20 Best Home Remedies for Kidney Stones

September 11, 2023

An imbalanced Vata can cause the Kapha to dry up, leading to the formation of Ashmari or Kidney stones. The scientific term for kidney stones is Renal Calculi, and the process of stone formation is called Urolithiasis. Your kidneys are responsible for removing wastes from your body. When you drink less water, or your body is dehydrated, these wastes stick together to form lumps that gradually harden to form kidney stones. In Ayurvedic texts, Kidney stones have been categorized into Vattaj Ashmari, Pittaj Ashmari, Kaphaj Ashmari, and Shukraj Ashmari. [1]

Formation of Kidney stones may produce the symptoms like Jwara (fever and chills), Aruchi (lack of appetite), Basti Pida (Bladder pain and discomfort), Mutrakriccha (Difficulty in micturition), Bastishira Vedana (Urethral pain), Mushka Vedana (Testicles pain), and Shepha Vedana (Penile pain). [2]

Kidney stones do not produce any symptoms initially. Only when they start moving within the kidneys or enter the ureters, you begin experiencing the symptoms. When a kidney stone gets stuck in any of the ureters, it may block the urine flow and cause the kidneys to swell and the ureters to go into painful spasms.

Diabetes, Hypertension, gout, osteoporosis, obesity, thyroid disease, cystic fibrosis, diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease may also trigger the formation of kidney stones. The other kidney stone formation triggers include certain medications like antibiotics, calcium-based antacids, diuretics, etc., and foods such as those high in sugars and salts, poultry and meat, etc. [1]

Smaller kidney stones may get flushed out by drinking plenty of water. However, the larger ones may need surgical intervention. Those who are looking for natural ways to get rid of their kidney stones may consider using the various home remedies for kidney stones as discussed below:

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Home remedies for kidney stones

Flush with water

Increasing your water intake is the easiest home remedy for kidney stones. Drink as much as ten glasses of water daily to flush out the stone-forming toxins and wastes from your kidneys. [3]

Drink lemon juice

Taking lemon juice every day can help you get rid of kidney stones. Lemon juice is one of the most common Indian home remedies for kidney stones as it is part of the Indian culture to take ‘Nimbu paani’ for various reasons. Citrates in lemon can disintegrate the calcium deposits and slow down kidney stone formation. [12]

Break stones with Apple Cider Vinegar

Acetic acid in Apple Cider Vinegar can dissolve calcium deposits and reduce the risk of kidney stones. [9]

Take Horsetail tea

This unique herb acts as a diuretic, flushing out stones from your kidneys. Also, it specifically prevents the formation of uric acid stones within your kidneys. [13]

Say ‘No’ to stones with Wheatgrass juice

Drinking Wheatgrass juice can prevent kidney stone formation by preventing the crystallization of wastes in your kidneys. [6]

Juice of Celery Stalks can help

Celery juice can prevent the accumulation of minerals within your kidneys due to its high potassium and water content. Drink Celery juice daily to avoid kidney stones. [11]

Take dandelion root tea

Take dandelion root tea every day to purge your kidneys of the stones. In Ayurveda, Dandelion is referred to as Dugdhapheni. Tea made from Dandelion root can prevent the crystallization of calcium oxalate, thereby preventing kidney stone formation. This is one of the best Ayurvedic home remedies for kidney stones. [14]

Treat with Pomegranate juice

Potassium Citrate in pomegranate juice can reduce the acidic nature of your urine, reducing the chances of kidney stone formation. [10]

Let them pass with Olive Oil

Olive Oil prevents kidney stone formation and improves your kidneys’ health. [15]

Take Tulsi Tea

Holy Basil or Tulsi is a pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory agent that can effectively reduce pain from kidney stones. Also, the acetic acid in Basil can easily dissolve kidney stones. [4]

Remove kidney stones with kidney beans

Kidney beans, being loaded with fibers, can act as a mop, cleansing your kidneys of waste particles and toxins. [5]

