To effectively relieve the symptoms of kidney stones, it’s important to also address the underlying cause of the problem—the formation of these painful mineral deposits in your kidneys and urinary tract. The good news is, many natural remedies can help you stop kidney stones from forming at all, which means you’ll never have to suffer through this painful and uncomfortable condition again! Here are 8 home remedies for kidney stones that actually work!
1) Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a well-known home remedy for kidney stones. To use this remedy, mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with two cups of water and drink the mixture once or twice daily until your stones pass. Apple cider vinegar has been found to help dissolve calcium and uric acid crystals that form into kidney stones. It also helps to relieve pain in the lower back and abdomen areas, due to its high potassium levels.
2) Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is one of the most effective home remedies for kidney stones. It can help to relieve the pain and can also help to dissolve kidney stones. Soak in a bathtub full of Epsom salt and drink plenty of water afterward to flush out the toxins from your system.
3) Baking Soda
What is baking soda? Baking soda is a powdered form of sodium bicarbonate. It has been used in baking and as an agent to deodorize refrigerators and freezers since the 1800s. A more recent use of baking soda is as an antacid to neutralize stomach acid that can cause indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea, and ulcers.
4) Watermelon Juice
Watermelon juice is a natural remedy that can help with kidney stones. The watermelon contains citrulline, which helps to break down the calcium oxalate that causes kidney stones. It also contains potassium, which helps with kidney function.
The first step in drinking watermelon juice to help treat your kidney stones is to juice the watermelon and drink it fresh. It’s important not to add anything else such as sugar or ice cubes because they can make your symptoms worse.
5) Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is a popular home remedy for kidney stones. It contains compounds called proanthocyanidins that are believed to help prevent the formation of certain types of kidney stones. Cranberry juice is not as effective as some other treatments, but it can be helpful in certain situations.
6) Herbal Tea
Herbal teas are a great way to relieve pain and discomfort. This is because of the anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and analgesic properties of the herbs that go into them. One such herbal tea that has been shown to be effective in relieving kidney stones is called Goldenrod tea. It consists of dried goldenrod leaves steeped in boiled water. In order to maximize relief from kidney stones, you should drink this tea three times per day.
7) Urine Therapy (Drinking Your Own Pee!)
The most interesting, but controversial, remedy is drinking your own urine. Proponents of this therapy believe that the concentrated toxins in urine are a source of healthful substances when diluted. Urine therapy involves drinking about a quart of urine per day for up to three months. The reasoning behind this is that our bodies produce more than enough fresh water in the form of sweat, tears and other bodily fluids to compensate for the amount we drink from the tap or other sources.
8) Vitamin C
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends taking 500 mg of Vitamin C three times a day to reduce the pain and size of kidney stones. Because Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it is easy to overdose on if taken in large quantities, so only take as much as the recommended dose.