javakhar in radish juice and drink twice daily — stones break and pass out in urine after some days.

• Mix castor oil with asafoetida and salt, drink for a few days to break stones.

• Chew the root of pashanbhed or make powder and take with water to expel stones.

• Mix equal parts of javakhar, dry ginger, daruhaldi, and harad, grind, sieve, and take 6 grams with curd and water to dissolve stones.

• Regularly eating drumstick vegetable helps break urinary bladder stones and pass them out.

• Mix one teaspoon olive oil with lemon juice and drink three times a day for a few days for relief.

Note: Ayurvedic treatment is most effective in the early stages, especially for gallbladder stones. In later stages, surgery might be the only option.

The patient should drink plenty of water. In addition, they should consume sour juicy fresh fruits, wheat porridge, honey, dates, almonds, vegetables, salads, raisins, lemon juice, and buttermilk. They should avoid meat, fish, eggs, sugar, tomatoes, eggplants, pickles, fatty foods, spices, and sweets.