Treat with Uva-Ursi

This medicinal herb, commonly known as bearberry or hogberry, contains hydroquinone, which can dissolve kidney stones and reduce pain and inflammation in the kidneys. This is one of the commonly used home remedies for kidney stone pain. [7]

Say goodbye to stones with watermelon juice

Nutrients in Watermelon juice can improve the health of your kidneys and regulate the level of acids in your urine to prevent kidney stone formation. Studies have shown that watermelon rind extracts too play a major role in kidney stone prevention. [19]

Take the help of Stinging Nettles

Make a tea using the nettle leaves or Bichua Pattee and let it serve as a renal detox, removing stones and impurities from your kidneys. [16]

Go risk-free with baking soda

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate alkalizes the body and makes the urine less acidic. This can reduce the chances of kidney stone formation. [8]

Take powdered Horse-gram (Dolichos biflorus) seeds

Horsegram seeds contain potassium, magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Citrate. These substances can prevent kidney stone formation. [12]

Remove stones with Hairy Rupturewort (Herniaria hirsuta) extracts

The herbal extracts of Hairy rupturewort can prevent the formation of calcium oxalate crystals and are useful in preventing kidney stones. [12]

Moringa Seed Extracts

The seeds of Moringa or drumsticks can be used to prepare a decoction for resolving nephrolithiasis. [17]

Clear stone with Figs

Figs are blessed with the power of eliminating kidney stones. Boil one or two figs in water, strain, and drink on an empty stomach to do away with kidney stones.

Throw out with Tomato juice

Drink a glassful of tomato juice every day to remove kidney stones. Tomato juice has the power to dissolve mineral salt lumps in your kidneys. [18]

FAQs

• How can you prevent kidney stone formation?

1. You can prevent the formation of these painful kidney stones through a few lifestyle & dietary changes as mentioned below:
2. Being obese can amplify the risk of developing kidney stones. So, try shedding your extra pounds.
3. Staying away from high-sodium food and salt helps.
4. Staying thoroughly hydrated and drinking a lot of water is essential as it can increase urine output and help flush out wastes that might turn into stones later.

• How does Ayurveda propose to manage kidney stones?

According to Ayurveda, kidney stones can be managed through the following Ayurvedic medications formulated with potent herbs:
1. Mutrala: These drugs increase urine production and volume and facilitate the expulsion of kidney stones. These drugs include herbs like Gokshura, Punarnava, Trinapanchamula, and Shvetaparpati.
2. Ashmari-Bhedana: These drugs include herbs like Varuna, Punarnava, Pashanbheda, Gokshura, Kulatha, etc., capable of disintegrating and expelling kidney stones.
3. Deepana-Pachana: These drugs are composed of herbs like Triphala, Musta, Vibhitak, and Trikatu, which can improve digestion and correct metabolic abnormalities.
4. Vedanasthapana and Shothahara: These are pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs consisting of herbs like Gokshura, Punarnava, and Guggulu.

• What are the major therapies used in modern medicine for kidney stones?

The main therapies/treatments are as follows:
1. Ureteroscopy: This diagnostic procedure uses an ureteroscope to view the inside of the kidneys and ureters.
2. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: This surgical procedure removes kidney stones from the ureters or kidneys through a one-cm-long skin incision at the back.
3. Pyelolithotomy: This is the surgical extraction of kidney stones lodged in the renal pelvis.
4. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: This is a non-invasive procedure using shock waves to break down kidney stones.

Conclusion

Managing kidney stones through Indian home remedies and Ayurvedic home remedies for kidney stones is easy. However, this holds true only if the stones are small in size. If you suspect having kidney stones and are experiencing excruciating pain and other unpleasant symptoms, and if none of the home remedies for kidney stones have worked for you, you must not wait to see a doctor.

Disclaimer

This article is written from a health and wellness perspective and is not medical advice. Kindly seek the help of a certified medical practitioner before initiating any treatment.

References