Kidney stone or renal lithiasis is one of the common urinary disorders that accounts for nearly 3 million visits to healthcare providers every year. A kidney stone is a hard crystalline mass that forms inside the kidney and may break loose from the urinary tract. A small stone may or may not cause pain. But, a larger stone passing down the urinary tract can get stuck inside the bladder, ureter or the urethra, causing excruciating pain.

Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can form due to abnormal fluid, mineral and acid balance in the urine.

Some of the causes of kidney stones are:

• Excessively acidic or excessively alkaline urine.
• Hypercalciuria: This is an inherited disorder that is caused when too much of calcium is absorbed from the food, leading to kidney stones.
• Hyperuricosuria: This is a metabolic disorder marked by excess uric acid in the urine.
• Hyperoxaluria: When urine contains abnormally high salts, i.e. oxalates that cannot be dissolved in water, this can cause kidney stones.
• Cystinuria: This is a rare condition when there is too much of amino acid cystine in the urine.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Listed below are some of the common symptoms of kidney stones:

• Smelly urine
• Frequent urination
• Urine comes out with burning sensation
• Presence of blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Fever and chill
• Nausea
• Continuous sharp and cramping pain in the back or sides

Preventing Kidney Stones
To prevent kidney stones, you may drink at least 4 liters of water a day. Water helps in flushing out toxins and such other substances that can form stones inside the kidney. You may also limit the intake of coffee, alcohol or such other beverages that can cause quick fluid loss in the body. You may also cut down the intake of meat, poultry or fish because these increase the amount of uric acid level. You can also limit foods high in oxalic acid (spinach, beet, etc), if you are prone to oxalate stone formation.

Kidney Stones Remedies
Some of the remedies for kidney stones are as under:

• Basil for Kidney Stones: Basil is considered to strengthen kidney thereby preventing formation of stones. One can mix a teaspoon of fresh basil juice with a teaspoon of honey, two times for 6 months.
• Watermelon for Kidney Stones:Watermelon is considered to have one of the highest water content among all fruits. Besides, the high content of potassium in watermelon makes it a natural diuretic, thereby preventing kidney stones. One may eat watermelon as a fruit every day to maintain optimal fluid balance.
• Celery for Kidney Stones:Being a rich source of potassium and sodium, celery can maintain fluid balance in the body, thereby preventing the formation of kidney stones. One may include celery in regular diet.