The Effect of Lapis Judaicus Compared With Hydrochlorothiazide on Kidney Stones Publisher



Akbarzadeh E ; Hosseini MM ; Abolhassanzadeh Z ; Abarghooei EF ; Ezzatzadegan Jahromi SE ; Jafari SH ; Mohamadian A ; Jaladat AM
Source: Advances in Integrative Medicine Published:2025

Abstract

Introduction: More than one million referrals to the emergency department worldwide is related to kidney stones. Lapis Judaicus (LJ) as an ancient treatment of kidney stones has been described by Dioscorides, Galen, and some famaous Iranian scholars such as Ibn Sina, Razi, and Ahvazi and currently is used in the folk medicine market of Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. Despite its popularity in some regions, few studies have evaluated its effect on renal stones. In this study, we investigated the effect of LJ in comparison with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on renal stone. Methods: Seventy–seven adult patients with a stable and opaque kidney stones equal or greater than 5 mm, who received no treatment for their kidney stone in the past month were recruited and randomized into three groups: A) HCTZ (12.5 mg capsules two each morning, N = 25), B) LJ+HCTZ (1gr capsules two each morning +12.5 mg HCTZ N = 27), and C) LJ (1gr capsules two each morning, N = 25) for 2 months. After the intervention (the end of 2 months), checking serum and urinary parameters and kidney ultrasound were performed and compared with pre-intervention findings. Results: A significant decrease was found in the size of renal stones in groups B and C. LJ alone or with hydrochlorothiazide did not cause any significant change in serum and urine parameters between before and after treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The stone sizes changed significantly in two groups that received LJ, compared with HCTZ, without any significant effect on liver enzymes or renal function. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.