Natural Relief for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones affect millions of men and women and have been a literal pain in the side since the early Egyptians (archaeologists found kidney stones in a 7,000-year-old mummy). These small, crystallized masses settle in the kidney, causing pain as they begin to travel through the urinary tract. There are natural methods to relieve kidney stones.

Natural Treatment Advisory

• Hospitals offer scientifically proven methods of kidney stone relief; however, there are natural methods that are thought to be effective. Not all natural methods work for everyone, and sometimes their effectiveness depends on the severity of the kidney stones. Drinking six to eight glasses of water is the most recommended at-home treatment for prevention and treatment.

Foods

• Many foods are thought to contribute to the dissolving or breaking up of stones:

  - Celery is believed to help remove toxins from the body, helping to break down the kidney stone. Celery contains a natural antiseptic that might prevent stones from forming.
  - Grapes are highly recommended as a treatment. Grapes contain high amounts of potassium salt and water, which has a diuretic effect. Grapes are claimed to, with the potassium salt and water content, speed up the process of flushing the stone. Grapes are also thought to help reduce the size of kidney stones and further prevent them from forming.
  - Apples are said to relieve the body from kidney stones by helping to break them down and preventing them from occurring. Nations where apples or cider are mainstays have lower percentages of people with kidney stones.
  - Watermelon has the highest concentration of water and one of the highest amounts of potassium salts of all fruits, working as a great diuretic. Watermelon is claimed to help flush out the kidney stone while further dissolving it.

Vitamins

• Most types of kidney stones dissolve in urine that contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Consuming vitamin C supplements is recommended for dissolving stones in the kidneys. The Food and Drug Administration's recommended daily dosage is 60 mg, but you must consume at least a couple hundred of milligrams a day to dissolve kidney stones. Urine containing different types of vitamin B and magnesium dissolves and prevent other types of kidney stones. A B complex tablet and 400 mg of magnesium might dissolve kidney stones that are resistant to ascorbic acid.

Beer

• Beer is a widely recommended method of relief. Beer is a strong diuretic, and its unique properties have been used to treat kidney stones for hundreds of years. Beer in moderation is good for kidney health, but excess drinking can further damage the kidneys and liver. For patients 21 and older, one to two beers a day to dissolve a painful kidney stone might be a powerful form of relief.