Prevention and Management of Urolithiasis With Parsley and Barley Among the Hail Population, Saudi Arabia: Is It Fact...

Urolithiasis is one of the most common urinary tract diseases. It is a multifactorial condition involving both environmental and metabolic aspects. Dietary changes and lifestyle modifications are crucial for managing and preventing urolithiasis. Barley and parsley have been utilized as a complementary treatment to manage urolithiasis, which may be helpful in managing and preventing this disease.

This was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted to determine the effects of parsley and barley in managing urolithiasis among the population of Hail, Saudi Arabia by an electronic questionnaire. All responses were kept confidential. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22 (Chicago, IL: SPSS Inc.).

A total of 395 participants completed the questionnaire, with ages ranging from 18 years to more than 60 years; nearly half of them were females. Only 37 (9.4%) had a history of renal disease but 182 (46.1%) had a family history of renal stones. Regarding the frequency of barley and parsley used in the management of renal stones, 162 (41%) respondents used barley, while 176 (44.6%) of them used parsley to treat or prevent kidney stones. Factors associated with the use of barley and parsley in the management of renal stones were older age, female gender, non-healthcare staff, those with renal disease history, and family history of renal stones.

The results showed that among the Hail population, non-conventional therapies are more commonly used for treating renal stones than medical treatment. There were multiple factors associated with using barley and parsley to manage urolithiasis. Additional research is needed to gain a clearer understanding of the safety and effectiveness of non-conventional therapies, such as barley and parsley, in managing urolithiasis.