Imagine having to get up in the middle of every other night, just because of an unusual urge to pee. And then, you simply cannot do it. As if that weren’t enough, you realize to your horror that things are burning down south, and there is no way you can sleep now. Yes, this is the exact scenario most people with kidney stones may have to face.
Although you can gulp down enough water for temporary relief, the ordeal doesn’t end there. You will need to get rid of the kidney stones and put an end to its symptoms. Here’s a list of home remedies that can help you in your battle against the disease. There are also a few precautions you might want to consider – all of which (and more) is what we have covered in this post.
Table Of Contents
- What Are Kidney Stones?
- What Causes Kidney Stones?
- Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
- Home Remedies To Treat Kidney Stones
- Preventive Tips
- When To Visit A Doctor
What Are Kidney Stones?
The hard mineral and salt deposits forming inside your kidneys are called kidney stones. Also referred to as renal lithiasis or nephrolithiasis, kidney stones usually form as a result of concentrated urine, which leads to the crystallization of minerals.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
When your urine contains substances like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, which are prone to forming crystals, it gets difficult to dilute them. This eventually leads to the formation of kidney stones.
Although there is no definite cause of kidney stone formation, there are many factors that can increase the risk. Such factors include
- Urinary tract infections
- A family history of stones
- Severe dehydration
- Certain fruits, vegetables, and nuts
- Being overweight
- Some medical conditions like renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, and hyperparathyroidism
- Certain medications like topiramate (Topamax)
A kidney stone may not announce its presence until it passes into your ureter, a tube connecting your bladder and kidney. Upon this, you may experience the following symptoms.
Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
- Pain in the side, below the ribs, and in your back
- A shooting pain that radiates downwards, towards your groin and lower abdomen
- Pain while urinating
- Pink, red or brown urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Restrained urination
- Cloudy and foul-smelling urine
- Frequent urination
- Chills and fever (in case of an infection)
All these symptoms are troublesome and can leave you feeling exasperated and uneasy. This calls for some immediate measures to help you in your struggle against kidney stones and the accompanying pain. Here are some wonderful remedies for this debilitating problem.
Home Remedies To Treat Kidney Stones
- Essential Oils
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Certain Vitamins And Minerals
- Green Tea
- Cranberry Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Tomato Juice
- Pickle Juice
- Basil Juice
- Water
- Epsom Salt Bath
- Baking Soda
- Garlic
- Wheatgrass Juice
- Heating Pad
- Massage
How To Treat Kidney Stones Naturally
1. Essential Oils
a. Grapefruit Oil
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You Will Need
- 2 drops of grapefruit oil
- 1 glass of water
What You Have To Do
Add 2 drops of grapefruit oil to a glass of water and consume daily.
How Often You Should Do This
Twice daily.
Why This Works
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oil has natural diuretic and antioxidant properties that can help flush the toxins out of your body. The oil is also anti-inflammatory and can help relieve the symptoms of kidney stones (1).
b. Helichrysum Oil
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You Will Need
- 3 ml of Helichrysum oil
- 100 ml of any carrier oil (coconut or olive oil)
What You Have To Do
- Mix helichrysum oil with any carrier oil.
- Apply this mixture to your lower abdomen and the sides.
How Often You Should Do This
Twice daily.
Why This Works
Helichrysum essential oil possesses anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, which can help relieve the discomfort associated with kidney stones (2),(3). It also is a mild diuretic that helps flush out toxins from your kidneys.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
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You Will Need
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 2 liters of water
- Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to 2 liters of water and mix well.
- Add a little honey to taste, and drink this solution throughout the day.
How Often You Should Do This
Multiple times, daily.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is primarily composed of acetic acid and trace amounts of citric and malic acids. The acid content of ACV may be effective in dissolving kidney stones. Additionally, it is also anti-inflammatory and can help reduce the symptoms of kidney stones (4).
