Living with kidney stones can be a painful experience. In addition to the pain, kidney stones can cause nausea, vomiting, and when they damage the urinary tract, it can be accompanied by inflammation and fever. Your everyday routine will get disrupted by frequent visits to the bathroom.
I think you will agree that kidney stones are inconvenient and painful. They can also have dangerous complications. Learning how to dissolve kidney stones can do a lot to improve your life quality.
This article looks into some methods for treating kidney stones at home.
Table of Contents
Hydration Is the Most Important Treatment
Drinking water will help dissolve your kidney stones over time. To achieve this, you need 2-3 liters of water a day. Keep in mind that the average amount of fluid intake for healthy people is around 1-1.5 liters daily.
So it’s clear that you will have to make a conscious decision to take more water than usual. This means making approximately eight trips to the bathroom every day.
Many people feel that this is unreasonable. But this inconvenience can do a lot to save you from pain. There are also other health benefits for staying thoroughly hydrated.
How do you train yourself for becoming hydrated?
1. Do It Gradually
By being patient, you can start by drinking one glass a day to downing ten glasses of water every day. Using an app can help you organize your schedule. Timers are more old-fashioned are as effective as modern methods.
2. Take Bathroom Breaks No Matter What
It's understandable that many people feel too busy to take frequent bathroom breaks. But this can lead to kidney stone complications. Be persistent and mindful when it comes to taking bathroom breaks.
3. Always Have Water on Hand
If you don’t have a water bottle yet, buy one immediately. Water bottles are environmentally friendly as well as very sturdy. You can always keep one around without having to worry about spills.
4. Try Other Remedies In Addition to Water
Drinking water is extremely important. But there are other liquids you can try as well. Some fruit juices and plant infusions could help dissolve your kidney stones more quickly.
Additionally, you can make some simple adjustments to your diet. But which nutrients are good for treating kidney stones? Are there any foods you need to avoid?
How to Get Rid of Kidney Stones Using All-Natural Remedies
Let’s look into some easily available options. What are the best ways to treat kidney stones?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Many people favor this type of vinegar. It has a reputation for being exceptionally healthy. But what makes it stand out?
Why Can This Help Dissolve Your Kidney Stones?
Apple cider vinegar is rich in citric acid. Why is citric acid important? Doctors say that citric acid can help dissolve kidney stones in two different ways.
- It Reduces the Amount of Calcium in Your Urine
This is extremely important.
Citric acid binds with the calcium ions in your urine, thus preventing calcium oxalate stones from forming.
But what if you already have to deal with kidney stones?
- It Keeps the Stones from Getting Larger
This acid can also bind with existing calcium oxalate crystals. Thus, it keeps the crystals from forming larger stones. In this case, the chance for removing them through urination will be higher.
So it is clear that apple cider vinegar can help you get rid of kidney stones. What are some other ways it can be beneficial for your health?
General Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a good choice for any household. This vinegar has a number of scientifically-proven health benefits.
Since it has great antibacterial properties, you can use it to preserve food. Some people even use it as a cleaning aid.
Additionally, this vinegar is a great choice for preventing diabetes, as it can balance your blood sugar. Having diabetes increases your chances of developing kidney stones due to developed insulin resistance.
Takeaways
Adding apple cider vinegar to your salads is an extremely simple way to preserve your long-term health.
Calcium (1,000 mg)
Why is calcium good for dissolving your kidney stones? And what are some easy ways to add calcium to your diet?
Why Can This Help Dissolve Your Kidney Stones?
It is a common misconception that calcium will lead to more kidney stones formation in your body. People believe this is because some kidney stones contain calcium ions.
But the truth is that this nutrient will actually decrease your risk of development fo kidney stones. If you have normal calcium levels, is will be absorbed by your kidneys back to organism without increasing the development of kidney stones.
So make sure you are getting the daily dose of calcium. Additionally, make sure to take vitamin D along with it. This will help with the absorption of calcium, which also protects your kidneys.
General Health Benefits of a Calcium-Rich Diet
Why is calcium important?
The most important function of calcium is to protect your bone health.
At the same time, it’s important not to consume too much of this nutrient. It might be associated with a risk of heart disease.
Before you decide to take calcium supplements, ask a medical professional. Furthermore, make sure your doctors know that you have kidney stones. Some evidence suggests that supplements could be bad for your kidneys.
How much calcium do you need? You should ask your physician for advice about the best dosage for you. For men over the age of fifty, the recommended dosage is 1,000 milligrams per day.
Takeaways
To prevent or dissolve kidney stones, you should add calcium to your diet. One easy way is to consume more dairy. Sardines, tofu, and soymilk are also great calcium sources.
Always make sure to consume enough vitamin D as well. You can get this nutrient from fatty fish and egg yolks.
Magnesium
Like calcium, magnesium has an important role to play in your metabolism. But how can it help you get rid of your kidney stones?
Why Can This Help Dissolve Your Kidney Stones?
Magnesium also has an effect on the formation of calcium oxalate. When doctors want to check your risk of forming kidney stones, they will also measure the levels of this mineral in your blood. This will help them to determine whether the urinary environment is “stable”.
