Natural Home Remedies For Kidney Stone By Dr. Siddharth Gupta

Introduction:

When we hear about kidney stones, we associate them with ‘unbearable pain.’   

Kidney stones are also called urinary calculi, renal calculi, renal stones, or urinary stones. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and other substances in the urine. About 75% of all kidney stones are estimated to be mainly composed of calcium. These kidney stones have variable shapes, sizes and colours.¹ 

There are four types of kidney stones based on their chemical composition: 

• Calcium oxalate 
• Uric acid 
• Struvite 
• Cystine² 

Kidney stone is more common in males as compared to females.¹ Approximately one in ten people have a kidney stone at some point in their lives.² It is advised to get kidney stones diagnosed by a medical expert so that appropriate steps can be taken according to the type of stone detected. Here are some home remedies that focus on effective solutions for kidney stones. 

What Causes Kidney Stones?

The general causes of kidney stones are as follows:  

• Drinking too little water  
• Eating animal protein or food that is high in sodium  
• A calcium-deficit diet increases the level of other substances that cause kidney stones  
• Certain medications like diuretics and calcium-based antacids  
• People with hypercalciuria are likely to develop kidney stones¹  
• Health conditions like  
• Obesity  
• Inflammatory bowel disease  
• Hyperparathyroidism  
• Gout  
• Type 2 diabetes  
• Kidney disease  
• Recurrent urinary tract infections¹   
• Genetic changes increase the risk of kidney stones¹  
• Weight loss surgery  
• Infections in the urinary tract  
• Family history  
• Diet with high content of salt or sugar (especially fructose)² 

The causes of kidney stones based on their types are as follows:  

Table: Causes of kidney stones based on their types.²    

Also Read: Best Home Remedies For Gout

Symptoms Of Kidney Stones:

Since kidney stones are found in different shapes and sizes, some could be as small as a grain of sand, and others could be large enough to be seen clearly with the naked eye. The symptoms are more noticeable in larger kidney stones.   

The symptoms could be just one or multiple of the following:  

• Extreme pain on either side of the lower back    
• A vague pain that does not decrease on its own  
• Stomachache that persists until treated  
• Chills and fever  
• Blood found in urine    
• Nausea with or without vomiting    
• Smelly or cloudy urine²  

Home Remedies for Kidney Stones:

Remedies used either dissolve the kidney stone or eliminate it. Here are some home remedies to treat kidney stones. 

1. Water:    

Even though this is an obvious solution, staying hydrated may be one of the most effective remedies for kidney stones. Increasing the amount of water intake leads to increased urine output. It may also help in flushing out smaller kidney stones. Increasing the urine output prevents the concentration of the waste product, thereby decreasing the chances of kidney stones.³  

2. Green Tea:  

Green tea (Camellia Sinensis) may be used to treat kidney stones. It may help reduce the deposition of calcium in the kidney. It may also decrease oxalate excretion in urine. Increased fluid intake may also help in the formation of clear urine.⁴  

3. Raspberry:    

Raspberry fruit may help in the prevention and management of kidney stones.  It may reduce urine calcium and phosphorus levels and may help expel stones from the urinary tract. It may also reduce the growth of kidney stones.⁴ 

4. Pomegranate:    

Pomegranate is a rich source of active phytochemicals which may ease the burning sensation in urine. The phytochemicals may also show muscle relaxant properties, resulting in the removal of stones from the kidney. Drinking fresh pomegranate juice may help manage kidney stones.⁴   

5. Horse Gram:  

Horse gram, also called Kulathi in Hindi, are seeds with great medicinal value. Along with many other conditions, they may help manage kidney stones. Kulathi seeds can be cooked in the pressure cooker with some water. A soup is formed in the cooker, which is collected and consumed to relieve kidney stones.⁵  

6. Coconut:    

Coconut water may help us feel refreshed and energized, but it also has medicinal properties. Drinking coconut water may show diuretic properties (increase urine output) and help you flush out kidney stones. A paste made of coconut flowers, taken along with curd, may also be effective against kidney stones.⁵  

7. Parsley:  

Parsley is a commonly known herb used widely in the kitchen. Apart from many medicinal actions, it may help against kidney disorders.⁴ You can incorporate parsley in your food and dishes. It can also be added to salads, soups and vegetables. 

