Kidney stones form when various waste matter hardens and attaches to the inside wall of the kidney, forming calculi or stones. Most of the time, kidney stones remain unnoticed until one is dislodged and is caught in a ureter or other passageway while attempting to exit the body during urination. A variety of home remedies can be made from grocery store items. These may help reduce the incidence of kidney stones and help others dissolve before they are released and cause pain. Always check with your health practitioner before using foods to treat serious disease.
Lemonade
Fresh lemons are high in citrate, a chemical that helps dissolve some types of kidney stones, says Dr. Roger Sur, director of the University of California San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center. Sur recommends drinking lemonade or lemon water to take advantage of the benefits offered by lemons. His recipe includes using 4 oz. fresh or reconstituted lemon juice mixed in 2-1/2 quarts of water. Drink the entire contents throughout the day, every day to dissolve existing stones.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar helps adjust the pH of your body and creates an alkaline-forming state in the urine, according to Dr. Theodore Baroody in "Alkalize or Die." Uric acid, the chemical that forms both urate stones and gout, cannot crystallize in alkaline urine. By keeping the uric acid in suspension, the body can more easily rid itself of excess, preventing the formation of new calculi, dissolving existing stones and protecting against the formation of uric acid crystals and gout. Baroody recommends 2 to 4 tbsp. apple cider vinegar mixed in an 8 to 12 oz. glass of water. Drink at least once a day, preferably twice daily. If the apple cider vinegar is too strong, cut back to an amount you are able to tolerate. Additionally, you can use apple cider vinegar to sprinkle on salads or in recipes calling for white vinegar.
Cranberry Juice
Another home remedy to prevent kidney stones is cranberry juice, which supports the urinary tract, according to the "British Journal of Urology." Cranberry juice has been used historically to treat urinary tract infections, bladder infections and cystitis. It is high in nutrients such as vitamin C, anthocyanins and antioxidants, all of which are known to reduce inflammation. The journal recommends mixing 1 cup of unsweetened cranberry concentrate with 3 cups of water. Sweeten with stevia or a small amount of honey and drink throughout the day, every day.
Parsley
Parsley is a natural diuretic, high in vitamin C and other nutrient-rich compounds. In addition, parsley is highly alkaline. Adding parsley to your diet may help increase urination and slightly alter the pH of your urine, making it alkaline, according to the "Concise Encyclopedia of Foods and Nutrition." The alkaline pH helps prevent the formation of kidney stones. Parsley is good added to foods as a garnish, chopped in salads or mixed in mashed potatoes. Do not cook parsley because it loses many of its nutrients when heated. Another way you can benefit from using parsley is by including it in freshly squeezed juice.
References
- University of California San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center: Five Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones -- From Lemonade to Surgery
- "British Journal of Urology"; Influence of Cranberry Juice on the Urinary Risk Factors for Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Formation; T. McHarg; October 2003
- "Concise Encyclopedia of Foods and Nutrition"; Audrey H. Ensminger; 1995
- "The pH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
- "Alkalize or Die"; Dr. Theodore A. Baroody; 1991
