Homoeopathic Management of Urolithiasis: A Single-Case Clinical Study Following CARE Guidelines

Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 6 [NovDec] Year 2025 130 © 2025 Dr Meghana Balaji Shewalkar, Dr. Aarti Gorakhnath Kanchar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Case Report Homoeopathic Management of Urolithiasis: A Single-Case Clinical Study Following CARE Guidelines Dr. Meghana Balaji Shewalkar 1*, Dr. Aarti Gorakhnath Kanchar 2 1 BHMS, MD, Homeopathy, Pediatrics, Consultant Homoeopath 2 BHMS, MD (Hom. Practice of Medicine), Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine Sayli Charitable Trust’s Homoeopathic College, Chh. Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: *Dr Meghana Balaji Shewalkar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17586199 Abstract Manuscript Information Background: Urolithiasis (renal stone disease) remains a prevalent disorder of the urinary tract with multifactorial aetiology. Conventional management involves analgesia, hydration, and surgical or lithotripsy interventions, but recurrence rates remain high. Homoeopathy provides individualized, non-invasive therapy aiming to relieve pain, promote calculi expulsion, and correct metabolic predisposition. Case Presentation: A 35-year-old male presented with recurrent left renal colic, dysuria, and hematuria. Ultrasonography revealed a 6.2 mm calculus in the lower calyx of the left kidney with mild hydronephrosis. The patient was treated with individualised Homoeopathic medicines—Berberis vulgaris Q and Lycopodium clavatum 30C—selected on the totality of symptoms. Clinical improvement occurred within 4 weeks, and repeat ultrasonography after 8 weeks confirmed complete expulsion of the calculus. Conclusion: This case demonstrates successful non-surgical management of urolithiasis using individualised Homoeopathic remedies, supporting the need for larger observational trials. ▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397 ▪ Received: 19-10-2025 ▪ Accepted: 05-11-2025 ▪ Published: 12-11-2025 ▪ IJCRM:4(6); 2025: 130-132 ▪ ©2025, All Rights Reserved ▪ Plagiarism Checked: Yes ▪ Peer Review Process: Yes How to Cite this Article Shewalkar MB, Kanchar AG. Homoeopathic management of urolithiasis: a single-case clinical study following CARE guidelines. Int J Contemp Res Multidiscip. 2025;4(6):130-132. Access this Article Online www.multiarticlesjournal.com KEYWORDS: Urolithiasis, renal calculus, Homoeopathy, Berberis vulgaris, Lycopodium clavatum, single-case study, CARE guidelines. Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 6 [NovDec] Year 2025 131 © 2025 Dr Meghana Balaji Shewalkar, Dr. Aarti Gorakhnath Kanchar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 1. INTRODUCTION Urolithiasis affects approximately 12 % of the global population, with recurrence rates approaching 50 % within 5 years (Kumar et al., 2019). Stones form from supersaturation of urinary solutes such as calcium oxalate, uric acid, or cystine, influenced by diet, dehydration, infection, and metabolic errors. Conventional medicine relies on surgical or lithotripsy removal; however, non-invasive management to prevent recurrence is desirable. Homoeopathy, emphasising dynamic correction of the individual’s internal milieu, has long used remedies such as Berberis vulgaris, Lycopodium, Cantharis, and Sarsaparilla in urinary calculi. Documented physiological and biochemical changes under Homoeopathic therapy suggest modulation of urinary chemistry and reduction in stone recurrence (Bellavite & Signorini, 2002). This paper reports a single clinical case treated per individualised Homoeopathic principles and documented according to CARE (Consensus-Based Clinical Case Reporting) guidelines. 2. CASE PRESENTATION 2.1 Patient Profile Age/Sex: 35-year-old male Occupation: Software Engineer Date of First Visit: 12 May 2024 Chief Complaints: Severe colicky pain in the left lumbar region radiating to the groin; burning micturition; reddish urine for 2 days. Associated Symptoms: Occasional nausea, restlessness, aggravation from motion. Past History: Episode of renal calculus (3 mm) 2 years earlier, passed spontaneously. Family History: Father had recurrent renal stones. Personal History: Sedentary lifestyle, high tea intake, irregular hydration. Mental State: Irritable, anxious, oversensitive to pain. 2.2 Physical Examination Parameter Observation Temperature 98.2 °F Pulse 96 bpm Blood Pressure 138/88 mm Hg Abdomen Left renal angle tenderness ++ Urine Analysis Microscopic hematuria (+), oxalate crystals (++) Ultrasound (13 May 2024) Left kidney calculus 6.2 mm (lower calyx), mild hydronephrosis 3. Diagnoses Provisional: Left renal calculus (urolithiasis) with mild hydronephrosis. ICD-10 Code: N20.0 – Calculus of the kidney. 4. CASE ANALYSIS AND REMEDY SELECTION 4.1 Totality of Symptoms 1. Cutting, shooting pain in the left kidney extending to the groin. 2. Worsened by motion, better by rest. 3. Burning during and after urination. 4. Red sand-like deposit in urine. 5. Anxiety, restlessness, fear of pain recurrence. 6. History of stone formation. 4.2 Miasmatic Background Predominantly psoro-sycotic, tendency to recurring deposits. 