3. Vitamins And Minerals
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The intake of certain vitamins and minerals is also associated with a lower risk of kidney stones. Vitamin B6, consumed daily, was found to lower the risk of kidney stones. Minerals like magnesium and calcium also reduce the risk of stone formation.
Increasing your intake of foods like spinach, almonds, yogurt, milk, and cheese, which are rich in these nutrients, can help prevent kidney stones (5),(6),(7).
4. Green Tea
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You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of green tea
- 1 cup of water
- Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Take a teaspoon of green tea and add it to a cup of water.
- Bring this to a boil in a saucepan.
- Simmer for 5 minutes and strain.
- Allow the green tea to cool a little before adding some honey.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink 3 to 4 cups of green tea daily.
Why This Works
Green tea exhibits some promising medicinal properties and is one of the best remedies for kidney stones. A natural antioxidant and diuretic, it can help get rid of toxins from your kidneys. Green tea is also a great anti-inflammatory remedy that can be used to treat the painful symptoms of kidney stones (8), (9).
5. Cranberry Juice
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You Will Need
1 glass of unsweetened cranberry juice
What You Have To Do
Consume a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice daily.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Cranberry juice is widely used for treating urinary tract infection, given its powerful diuretic properties – which are a potential treatment for kidney stones. However, there are conflicting reviews on the use of cranberry juice for this purpose as it is believed to also increase the formation of calcium oxalate stones (10). But some research encourages the use of cranberry juice for reducing existing kidney stones (11). However, we suggest you consult your doctor in this aspect.
6. Lemon Juice
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You Will Need
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 glass of warm water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a glass of water.
- Add some honey to it and mix well.
How Often You Should Do This
Have a glass of lemon juice twice daily, first thing every morning on an empty stomach, and just before dinner.
Why This Works
Lemons are a rich source of citrate that dissolves kidney stones. They also have natural antioxidant and diuretic properties and help detoxify your body. The anti-inflammatory properties of lemons are a bonus as they can alleviate other horrible symptoms like pain while urination (12),(13).
7. Tomato Juice
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You Will Need
1 glass of unsweetened tomato juice
What You Have To Do
Consume a glass of tomato juice with a pinch of pepper.
How Often You Should Do This
Once daily.
Why This Works
Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, a natural antioxidant that can prevent kidney stones (14). And thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can also help relieve the associated inflammation and pain (15).
8. Pickle Juice
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You Will Need
2 tablespoons of pickle juice
What You Have To Do
Drink pickle juice. You can dilute it with a little water, if required.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink the juice every 4 hours for a couple of days.
Why This Works
Pickle juice contains vinegar, which is primarily made of acetic acid that can help destroy kidney stones. And its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the accompanying inflammation and pain (16).
9. Basil Juice
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You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of basil extract
- Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Crush some basil leaves.
- Combine the extract with some honey or fruit juice to improve its taste. You can also purchase the extract from your nearest store.
How Often You Should Do This
Once daily.
Why This Works
Certain compounds in basil can stabilize the uric acid levels in your body – preventing kidney stone formation. Basil also contains acetic acid that helps dissolve kidney stones (17).
10. Water
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You Will Need
1 glass of water
What You Have To Do
Drink a glass of water to make your kidney stones pass through urine.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 10 to 12 times daily.
Why This Works
Drinking enough water can prevent kidney stone formation by stalling the crystallization of certain compounds in your urine. Water helps dilute your urine, thus keeping you well hydrated and warding off the crystals (18).
11. Epsom Salt Bath
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You Will Need
- 1 cup of Epsom salt
- Bathwater
What You Have To Do
- Add a cup of Epsom salt to your bathwater.
- Soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Thrice a week.
Why This Works
Also known as magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt can increase the serum magnesium levels by getting absorbed via your skin. Adequate magnesium levels might cut kidney stone risk and also decrease the size of the existing stones (19),(20).
12. Baking Soda
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You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 glass of water
What You Have To Do
1. Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water.
