Urinary System
The primary functions of the urinary or renal system are waste elimination, regulation of blood volume and pressure, the balance of electrolytes, and regulating blood ph. It consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Ayurveda uses the term mutravahasrota roga as an umbrella term to describe urinary disorders.
There are 13 types of mutraghata
- Vatakundalika: which is spasmodic stricture of the bladder
- Vatashthila: which is an enlargement of the prostate
- Vatavasti: which is obstruction of the bladder outlet; retention of urine
- Mutrateeta: which is a decrease in the force of the urinary stream
- Mutrajathara: which is bladder distended with urine and gas
- Mutrotsanga: which is stricture of the urethra
- Mutrakshaya; which is anuria
- Mutragranthi: which is a malignant neoplasm/tumor of the bladder
- Mutrashukra: which is the presence of semen in urine
- Ushnavata: which is cystitis
- Vastikundalam: which is an atonic condition of the bladder
- Vidvighata: which is a retrovesical fistula
- Mutravsada: which is scanty urination
Ayurveda suggests dietary modification such as consumption of season-appropriate fruits and vegetables, consumption of curd, limiting the intake of spicy foods, etc coupled with therapies like panchakarma including virechana and vasty, abhyanga, snehana, swedana, etc are among others.
Calculi
Calculi is the medical term for bladder stones. They develop when some of the minerals in urine crystalize and clump together in the bladder. Without treatment, these stones can cause infections, bleeding, and long-term problems in the urinary tract.
Understanding which type of kidney stone you have helps determine its cause and prevent the risk of getting more kidney stones.
- Calcium stones are usually in the form of calcium oxalate and may also occur in calcium phosphate.
- Struvite stones form in response to a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
- Uric acid stones can develop in people who lose too much fluid because of chronic diarrhea or malabsorption or those who eat a high-protein diet.
- Cystine stones develop in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete too much specific amino acid.
In Ayurveda, several diuretic herbs are specified to dissolve the stones and easily expel them in the urine. Afterward, a variety of cleaning techniques are recommended, such as panchkarma, to aid in strengthening the body.
UTI [Urinary Tract Infection]
A urinary tract infection or UTI is a very common infection in your urinary system. Symptoms typically include urinating more often than normal, experiencing pain when urinating, and feeling pain in your side or lower back.
The different types of UTIs can include:
- Urethritis– infection of the urethra
- Cystitis– infection of the bladder
- Pyelonephritis– infection of the kidneys
- Vaginitis– infection of the vagina
Ayurveda has many wonderful herbs that can help to treat utis, such as Amalaki (Indian gooseberry), gokshura (small caltrops), and kantakari. They act as natural antibiotics without any harmful effects on the body. Treatment procedures of anuvasana Basti and tapa Sweda (sudation or sweat therapy using hot materials) are also performed on the pelvis region to treat utis.