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Urology Volume 119, September 2018, Pages 35-38

A Homeopathic Alternative to Potassium Citrate in Patients With Recurrent Nephrolithiasis
Dimitri Papagiannopoulos, Daniel Holst, Seth K. Bechis, and Roger L. Sur
Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA

(no abstract)

First page preview:
https://www.goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(18)30190-0/fulltext

Excerpts:

[Patient A]

"He was started on potassium citrate 10meq twice daily (BID). He experienced diarrhea at this dosage. He tried several variations including potassium citrate 5 meq thrice times daily as well as sodium bicarbonate (NaBicarb)..."

"As the patient had failed potassium citrate and sodium bicarbonate, he was started on a homeopathic baking soda mixture that we have been using at our institution for several years in patients who are intolerant of citrate pharmacotherapy.

"The recipe is as follows:
1) Start with 8 ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice
2) Add juice from 1 freshly squeezed lemon (~1 ounce)
3) Stir in 1 teaspoon of baking soda powder (Arm and Hammer)
4) Let bubbles fizzle out (approximately 30 minutes)
5) Drink in entirety, once daily"

[Patient B]

"At this time, in June 2014, the patient started our homeopathic alternative."

[Discussion]

"Additionally, this homeopathic remedy is inexpensive, easy to prepare, can be dosed once daily..."

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Comments: the treatment is not homeopathic, because it is not highly diluted, and there is no indication that it is based on homeopathic principles (using a small dose of a substance that produces, in healthy individuals, symptoms similar to those being treated).

The authors are mixing orange juice and lemon juice, which contain citric acid, with baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate.  They say they let it sit until it stopped forming bubbles.  This means that the bicarbonate and the hydrogen ions from the acid have reacted to form carbon dioxide and water, leaving behind sodium citrate.  So essentially they are treating the patient with sodium citrate instead of potassium citrate.  I don't see any connection to homeopathy, unless they think that "homeopathic" means something like "home remedy."

The authors do a disservice to the medical community.  By inappropriately using "homeopathic" in their title, they provide ammunition to homeopaths, who may end up citing this article as evidence that homeopathy works.