S.K. Garg, M.D., M.O.H. - Cum Lecturer
and

R.C. Singh, Ph.D., A.I.C.
Lecturer in Pharmacology,
L.L.R.M. Medical College, Meerut, India.

Cystone, a herbal preparation, has a well established role in elimination of small calculi in the kidney as well as gall-bladder. Patients diagnosed as having renal calculi, when put on Cystone therapy, start excreting crystals in their urine. The present study was undertaken to establish the role of Cystone in a common condition, namely burning micturition, and comparing its action with that of the commonly used urinary antiseptics.

Patients complaining of burning micturition were included in the study. The study was carried out on patients attended by the first author at the I.D.P.L. Hospital, Veerbhadra during May 1981 to February 1982. A total of 76 patients were included and were randomly divided into three groups depending on the regimen of treatment followed.

Group A : Comprised patients who were given any of the urinary antiseptics such as nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, sulphonamides or chloramphenicol alone.

Group B : Comprised patients who were given Cystone along with any of the urinary antiseptics mentioned above.

Group C : Comprised patients who were put on Cystone alone.

Urinary antiseptics were given in their prescribed doses and Cystone in doses of two tablets, t.i.d. The urine specimens of the patients were also examined before treatment and five days after treatment when the patients were called for follow-up.

After five days of treatment, 65.8% of the patients were relieved of their complaint of burning micturition. The maximum patients relieved from symptoms belonged to Group B, followed by Group C and the least by Group A (Table 1).

The microscopic examination of urine prior to and five days after treatment also showed an appreciable drop in crystalluria after 5 days’ treatment. Less crystalluria was found in these cases who were given Cystone either alone (Group C) or with the usual urinary antiseptics (Group B), as compared to Group A where no Cystone was given (Table 2).

The present study revealed the effective role of Cystone in relieving burning micturition. It is not only effective by itself but also has a synergistic effect when used with other urinary antiseptics. While the urinary antiseptics need a favourable acidic or alkaline pH of the urine to act, such a prerequisite is not required with Cystone.

The possible mechanism of action in burning micturition may be hypothesised by the fact that the seat of infection in the urinary tract may act as a nucleus for deposition of crystals leading to stone formation. Cystone rapidly eliminates the crystals from the urine and also causes micropulverization of the calculus. Because of its diuretic action, the infective organisms acting as a nucleus for calculus formation and a focus of repeated infection by multiplication are flushed away along with the crystals.

Thus it can be concluded that in rural community practice, where the facilities for sophisticated investigations such as culture and sensitivity of urine to choose the appropriate, costly and not-so-freely available antibiotics, Cystone can be used either alone or as an adjuvant to the usual, commonly available urinary antiseptics. Cystone is relatively cheap, free from side effects and of established efficacy.