8. Dietary Changes:  

By making the following changes in the diet, you can keep your urine clean and avoid the concentration of waste products that may lead to the formation of kidney stones.  

• Increase fluid intake, including fruit juices.  
• Avoid fizzy drinks  
• Avoid excess salt in your diet 
• Try adding a few drops of lemon juice to the water you drink³  

9. Common Fig:  

Common fig, also known as anjeer, is taken for its multiple health benefits. You can make anjeer water to help with kidney stones. Boil anjeer fruits with some water for five to ten minutes. Pour the water into a cup. Drinking this water may help you relieve kidney stones.⁵  

10. Bay Leaf:      

Bay leaf, or Tej Patta in Hindi, is a common spice in Indian kitchens. This herb is also known to possess medicinal properties. You can make some bay leaves tea for kidney stones. To make the tea, boil some leaves along with some cardamom in water. Reduce the water to one-third of its initial amount. Strain the tea in a cup. Drinking this tea may help relieve and prevent the formation of kidney stones.⁵  

Though studies show the benefits of the given herbs and home remedies for treating kidney stones, these are insufficient. Therefore, there is a requirement for large scale clinical studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of these home remedies on human health. Thus, these should only be taken cautiously and never as a substitute for medical treatment.    

Effective kidney stone prevention depends on stone identification. Implementing preventive strategies that include primarily dietary changes and/or pharmacological treatments may be required. Additionally, regardless of underlying etiology, increasing water intake to maintain two liters of urine output per day, a low salt diet, and a decreased amount of animal protein consumption should be a daily practice

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Fatty Liver

When To Seek Medical Help?

You can seek medical help if: 

• You have a high fever. 
• You have unbearable pain. 
• You experience episodes of shivering and shaking. 
• You see blood in your urine.⁶ 

You must not rely on home remedies alone to treat kidney stones. Instead, you should consult a qualified doctor for advice on kidney stones. 

The pain of kidney stone fluctuates in severity and doesn’t usually go away if it is very severe. Waves of pain usually lasting 20-60 mins are common in kidney stones. Impacted stones are an important indicator to seek immediate medical attention.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Conclusion:

Kidney stones are a common occurrence in several people. It is a painful condition, but home remedies might help prevent and treat it. Increasing water intake may be the simplest yet most effective remedy for treating and preventing kidney stones.   

Natural remedies like pomegranate juice, raspberry, green tea, coconut water, horse gram, bay leaves and common fig may help relieve kidney stones. However, avoid taking them as an alternative to medicinal treatment. Taking any herbal remedy without consulting your doctor can worsen the condition.    

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References:

1. Kidney stones: MedlinePlus Genetics [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/kidney-stones/  

2. Kidney stones – Symptoms, causes, types, and treatment | National Kidney Foundation [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones#how-common-are-kidney-stones  

3. Kidney stones – Prevention nhs.uk [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-stones/prevention/#:~:text=The%20best%20way%20to%20prevent,tea%20and%20coffee%20also%20count  

4. Nirumand M, Hajialyani M, Rahimi R, Farzaei M, Zingue S, Nabavi S, et al. Dietary plants for the prevention and management of kidney stones: Preclinical and clinical evidence and molecular mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2022 Jul 19];19(3):765. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030765 

5. Ayush Division. Ayurveda offering Herbal healing. Available at: https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/publicationfile/7d11b02e5abb4717d53b4ce05efabd21.pdf 

6. Kidney stones – NHS [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-stones/  

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