18C. Chinese Herbs Cured a Kidney Calculus—A Retrospective Case Report

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care OBJECTIVE: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is referred to as holistic or complementary and alternative medicine. Herbal remedy plays the main role of TCM. It has been widely used in preventive measures and treatment modalities for all stages of illness. Here is a retrospective case report about herb healing the kidney stone and improving type II diabetes and hypertension. PATIENT, METHOD AND RESULT: A male, 46 years old, chief complaint: intermittent lumbago 6 years. The other symptoms were fatigue and slight thirst. He had been diagnosed with type II diabetes, hypertension of 2 years, and a small kidney stone (6 years). His blood pressure (BP) was between 140/85mmHg to 150/95mmHg; fasting plasma glucose was around 7mmol/L to 8 mmol/L. PE: BP 145/95 mmHg. Lab: 2hPG: 15.1mmol/L. Urinalysis: RBC: 5-6/HP, WBC: 2-4/ HP, GLU. Ultrasound: kidney stone, 0.3x 0.2 cm, at the inferior pole of the left kidney. This patient irregularly took Metformin, refused to control diet or use antihypertensives, but was open to using an herbal formula, 1 dose per day. After 1 year's treatment, his back pain, fatigue, and thirst gradually disappeared. BP was around130-120/85-75mmHg, 2h PG: 7.3mmol/L. FPG: 6mmol/L. Urinalysis: RBC: 0-2/HP, WBC: negative, Glu. Ultrasound: normal, no stone found. DISCUSSION: Generally, there is no method to remove a small stone in the renal parenchyma. In this case, Chinese herbal tea achieved a dramatic curing result. At retrospective review after 8 years, no stone recurred. From the TCM theory, the stone is the result of heat congealing turbid dampness; the diabetes is Yin-deficient heat. The basic function of this formula is to tonify Qi and Yin, invigorate blood, clear heat, and resolve the stone. In conjunction with Metformin, the patient's diabetes and hypertension were improved. CONCLUSION: This Chinese herb formula dissolved the kidney stone and prevented a new stone from recurring. There is no obvious contraindication with Metformin.