4.3 Repertorial Synthesis Using Kent’s Repertory – rubrics selected: • Kidney – Pain – left – extending to groin • Urine – Red, sand-like deposit • Mind – Anxiety – pain, from • Generals – Aggravation – motion Top remedies: Berberis vulgaris, Lycopodium, Sarsaparilla, Nux vomica. 4.4 Prescription and Posology Date Remedy Potency / Dose Rationale 13 May 2024 Berberis vulgaris Q 10 drops in ½ cup of water thrice daily Characteristic radiating renal pain and dysuria. 20 May 2024 Lycopodium clavatum 30C One dose every third day Right-to-left tendency, red sand urine, flatulence, chronic susceptibility. Adjuvant Plenty of water (3 L/day), dietary advice to reduce oxalate intake. 5. Follow-Up and Outcome Date Observation Intervention 20 May 2024 Pain ↓ 50 %; urine clearer with occasional discomfort. Continued same medicines. 3 June 2024 No pain episodes; normal urination. Berberis reduced to once daily. 15 June 2024 Passed gravel particles with mild burning. Placebo for 1 week. 10 July 2024 (USG) No residual stone, hydronephrosis resolved. Case closed. Advice for hydration maintenance. Int. Jr. of Contemp. Res. in Multi. PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL Volume 4 Issue 6 [NovDec] Year 2025 132 © 2025 Dr Meghana Balaji Shewalkar, Dr. Aarti Gorakhnath Kanchar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Outcome Measure: Resolution of calculus confirmed radiologically and clinically. Patient Satisfaction: High; no recurrence at 3-month telefollow-up. 6. DISCUSSIONS The case illustrates the individualised use of Homoeopathy in urolithiasis management. Berberis vulgaris acts predominantly on renal parenchyma and ureters, producing characteristic radiating pain and promoting diuresis. Lycopodium clavatum addresses chronic lithic diathesis and metabolic tendency toward uric-acid deposits. The sequential prescription achieved both symptomatic relief and complete expulsion of the calculus. 6.1 Comparison with Existing Evidence Experimental studies show that the ethanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris reduces calcium-oxalate deposition and oxidative stress (Shah et al., 2018). Clinical observations by Rajendran (2019) and Oberai (2021) report similar success in chronic renal lithiasis using individualised remedies. 6.2 Probable Mechanism of Action Homoeopathic medicines may modulate renal excretory dynamics and alter urinary pH, reducing supersaturation (Bellavite & Signorini, 2002). Their nano-domain nature (Rajendran, 2019) facilitates biochemical signalling at the cellular level without toxicity. 6.3 Strengths and Limitations Strengths: Objective ultrasonographic evidence, consistent follow-up, and clear causal correlation. Limitations: Single-case design limits generalizability; no biochemical stone composition analysis. Future multicentric observational series with urinary biochemistry correlation are recommended. 7. CONCLUSIONS Individualised homoeopathic therapy offered effective, noninvasive management for renal calculus, with radiological clearance and symptom resolution. The case supports further controlled trials evaluating Homoeopathy’s role in preventing recurrence and reducing stone burden. 8 Patient Perspective “Within a week, my pain was much less; I didn’t need painkillers. After a month, the stone was gone without surgery. Now I drink more water and continue check-ups.” 9 Ethical Considerations Written informed consent was obtained for publication and anonymised data use. The study followed the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) and CARE case-report guidelines. REFERENCES 1. Bellavite P, Signorini A. The emerging science of homoeopathy: complexity, biodynamics, and nanopharmacology. Berkeley (CA): North Atlantic Books; 2002. 2. Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH). Guidelines for homoeopathic clinical research. New Delhi: Ministry of AYUSH; 2021. 3. Hahnemann S. Organon of medicine. 6th ed. Leipzig: Arnold; 1921. 4. Kent JT. Repertory of the homoeopathic materia medica. Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel; 1905. 5. Kumar R, Singh A, Patel N. Epidemiology and management of urolithiasis: an updated review. Indian J Urol. 2019;35(4):271–278. 6. Oberai P. Homoeopathic approaches in urinary disorders: clinical overview. Indian J Res Homoeopathy. 2021;15(3):151–160. 7. Rajendran ES. Nano-domain concept and clinical implications in homoeopathy. Homeopathy. 2019;108(4):250–260. 8. Shah AM, Patel B, Desai N. Protective effect of Berberis vulgaris extract on calcium-oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;214:123–130. 9. Swayne J. The international dictionary of homoeopathy. London: Harper Collins; 2000. Creative Commons (CC) License This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. About the author Dr. Meghana Balaji Shewalkar BHMS, MD (Hom. Paediatrics), Consultant Homoeopath specialising in pediatric and holistic healthcare. She is dedicated to promoting child wellness through classical homoeopathic principles and evidence-based clinical practice. Dr. Aarti Gorakhnath Kanchar BHMS, MD (Hom. Practice of Medicine), Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine at Sayli Charitable Trust’s Homoeopathic College, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India, with expertise in preventive and community healthcare.