Jiang C. et al., 2023: Therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines for treatment of urolithiasis: A review.
Jiang C, Wang L, Wang Y, Xu R, Yang H, Peng J.
Division of Nephrology, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300384, China.
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Nephrology Research and Training Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham 35294, United States.
Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham 35294, United States.
Abstract
Urolithiasis is a common and complex disease of the urinary system, which can cause urinary tract blockage, urinary tract infection, and even damage to urinary system-related tissues. Although urolithiasis can be cured, its high recurrence rate and the development of chronic kidney disease in some patients have drawn the attention of nephrologists. Although the application of extracorporeal lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and other minimally invasive techniques have made the treatment of urolithiasis more efficient, pharmacotherapy plays an indispensable role in reducing their morbidity and recurrence rates. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for treatment and prevention of urolithiasis in developing countries for centuries, known for its unquestionable efficacy and safety. This article reviews the progress of clinical trials and pharmacological studies on the treatment of urolithiasis with Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs). The mechanism of CHMs in the treatment of urolithiasis mainly involve preventing further growth and aggregation of urolithiasis, reducing the PH of urine, promoting calculus dissolution. Furthermore, some CHMs can increase urine output, relax smooth muscles, and promote the removal of calculus. These findings provide new treatment strategies and options for urolithiasis and secondary kidney damage.
Chin Herb Med. 2023 Sep 27;15(4):526-532. doi: 10.1016/j.chmed.2023.09.001. eCollection 2023 Oct. PMID: 38094012 Review. FREE ARTICLE
Comments 1
Although this article does not involve any direct reference to SWL, the information nevertheless is of interest because there might be some Chinese herbal medicines that will prove beneficial for treating patients with residual fragments in the kidney after SWL. For those readers who find it too heavy to read the whole article I have summarized some notes below that might be of interest for further research efforts:
Although the evidence varies considerably between the studies reported above, it is reasonable that some active agents might be found among the large number of Chinese herbal medicines and that some of them might be of value for counteracting stone formation and for treating patients with residual fragments after SWL. This would be an interesting field for young urologists who want to spend their efforts on real research rather than to review only what others have written!
Hans-Göran Tiselius