Lycopodium clavatum for urolithiasis

Abstract

We read the publication on ‘Lycopodium clavatum for the management of urolithiasis: A randomised double blind placebo controlled trial’ with a great interest.[1] Bhalerao et al. concluded that ‘Homoeopathy medicine Lycopodium clavatum did not show significant results in expulsion/dissolution of the renal calculi in comparison with placebo’.[1] We would like to share ideas and experience from our setting in Indochina. In our region, Lycopodium clavatum is well known as a traditional herb. In Thai traditional regimen, Lycopodium clavatum is mentioned for its advantage in the management of several medical disorders including renal and liver problems. The active alkaloids that can be extracted from Lycopodium clavatum are believed to be active ingredients.[2] There are some recent reports confirming the usefulness of Lycopodium clavatum. For example, the hepatoprotective effect of Lycopodium clavatum is confirmed in an animal model study.[3] Regarding the effect on urinary tract stone, it is still not clarified for the exact pharmacological action of Lycopodium clavatum, but it might be the pH adjustment in the urinary tract that might further result in the dissolution of stone and expulsion.