10 At-Home Kidney Stone Remedies

Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, are the source of some of the worst pain you’ll ever experience. They occur when urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to calcify in the kidneys. Kidney stones don’t cause any symptoms until they begin to move around within the kidney or pass from the kidney to the bladder. Luckily, they typically do not cause any lasting damage to the body as long as they’re treated early enough, but given how painful they are you’ll want to try to avoid them at all costs! Read on to learn about some simple at-home remedies and prevention techniques you can implement into your life.

Lemon Juice and Olive Oil – When trying to prevent or pass kidney stones you should be drinking a lot of water (more on that later), and adding lemon juice is a great way to make your water taste better and more effectively prevent stones from forming. This is because lemons contain the chemical citrate, which helps prevent kidney stones from forming and breaks up small stones so that they can pass more easily.

You can also drink a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil. While it may not taste amazing, olive oil also helps flush kidney stones out of your system. Just mix one-quarter cup of each together with some water, and drink until your symptoms ease. Side note: make sure you only use fresh lemon juice and pure olive oil, as added sugars can exacerbate kidney pain.

Pomegranates – Pomegranate has been a traditional remedy for kidney issues for centuries now. Not only is it delicious, it helps to flush out the kidneys and prevents future stones from forming by lowering your urine’s acidity level. To get the full preventative effects, you can drink pomegranate juice or even consume pomegranate extract. However, those who take blood pressure medications should try to avoid consuming pomegranate medicinally.

Basil – Basil doesn’t just taste great, it’s also traditionally been used for digestive and inflammatory issues and can help improve kidney health. Eat it in your favorite Italian or Thai dishes or make a tea out of it by adding a few basil leaves to a cup of hot water. Just be sure not to consume basil medicinally for more than six weeks at a time, as it can lead to low blood sugar, low blood pressure, and increased bleeding.

Change Your Diet –  You already know that eating a healthy diet is overall beneficial to you, but did you know it can also help prevent kidney stones? Eat more foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as dairy products, dark leafy green vegetables, fish, fortified plant-based milks, or legumes. Conversely, you should try to avoid too much sodium, animal proteins, cola-flavored drinks, and limit foods high in oxalates (chocolate, nuts, and beets, for example). You should also try to limit your alcohol consumption.

Stay Hydrated – Staying hydrated is the key to avoiding many medical ailments, and kidney stones are no exception. Drinking enough water can help kidney stones pass and prevent new stones from forming because it flushes out toxins. When passing a kidney stone (and after it passes), be sure to drink 12 eight-ounce glasses of water per day instead of the standard eight. Additionally, drink water immediately after taking any other flavored remedy as it will help to move the ingredients through your system more quickly.

Horsetail – Horsetail is a type of fern that’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It can help flush out kidney stones, soothe inflammation, and increase urine flow. To consume, pour two or three cups of hot water over a handful of dried horsetail and steep for at least 15 minutes. Similarly to basil, you shouldn’t use horsetail for more than six weeks at a time as it can have negative health effects. Furthermore, you shouldn’t use it if you take either lithium or heart medications.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is somewhat of a miracle worker when it comes to the health of your kidneys (and it helps fight acid reflux too!). It contains acetic acid, which helps to break up kidney stones, flush out the kidneys, and can help ease the pain of passing a stone. To consume, add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to one eight-ounce glass of water. Just make sure you don’t drink more than one glass of this mixture per day, as it can lead to osteoporosis and low levels of potassium.

Chanca Piedra – Chanca piedra is an herb that grows in the rainforests of South America and other tropical places. Chanca piedra is nicknamed “stone breaker” because of its reported benefits for the kidneys. It supposedly contains phytochemicals, which increase urine flow, soothe inflammation, and kill bacteria. In one particular study in which 56 participants with kidney stones were given 4.5 grams of chanca piedra per day, two-thirds had their kidney stones decrease in size and number. You can purchase chanca piedra in teas or in the form of liquid extracts.

Kidney Beans – Coincidentally, kidney beans can actually alleviate your kidney problems! They’re full of vitamin B, which helps break up the stones and flush them out of your body. You can either eat the beans in a cooked dish like you would normally prepare them, or create a kidney bean broth, which is a traditional dish in India. Make the broth by boiling kidney beans and straining the liquid from the cooked beans afterward. Kidney bean broth has been used to improve kidney and urinary health for ages.

Uva Ursi – Uva ursi is a small shrub that has been used for its medicinal properties since before the existence of modern medicine. It was widely used by Native American cultures as a way to combat urinary tract infections and bladder-related ailments. It’s been shown to reduce the amount of bacteria in the urine, increase urine flow, and reduce swelling because it works to neutralize urine acidity. You can ingest uva ursi in capsule form, or you can drink its leaves in a tea.