About 85 percent of kidney stones pass on their own, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means doctors won’t do anything to treat them and instead ask you to stay home and wait. It takes about 72 hours for stones to pass, during which time you might experience intense pain, nausea and vomiting. If the stones are too big or they don’t pass naturally, you might need surgery to get rid of them.
Step 1
Drink lots of water. This is the number one recommendation from doctors, including the National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Drink at least 64 oz. of water every day, as this will help you pass the stones naturally.
Step 2
Drink uva ursi or dandelion tea three times as a natural remedy, recommends certified nutritionist and alternative medical practitioner Dr. Edward Group. Uva ursi can help clean the urinary tract, while dandelion root is a kidney tonic.
Step 3
Take vitamin B-6 supplements. An early 1999 study published in the “Journal of the American Society of Nephrology” showed that vitamin B-6 reduces the production of calcium oxalate, the main component of kidney stones. Instead of supplements, you can also eat more foods containing B-6, such as bananas, potatoes, spinach and fortified cereals.
Tips and Warnings
- You might need to take over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen to deal with the pain until the stones pass.
- Contact your doctor before undergoing any natural remedy for kidney stones.
References
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Kidney Stones in Adults; Frederic L. Coe., M.D.; October 2007
- Mayo Clinic: Kidney Stones
- National Health Services; Kidney Stones Treatment; April 2010
- “Journal of the American Society of Nephrology”; Intake of Vitamins B6 and C and the Risk of Kidney Stones in Women; Gary C. Curhan et al; 1999
- Global Healing Center; 10 Natural Remedies for Kidney Stones; Dr. Edward Group; January 2011
- Doctor Yourself; Kidney Stones; Andrew W. Saul; 2008
