Effects of Folia orthosiphonis on urinary stone promoters and inhibitors.

Yaa-Knuatmaeo or Folia orthosiphonis showed both favourable and non favourable effects of stone prevention. Uric acid and uric acid containing stone may be prevented by the increased alkalinity of the urine after drinking Orthosiphon tea. The unfavourable effect of orthosiphon being the excretion of oxalate in the urine may result in higher risk of stone formation. However, this study may or may not apply to the stone patients since it has been done only on healthy persons and all parameters were within normal limits. We feel that Orthosiphon tea may be beneficial in prevention of uric acid stone formation. This study was supported by a grant from the Medicinal Herbs Development Fund, Mahidol University.