Home Remedies for Passing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are made of of minerals that dissolve in the urinary tract. These stones can be caused by calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, calcium phosphate and cystine. While some stones may need to be treated medically, it is possible to pass the stones at home with lifestyle changes and special attention to diet and fluid intake.

Calcium Restriction

• According to the Mayo Clinic, most kidney stones contain calcium. Consuming too much calcium can cause the excess to be excreted through your kidneys, allowing the dissolved calcium to harden and create a kidney stone. Professionals from Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology recommend limiting your intake of calcium by avoiding foods that have high levels of calcium. These foods include cheese, ice cream, milk and pizza. On a calcium-restricted diet for kidney stones, men should get no more than 800 mg of calcium per day. Women who have not reached menopause should get no more than 1000 mg of calcium per day. After menopause, women should limit their calcium intake to no more than 1200 mg per day.

Purine Restriction

• If you have a uric acid kidney stone, you will be advised to change your diet so that less uric acid is excreted through the kidneys. Betty Kovacs, a registered dietitian and the co-director of the New York Obesity Research Center Weight Loss Program, states that uric acid stones are associated with acidic urine and a high intake of purine. Purines are found in meats, anchovies, sardines, mackerel and gravy. Kovacs recommends substituting these high-purine foods with dairy products, legumes, whole grains and vegetables as protein sources.

Fiber Intake

• Another way to decrease the amount of calcium that is excreted by the kidneys is to eat more insoluble fiber. According to the doctors from Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology, insoluble fiber may help reduce the amount of calcium in the urine. Fiber combines with calcium in the intestines so that the calcium is eliminated with bowel movements rather than through the kidneys. Fiber also makes foods move through the intestine more quickly, giving the body less time to absorb calcium.

Fluid Intake

• The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse recommends drinking 12 full glasses of water each day if you have a kidney stone. Increasing your fluid intake can help to flush minerals out of the urinary tract so that they cannot harden and cause more stones or larger existing stones. You may be advised to limit your intake of coffee and tea to no more than two cups per day since caffeine can cause you to lose fluid quickly.

Pain Relief

• While your doctor may prescribe drugs to control your kidney stone pain, you may want to try relieving the pain on your own so you can avoid taking medication. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you can use a castor oil pack to control inflammation and pain. Apply castor oil directly to your skin and cover it with a clean cloth and a layer of plastic wrap. Put a hot water bottle or heating pad over the castor oil pack and leave it in place for 30 to 60 minutes. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to castor oil, do not use this treatment.