Vietnamese farmer's 12‑year kidney stone ordeal highlights risks of self‑medication

A 50‑year‑old farmer from the highlands of Điện Biên province in Vietnam lived with a large kidney stone for 12 years after repeatedly using herbal medicines in the belief they would dissolve the stone. The stone eventually occupied most of the renal pelvis and lower calyx, threatening infection, swelling and loss of kidney function. Doctors at Hospital E, led by urologist Mai Văn Lực, arranged urgent surgery to remove the stone and reduced the family's travel and accommodation costs. The case is being cited as a warning that many Vietnamese still trust folk remedies for kidney stones, despite evidence that large stones (over 2 cm) rarely dissolve without medical intervention. Health professionals stress that reliance on unproven treatments can delay necessary care and lead to serious complications.