The absolute best kidney stone home remedy is simple: Drink more water. The liquid will help flush the stones through your urinary tract. Aim for at least 12 eight-ounce glasses of water per day if you're trying to pass a stone. If possible, catch the stone in a strainer when it passes.
Most kidney stones cannot be dissolved. Some 5 percent of kidney stones are made up of uric acid. These may be dissolved by making the urine alkaline. Patients need to take a medicine such as the Ural that will make their urine less acidic because this aids the stone to dissolve.
A thin viewing tool, called a nephroscope, is used to locate and remove the kidney stone. A health care professional inserts the tool directly into the kidney through a small cut made in the back. For larger kidney stones, a laser may be used to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces.
When the kidneys are unable to filter blood properly, fluid and wastes build up in the blood. This can cause a number of changes to the skin, including a rash. The kidneys also have a hard time balancing the mineral phosphorus.
Treating kidney stones in pregnancy starts conservatively with hydration, pain relief (opioids/acetaminophen), and sometimes antiemetics, as most pass on their own, but if symptoms persist or infection develops, procedures like ureteral stenting, nephrostomy tubes (for drainage), or ureteroscopy (laser stone removal) may be needed, while shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is strictly avoided due to fetal risk. A specialist team (urologist & obstetrician) manages treatment, focusing on safety, with alpha-blockers (like tamsulosin) sometimes used cautiously to help passage.
In rare cases, certain types of stones—such as uric acid stones—can be dissolved with medication that makes the urine less acidic. However, a 7mm stone is unlikely to pass on its own and often requires medical treatment to break it up or remove it.
Avoid eating berries rich in oxalates such as strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry. Although these fruits are healthy, they can increase the formation of kidney stones. So, you must limit the consumption of berries when you are already suffering from kidney stones.
Itching often happens on both sides of the body at the same time (for example, both arms or both legs). Itching is most common and severe in people with kidney failure,but those in the earlier stages of CKD may also notice milder itching.
Larger kidney stones can cause symptoms, including:
If your kidneys aren't working properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs:
Children of all ages can develop kidney stones, including infants, but they occur much more often in teens. A family history of kidney stones makes a child more likely to develop them. Children who've had kidney stones in the past have a greater chance of developing another kidney stone.
Where do I feel kidney pain? You feel kidney pain near the middle of your back, just under your ribcage, on each side of your spine where your kidneys are. Your kidneys are part of the urinary tract, the organs that make and remove urine from the body.
Small crystals in your urine fuse together, similar to the way salt crystals form from evaporating saltwater. More crystals can bind over time until a stone is formed. The stone can then continue to grow bigger and ultimately become so heavy that it breaks off within the kidney.
Bryophyllum pinnatum, commonly known as Pattharcaṭṭa, is used traditionally in ethnomedicinal practices for the treatment of kidney stone and urinary insufficiency.
Lemon. Lemon contains citric acid that stops kidney stones from forming and helps break up stones that have already formed. For a refreshing beverage, add some fresh squeezed lemon into your water! Cruciferous vegetables.
Here are the key warning signs that indicate you may need professional kidney stone removal:
Foul-smelling urine can be a result of kidney stone composition or an infection that develops due to stones. If you notice these changes, don't dismiss them as insignificant, because they can provide valuable clues about kidney stone formation.
Conditions that can mimic kidney stone pain
Genetic causes can be linked to kidney stone development. Renal tubular loss of electrolytes or protein or the development of kidney calculi can signal underlying metabolic, endocrine, or renal tubular dysfunction that is genetic in origin, especially when symptoms are present in utero, infancy, or adolescence.
People with kidney disease may notice that their nails are yellow or discolored. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, they can't effectively filter out waste products, including nitrogen waste, which can lead to changes in the color and texture of the nails, making them appear pale or yellowish.
If your ankles, feet, or lower legs are swollen, it could mean that your kidneys are not removing extra fluid and salt from your body the way they should. This kind of swelling is called edema and is a common sign of kidney problems.
You can check kidney function at home using at-home test kits for urine (detecting protein/albumin) or finger-prick blood tests (checking creatinine/eGFR), often with smartphone apps for analysis, or by monitoring symptoms like increased nighttime urination (nocturia), swelling, or changes in urine (blood, foam) and discussing results with a doctor, as home tests screen but don't replace professional diagnosis.
If you've had calcium oxalate stones, you may want to avoid these foods to help reduce the amount of oxalate in your urine:
Low in sodium and phosphorus, blueberries are a great addition to your kidney-friendly diet. They are also a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Enjoy blueberries as part of a healthy breakfast or snack.