The symptoms of kidney stones can be debilitating – apart from the excruciating pain, one may also have to deal with the urge to urinate every few minutes, a feeling of nausea or vomiting, or even bloody urine. Proper diagnosis and the appropriate line of treatment are important to help resolve the issue. However, the natural remedies listed below might help you ease the pain and discomfort. Check them out and start following them after consulting with your health care provider.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Sometimes, our kidneys may contain small crystal-like solid masses. These are kidney stones, also known as renal calculi. They usually originate in the kidneys but can also develop along the urinary tract that includes the bladder, ureters, and urethra. Let us now see how kidney stones are formed.
How Do They Form?
Kidney stones are caused by inadequate consumption of water. If you consume less than 8-10 glasses of water a day, you are putting yourself at risk of developing kidney stones. The less amount of water in your body cannot dilute uric acid, which, in turn, makes your urine more acidic. The increasing acidity of urine leads to the formation of stones. If you have been diagnosed with or have a family history of medical conditions like Crohn’s disease, urinary tract infections, medullary sponge kidney, etc., you are likely to develop kidney stones. Some people are more likely to develop kidney stones as compared to others.
Risk Factors
Kidney stones mostly occur in people aged between 20 and 50 years. Also, more men are at risk of developing kidney stones than women. Other risk factors include:
Family history of kidney stones Inadequate consumption of water Obesity Consuming foods with high glucose, salt, and protein Inflammatory bowel diseases
In the next section, we will look at the home remedies that can be employed to treat it.
Home Remedies For Kidney Stones
1. Water
As we have mentioned earlier, inadequate consumption of water is a major cause of kidney stones. Drinking water can help retard the formation of crystals and flushes out calcium and phosphorus from the kidneys (2). 10-12 glasses of water Drink 10-12 glasses of water every day.
2. Tomato
Tomatoes are rich in bioactive compounds like citrates that can help treat kidney stones. They can significantly reduce and prevent the formation of stones in your kidneys (3).
2 tomatoes 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Do this 1-2 times a week.
3. Lemon Juice
Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. Citrates are known to reduce the formation of crystals and reduce the supersaturation of urine by increasing its volume (4).
2-3 cups of water 1 tablespoon of lemon juice 1 tablespoon of olive oil
Repeat this remedy several times a day for 3-4 weeks.
4. Radish Juice
Studies show that consumption of radish juice increases the excretion of calcium oxalates in your urine. It also helps to flush out any crystals that may be building up in your kidneys (5). 1-2 radishes Do this for 1-2 weeks.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used to treat kidney stones (6). It is effective in flushing out the crystals in your kidneys and eliminating the stones.
1-2 tablespoons of baking soda A glass of warm water
Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water and consume immediately. Do this 2-3 times a day.
6. Dandelion Root
Dandelion root has bioactive compounds that can help in increasing the volume of urine and preventing the formation of crystals in your kidneys (7).
1 teaspoon of dandelion root A glass of warm water
Have this decoction 2-3 times a day. Note: Make sure you consult your doctor before having dandelion root as it can interact with medications.
7. Horsetail Juice
Horsetail juice exhibits diuretic activity, which means that it can help increase the volume of urine (8). It can also increase the glomerular filtration rate.
2-3 teaspoons of horsetail leaves 1 glass of warm water
Do this 2-3 times a day. Caution: Do not try this remedy if you have diabetes, low potassium or thiamine levels, or are on lithium or heart medications. Consult your doctor.
8. Tribulus Terrestris
Studies show that tribulus terrestris can flush out calcium oxalate crystals formed in the kidneys (9). It also has a significant diuretic effect. 1 teaspoon of extracts of Tribulus terrestris Consume this 2-3 times a day until the stones pass in your urine.
9. Basil Leaf
Basil leaves are one of the most common herbs used in traditional medicine and Ayurveda. They have a diuretic effect, which means that they can increase the volume of urine and facilitate the elimination of kidney stones (10).
A handful of basil leaves A cup of boiling water 1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
Consume this 2-3 times a day.
10. Fennel
Fennel seeds are rich in several bioactive compounds that can help treat kidney stones. These compounds can aid in breaking down the crystal formation your kidneys and allow them to be flushed out in your urine (11).
1 teaspoon of fennel seed powder A cup of boiling water
Consume this once a day for a couple of weeks. These simple home remedies can help treat and manage kidney stones. If the condition persists, you must visit your doctor.
When Should I See A Doctor?
Sometimes, this condition can persist longer than it should and can cause a lot of pain. In such cases, you must consult your doctor. If the stones get stuck in the urinary tract, it can cause acute pain, and you must be taken in for surgery immediately. Other symptoms that warrant a doctor’s consultation include vomiting, blood in urine, cloudy urine, fatigue, loss of consciousness, and lower abdominal and genital pain that lasts for more than four weeks. Is hot water good for kidney stones? Yes. Drinking warm water every day in the morning may flush out kidney toxins. However, limited data is available to prove this claim. Does a heating pad help kidney stones? Yes. A heating pad or warm bath may help relieve the intensity of pain associated with kidney stones. However, you should take over-the-counter medication for kidney stones until the stone passes. How do I know if my kidney stone is moving? You may experience pain as the kidney stone moves along the urinary tract. In addition, you will urinate often.
