Are there home remedies for kidney stones?

Are there home remedies for kidney stones?

Here you will find the most common home remedies for kidney stones. Even if it is sometimes difficult to find the right home remedy, sometimes it is not that far away. You already have most of the home remedies in your household, as the name suggests.

If you have kidney stones, you've most likely left no stone unturned when it comes to finding ways to relieve your pain. This pain and other symptoms come from the blockage that a kidney stone can cause. And this is usually the case when the stone travels through your ureter. The ureter is the tube that your kidney empties into your bladder. If the stone causes a blockage, urine will back up in your kidney, causing swelling and very severe pain.

So can you get rid of kidney stones at home?

While there are home remedies that can help prevent kidney stones from forming, there is no magic potion or home treatment that will make kidney stones disappear.

Certified nurse practitioner Tiffany Loboda, CNP, talks about ways to prevent kidney stones, how to treat a stone at home, and when to see your doctor.

How to tell if you have kidney stones

Kidney stones are solid, often jagged or even smooth-shaped masses or crystals of minerals and salts that form in your urinary tract. Kidney stones can be caused by various factors such as dehydration, diet, medical conditions, medications, or genetics. There are also different types of kidney stones/deposits, such as calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid and struvite. Calcium oxalate is the most common type, accounting for about 70% of stones. “These types of kidney stones, along with other, less common ones, are not soluble,” says Loboda.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain in the back, stomach, or side. Other symptoms include:

• Brechreiz
• Erbrechen
• Blut im Urin
• Schmerzen beim Urinieren
• Probleme Wasser zu lassen
• Den Drang, sehr oft zu urinieren
• Urin, der schlecht riecht oder trüb aussieht
• Fieber oder Schüttelfrost

“These symptoms typically occur when the stone moves out of the kidney,” says Loboda. "Kidney stones generally do not cause pain. The pain occurs when they begin to migrate out of the kidney and cause a blockage."

So what can you do if you can't dissolve your kidney stones?

Work on prevention, advises Loboda. A few lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of forming more stones in the future.

Drink a lot

The main reason for the formation of kidney stones is that you don't drink enough fluids. “Dehydration is a big factor,” says Loboda. "Staying well hydrated is one of the most important factors in prevention. We want people to always drink plenty of fluids unless there is a medical reason that prohibits them from doing so."

The internet is full of information about other liquids that can help with kidney stones, but for the most part, sticking with water is ideal. But a few ingredients show promise, although research is limited:

• Apfelessig
• Löwenzahnwurzelsaft
• Saft aus Bananenstielen

“Water is obviously best, but all liquids count,” says Loboda.

Consume citrus fruits

Fruits and vegetables like lemons, limes, tomatoes, melons, and oranges are great for keeping your citrate levels high. “Citrus fruits are important because they bind calcium in the urine,” says Loboda. “Citrus fruits can also dissolve some crystals before they can even turn into a stone.” Whether you add a squeeze of lemon to your water or chop tomatoes for your salad, it's a good idea to include these foods in your diet. You can even use a concentrated version of citrus juice.  “Think of citrus fruits as a protective shield,” says Loboda. “The more citrus fruits you consume, the stronger your shield will be to protect you from stones.” People with conditions such as Crohn's disease or those who have had bariatric surgery may have difficulty absorbing citrate from food alone. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to increase citrate levels.

Don't be afraid of calcium

Because calcium oxalate is one of the substances that form kidney stones, many people think that avoiding or limiting their calcium intake helps prevent kidney stones. “Calcium is not the enemy of deposits,” assures Loboda. "Calcium binds oxalates in the intestines. If you restrict calcium in your diet, the oxalates you consume are not excreted in the stool through the digestive tract. They are absorbed and then excreted in your urine, which is what we don't want." You should aim for around 800 to 1200 milligrams of calcium per day. The goal is not to consume too much calcium, but rather to only consume the recommended amounts. Foods that contain high amounts of oxalates include spinach, beets, rhubarb and nuts. Black tea should only be consumed in moderation.

Watch your sodium intake

A diet low in sodium, about 2,000 to 2,300 milligrams per day, can help prevent kidney stones. Too much sodium in your diet can trigger kidney stones by increasing the amount of calcium in your urine. Pay attention to the types of foods you eat. Pizza, pasta, bread, bacon, sausage – foods that are processed, canned, cured, canned or pickled have high amounts of sodium. “We really get most of our daily sodium from what’s in the foods we eat,” says Loboda. “And unfortunately, a lot of things contain a lot of sodium.” One way to reduce the amount of salt in your diet is to read labels and think about portion sizes. “Pay attention to the serving size on the labels, it can trip you up,” says Loboda. "If you don't read the serving size, you might see 100 milligrams of sodium on the label, but maybe that package contains three or four servings. It's important to pay attention to both."

When to see your doctor about your kidney stones

If you think you have a kidney stone, it is important to see your doctor. If you are in severe pain, have uncontrollable nausea or vomiting, have a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, have difficulty urinating, or pass urine that is thick, bright red, or filled with clumps, go to the emergency room. For non-emergency cases, talking to your doctor or a surgeon who specializes in the treatment and prevention of stones, such as a urologist or nephrologist, can help you find the path to treatment and prevention. The discussion about prevention often begins with performing a 24-hour urinalysis. “A 24-hour urinalysis gives us information about your risk factors,” explains Loboda. "We can determine what in the diet might increase the risk of stones or cause them to form. It really allows us to create an individualized prevention plan." It's important to note that most people who have a kidney stone have a high chance of developing it again. “If you don’t focus on prevention early, stones can grow and progress from a very small problem to a potentially large problem,” warns Loboda.
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