Herbal Remedies for Kidney Stones

12 May, 2009 No Comment

Kidney stones form when minerals in the urine, often calcium, aggregate into crystals. They can be as small as grains of sand or as large as golf balls. Small-sized kidney stones can be excreted in the urine, but large kidney stones often must be removed surgically.

Middle-aged and older men are more prone to kidney stones than women, but women can get them as well. Symptoms that can indicate kidney stones include:
• Pain while urinating,
• Constant need to go to the bathroom,
• Bad-smelling urine,
• Nausea and vomiting,
• Chills and sweating,
• Blood in the urine.

Home remedies for kidney stones are aimed at dissolving the minerals that form kidney stones and/or flushing them out of the body while they’re still small enough to pass out easily in the urine.

Water: One of the best ways to reduce your chances of having kidney stones is to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. This keeps the kidneys function properly.

Kidney Beans: Soak kidney beans in water overnight. Next day cut the beans and add about four liters of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then simmer them for about six to eight hours. Strain the resulting liquid and allow to cool. Strain a second time through a muslin cloth. Drink one glass of the solution every two hours until all of it is consumed.

Celery: Eat this crunchy vegetable regularly. It is high in fiber and water, both of which contribute to good digestion and excretion of the minerals that cause kidney stones.

Holy Basil: Crush holy basil leaves to make juice. Mix one teaspoon of basil juice with one teaspoon of honey and consume. Take this combination daily for about six months.

Apple: Eating apples regularly has many physical benefits, including reducing the chance of kidney stones. Like celery, apples have good fiber and water, plus vitamins, to promote good digestion.

Pomegranate: Eating pomegranate fruit is also very effective in the treatment of kidney stones. Another method is to grind pomegranate seeds into a paste and add to soup made from gram flour and drink.

Grapes: Eating grapes and drinking grape juice both help reduce kidney stones. Grapes have polyphenols, which increase the oxidation of “bad” cholesterol that helps form kidney stones.

Watermelon: Watermelon’s rich water content helps dilute kidney stones.