CLAIM: 

Patharchatta leaves can dissolve kidney stones

FACT:
There is no scientific evidence to show that patharchatta leaves do not dissolve kidney stones. Experts warn against such unscientific home remedies for kidney stones,  adding that if left untreated the complications could include urinary tract infections, severe pain, and in extreme cases, kidney damage. 

Recently a First Check reader asked us whether patharchatta leaves can help dissolving kidney stones on our AI powered tipline.

"Can patharchatta leaves can dissolve kidney stones or not?" they asked on the tipline, where readers can send in health-related claims that they want verified.

The reader did not specify where they came across the claim; however, a quick search on the internet threw up multiple results exalting the benefits of patharchatta and that the leaves of the plant could help dissolve kidney stones. For instance, a similar question was shared on Quora, where some people shared their individual experiences.

First Check also found a video on YouTube, where a dietician is prescribing the herb to help treat kidney stones.

First Check could not locate any scientific, empirical evidence on patharchatta as a cure for kidney stones, despite an extensive literature review.

In the absence of such evidence, First Check spoke to two renowned experts in the field to verify the claims- Dr (Lt Gen) Prem Prakash Varma, specializing in nephrology, and Dr Narmada Prasad Gupta, specializing in urology.

Dr (Lt Gen) Prem Prakash Varma, a distinguished nephrologist with over three decades of clinical experience, explained that kidney stones are essentially complex mineral deposits that are formed in the kidneys, and they cannot be treated using simple home remedies.

"There is no scientific evidence that any home remedy, any drink can dissolve kidney stones," he said, while adding that kidney stones "can cause a lot of pain and if left untreated may lead to other health complications."

"So it requires professional medical intervention. People should not rely on home remedies as a cure, it might give some people a feeling of betterment but nothing more," said the nephrologist.

"Patients should always be encouraged to consult a medically certified doctor over anything else they hear from social media," he added.

This was echoed by Dr Narmada P Gupta, who is a medical researcher, writer and the chairman of Academics and Research Division, Urology, at the Medanta, the Medicity, New Delhi.

"For example, nowadays I see many patients coming with advanced complications and they've all tried home remedies. What we need to understand is so called medicinal drinks are not a replacement for proper treatment," he said.

On the effectiveness of patharchatta specifically, he questioned why it was not used in medicines if it works.

"You mentioned patharchatta, please find me a medicine that has patharchatta in it. See, you need to understand that the starting form of something cannot be used in place of the final product. Patharchatta derivatives are not used in the medicines first of all," he said.

There are some standard medical protocols for kidney stone management, according to Dr Gupta, which include diagnostic imaging to determine stone size and location, hydration, pain management, and dietary and lifestyle modifications. In some cases, some patients may potentially require medical procedures like lithotripsy or surgical intervention.

"People should be wary and careful of trusting such advice and practices (like home remedies for conditions like kidney stones); these cause delays in diagnosis and worsening of the patient's condition," Dr Gupta added. He said the complications that could arise from untreated kidney stones include urinary tract infections, severe pain, and in extreme cases, kidney damage.

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