Traditional Knowledge of Kidney Stones Treatment by Muslim Maiba (Herbalists) of Manipur, India

Abstract

This report is the first of its kind from Manipuri Muslims. Currently, kidney stones (urolithiasis) are recorded as being a painful health problem. For this reason, patients and their relatives seek herbal medicines as a prospective treatment for this condition. A survey was carried out in order to list the number of plants employed in solving kidney stones, as well as to record the age groups of the patients. A total of 39 (3.35%) persons out of 1162 registered by daily patient registration process of local herbal practitioners, between 12 to 70 years of age (S.D.12), were recorded as suffering from kidney stones (urinary calculi). Patients between 31 to 40, and 41 to 50 suffered the most, while the group consisting of patients of 11 to 20 years of age suffered the least from this problem. A comparative checking of plants used for kidney stone treatment by Muslim and Meitei herbalists of Manipur is also discussed. The present research of kidney stone treatments will be useful for general public and also for the preservation of helpful plants in home gardens.