Introduction
Urinary tract stones refer to formation and retention of crystal clot in the urinary system, including calculus of kidney, ureteral calculus and calculus of urinary tract according to the location of the calculus. The main manifestations are colic in the loins or lower abdomen, astringent pain in urination and hematuria. This disease is similar to stony stranguria, sand stranguria and bloody stranguria in TCM. The location of this disease is in the kidney and bladder, but it is also related to the liver and spleen. It is usually caused by retention of heat in the bladder, asthenia of kidney qi or stagnation of qi and obstruction of the lower energizer. It is of sthenia syndrome in the early stage. However, prolonged duration will change it into asthenia syndrome or syndrome of mixed asthenia and sthenia.

Syndrome differentiation

1. Damp-heat in the Lower Energizer
Pain in the loins and abdomen like colic, dripping and astringent pain in urination, or sudden anuria, or bloody urine, or fever, bitter taste in the mouth, red tongue with greasy fur, and slippery and rapid pulse.

2. Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis
Frequent dull pain or vague paired color, grayish complexion, deep-red tongue with purplish appearance, and taut and unsmooth pulse.

3. Asthenia of Spleen and Kidney Yang
Occasional dull pain in the loins and abdomen, frequent urination or unsmooth urination, lassitude, cold body and limbs, aching and weakness in the loins and knees, pale complexion, light-colored tongue with white fur, slow and weak pulse.

4. Asthenia of Liver and Kidney Yin
Dripping and burning sensation in urination, dizziness and tinnitus, tidal fever and night sweating, feverish sensation in the palms, soles and chest, insomnia, dreaminess, red tongue with scanty fur, thin and weak pulse.

Treatment

1. Body Acupuncture
Prescription: Zhongji (CV 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Shenshu (BL 23), Pangguangshu (BL 28) and Jingmen (BL 36).

Modification: For damp-heat in the lower energizer, Shuidao (ST 28), Weiyang (BL 39) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) are added; for qi stagnation and blood stasis, Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3) and Geshu (BL 17) are added; for asthenia of spleen and kidney yang, Guanyuan (CV 4), Pishu (BL 20), Mingmen (GV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) are added; for asthenia of liver and kidney yin, Fuliu (KI 7), Ganshu (BL 18), Ququan (LR 8) and Yingu (KI 10) are Added；for colic pain, Yanglingquan (GB 34) and tenderness point are added; for hematuria, Xuehai (SP 10) is added; for fever, Hegu (LI 4) and Ouchi (LI 11) are added.

Performance: For the treatment of damp-heat in the lower energizer type and qi stagnation and blood stasis type, reducing needling technique is used; for asthenia o spleen and kidney yang type and asthenia of liver and kidney yin, mild reducing needling technique or mild reducing and reinforcing techniques are used. Each time 1 - 2 acupoints are selected and needled with continuous wave, high frequency and strong electricity for 40 - 60 minutes. For the treatment of asthenia of spleen and kidney yang, acupuncture and moxibustion can be used simultaneously.

2. Ear Acupuncture
Prescription: Kidney (CO10), Ureter (CO9,10i), Bladder (CO9), Urethra (HX3), Lung (CO14), Spleen (CO13), Triple Energizer (CO17), Sympathetic Nerve (AH6a), Ear Shenmen (TF4) and Subcortex (AT4).

Performance: Each time 3 - 5 acupoints are selected and needled with normal procedure, strong stimulation and frequent rotation of the needles. The needles are retained for 30 - 60 minutes. The needling is done once or twice a day. Or Wangbuliuxingzi (Semen Vaccariae) is used for ear pressure.