2. Mix well and drink immediately.
How Often You Should Do This
2 to 3 times daily.
Why This Works
Baking soda, being alkaline, can alkalize your urine. This helps the kidney stones dissolve faster. It also restores the pH balance of your kidneys, thereby reinstating their normal functioning (21).
13. Garlic
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You Will Need
- 5 to 6 garlic cloves
- 1 cup of water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Peel the garlic cloves.
- Blend them with a cup of water and some honey.
How Often You Should Do This
1 to 2 times daily.
Why This Works
Garlic is a potent antioxidant that protects your body from free radical damage. It also acts as a diuretic that can help remove toxins from your kidneys, thereby accelerating recovery. The allicin in garlic exhibits antimicrobial properties, which protect your kidneys from infection (22),(23).
14. Wheatgrass Juice
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You Will Need
- 1 cup of wheatgrass juice
- Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- You can procure the juice from your nearest supermarket store.
- Add some honey for taste.
How Often You Should Do This
Take a cup of the juice once daily.
Why This Works
Wheatgrass is another plant with diuretic properties that help the stones pass through urine. It also exhibits antioxidant properties that protect your kidneys from free radical damage (24).
15. Heating Pad
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You Will Need
Heating pad
What You Have To Do
Apply a heating pad on the affected area of your body for 15 to 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 2 to 3 times daily until the pain subsides.
Why This Works
Heating pads can help relieve the pain, inflammation, and swelling caused by kidney stones. The heat also helps your muscles relax, making it easier for the stones to pass. However, there is insufficient information on this, and we advise you to consult your doctor.
16. Massage
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Massage therapy is another way to relieve kidney stones. A massage on the affected areas by a professional massage therapist can help you cope with the pain. Proper massage can also guide the stones to the urinary tract, accelerating their elimination. However, we recommend you to undergo a massage only after your kidney stones have passed, as a follow-up treatment (25).
These are the ways you can treat kidney stones. The next step is ensuring they don’t recur.
Preventive Tips
- Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking enough fluids, especially water.
- Follow a diet rich in calcium – this can include foods like milk, cheese, yogurt.
- Reduce sodium intake.
- Keep oxalate-rich foods to a minimum – they include chocolates, spinach, sweet potatoes, soy products, coffee, peanuts, and wheat bran.
- Limit or avoid animal proteins from fish, poultry, beef, and pork.
- Vitamin C supplements are known to increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Therefore, avoid them.
Although these remedies can aid your recovery from kidney stones, it is always better to get yourself treated by a medical professional. In fact, some signs may call for an immediate visit to your doctor.
When To Visit A Doctor
Visit your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Unbearable pain in your side, groin, abdomen or genitals
- Blood in your urine
- A urinary tract infection accompanied by severe pain or burning sensation while urinating
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Fever and chills
To avoid further complications, we recommended you get treatment as soon as you notice the onset of the stones. Most of us become careless when it comes to a healthy diet and lifestyle, putting ourselves at a great risk of developing several health conditions. Kidney stones can make our life difficult, and hence, need to be addressed immediately. Go ahead and start using the knowledge you have gained to treat them. Also, don’t forget to share this article with your near and dear ones – you will be helping them as well.
Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions
What is the best sleeping position for reducing the pain from kidney stones?
It is best to use a supportive mattress and pillow while sleeping. If you are suffering from kidney stones, you must keep repositioning your body while sleeping. Sleeping on the same side might increase the pain.
How long does it take to get rid of a kidney stone?
Getting rid of a kidney stone can be extremely painful and can take anywhere from a few days to 6 weeks.
What should you not eat if you have kidney stones?
You must not eat foods that can provoke stone-formation – these include beets, chocolates, spinach, and nuts. All of these are rich in oxalate, the excess of which can contribute to kidney stones. You must avoid drinking cola as well as it might elevate disease risk due to its high phosphate content.
The post 16 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Kidney Stone Pain appeared first on STYLECRAZE.
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