General Health Benefits of Magnesium
Appropriate magnesium levels can lower your risk of diabetes. Additionally, it is good for your bone health.
The presence of magnesium will have a positive effect on calcium co-absorption. So consuming both of these minerals at once is extremely important.
However, magnesium has one downside effect. Some of the foods that are rich in magnesium are also rich in chemicals that can be bad for your kidney stones. So you should consult with a doctor about your diet.
Supplements may be a useful solution. The best dosage for you will depend on what kind of supplement you’re taking.
Takeaways
Magnesium is another useful mineral. It can prevent calcium oxalate from forming in your kidneys. Tofu, legumes, and avocados are good sources of magnesium if you have kidney stones.
Decrease Oxalate Consumption
Adding useful nutrients to your diet can do a lot to help you pass kidney stones. But there are some other ways your diet can help with this problem.
Why Can This Help Dissolve Your Kidney Stones?
Oxalate is also called oxalic acid. You can find it in certain fruits and vegetables. Cocoa and leafy greens are particularly rich in oxalate.
These foods are all good for your health. However, you may need to cut back on them regardless. This is especially true for people who have a high percentage of oxalic acid in their urine.
But why is oxalate so dangerous?
This acid can bind to the calcium ions in your body. This leads to a buildup of calcium oxalate that can result in kidney stones.
Takeaways
Cutting back on some foods can help you dissolve kidney stones. But there are downsides to consider as well. So before you implement changes in your diet, you should seek out a doctor’s advice.
Consume Less Salt
Salt, or sodium chloride, has both positive and negative effects on your health. Reducing the amount of salt take daily, you can reduce the chance of getting kidney stones.
Why Can This Help Dissolve Your Kidney Stones?
Eating more salt will lead to higher calcium levels in your urine. This also means you are likely to form calcium oxalate kidney stones. So switching to a low-sodium diet will help with your condition and protect your kidneys in the long-term.
Other Health Benefits
Salt also has a negative effect on calcium absorption. So if you regulate the consumption rate of this mineral, your bones are likely to become healthier. And it will also maintain your blood pressure.
How Do You Cut Back on Salt?
The recommended daily dosage of salt is 2,300 mg a day. But most people consume much more salt than that. Keep in mind that cheese, olives, sauces, and condiments generally contain high levels of salt.
It isn’t too difficult to cut back on salt. However, this will mean reading the labels on everything you eat. With a little extra planning and mindfulness, you can maintain a low-sodium diet without any difficulties.
Takeaways
By reducing your sodium chloride intake, you can reduce the risk of developing calcium oxalate kidney stones. Salt has some health benefits, so don’t try to cut it out completely. But some small alterations to your diet can have a positive effect on your overall health.
Look into Juices and Teas
Some plant-based remedies are noted for their beneficial effect on your kidney health. Which teas and juices should you drink if you have kidney stone problems?
Palo Azul Tree Bark Tea
Palo Azul has natural diuretic properties, making it easier for you to urinate often. This will help to prevent the formation of kidney stones as well as pass already formed ones.
Additionally, Palo Azul has a beneficial effect on insulin resistance. This means it can lower your chances of developing diabetes. As previously mentioned, people with diabetes are more prone to have kidney stones and other kidney problems.
This tea is also rich in isoflavones. These plant-based compounds are good for preventing calcium oxalate buildup. They are also good for your bone health.
Basil Tea or Juice
Basil is a popular herb appeared in many recipes. It has antibacterial properties, and it can reduce inflammation.
But it’s also beneficial for the health of your kidneys. Consuming basil juice will lower your uric acid levels, reducing your risk of forming kidney stones.
Since basil juice is rich in acetic acid too, it helps dissolve kidney stones and alleviate the pain.
So how do you make basil tea? You can simply boil this herb and drink it. Adding basil to your smoothies is another option.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that basil comes with some potential health risks. It can lower your blood pressure to a critically lower level.So before you decide to drink basil tea daily, discuss it with your doctors.
Dandelion Root Juice
You can get dandelion roots in health stores. But why is dandelion root juice good for kidney stone treatment and prevention?
Using dandelion root extract has an effect on bile production. And it's a natural diuretic, so it will increase urination. This helps eliminate waste from your body. Dandelion root also increases the absorption of useful nutrients.
There is another upside as well. Dandelion roots are rich in various vitamins. This means that they can strengthen your immune system. If you have kidney stones, preventing urinary tract infections is very important.
However, you can’t drink dandelion root juice if you are taking other diuretics. It can also be dangerous to take if you are using antihypertensive drugs or other medication.
An Important Health Concern
Although these remedies all come in liquid form, they can’t replace drinking water. Experts say you should always drink one glass of water (8 ounces) after you consume these teas or juices. This will help the ingredients get absorbed more quickly.
Conclusion
How to dissolve kidney stones with all-natural remedies?
Some simple alterations in your diet can make a surprising difference. You want to prevent the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. That means improved calcium absorption is good for you.
Taking natural diuretics is also useful. And anything that improves your blood sugar levels will likely protect your kidneys.
Whichever option you go for, you have to keep drinking water as well. With frequent bathroom breaks and sufficient hydration, you can take care of your kidney stones at home. Freeing yourself from the pain could be simpler than you think.