3 Effective Home Remedies for Kidney Stones | Tennessee Valley Urology Center

Kidney stones are common health problem, and they’re especially common among those who deal with urological issues or have a family history of kidney problems. Even though they’re common, it doesn’t make kidney stones any less painful to deal with. Furthermore, people who have experienced kidney stones are more likely to get them again.

Getting kidney stones surgically removed and passing them are the two most common ways to eliminate this issue, but the first option is quite inconvenient while the latter is typically extremely painful.

If you’ve talked with your doctor and you have chosen to pass your kidney stone, there are ways to make it easier and less painful! We further explain below.

Drink Lots of Water

When passing a stone, upping your water intake can help speed up the process. Strive for 12 glasses of water per day instead of the usual eight.

Once the stone passes, you should continue to drink eight to 12 glasses of water each day. Dehydration is one of the main risk factors for kidney stones, and the last thing you want is for more to form.

Increase Your Citric Acid Intake

Drinking more citric acids, like those found in lemon or lime juice, is typically best served to prevent kidney stones from forming; however, drinking these types of juices when you are currently dealing with a kidney stone can prove to be helpful, too.

You can add freshly squeezed lemon and lime to your water as often as you like. These citrus fruits contain citrate, which is a chemical that prevents calcium stones from forming. Citrate can also break up small stones, allowing them to pass more easily.

Try Apple Cider Vinegar

Not only is ACV good for your gut and digestive health, but apple cider vinegar also helps dissolve kidney stones due its key component—acetic acid.

In addition to flushing out the kidneys, apple cider vinegar can help ease pain caused by the stones. To reap these benefits, add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to six to eight ounces of purified water. Just remember, though—you shouldn’t consume more than one eight-ounce glass of this mixture per day.

If you are having urological health problems, don’t hesitate to talk with one of our doctors at Tennessee Valley Urology Center! We can assess whether home treatment is right for you.