Check with your doctor before taking home remedies.
Kidney stones are mineral deposits that form inside your kidneys and then flushed out of your body through your urinary system. Such deposits usually form when your urine becomes saturated with certain minerals such as calcium and certain kinds of salt that can then bind together to create those deposits. Symptoms of kidney stones include pains in your side and abdomen, pain during urination, and blood in your urine. Although your options for treating kidney stones at home are limited, there are some things that you can do to help relieve the pain and get it over with as soon as possible.
Drinking Water
If you are trying to pass a kidney stone, MayoClinic.com recommends that you increase your daily water intake to the point where your urine becomes clear or almost clear. The extra water should help you flush out the kidney stone earlier than otherwise possible. However, you should not drink the necessary water all at once since that can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Try spacing your increased water intake as much as possible throughout the day.
Pain Relief
Although most kidney stones will pass through your urinary tract without further complication, there is no denying that the process may prove to be painful. You can use a number of herbs to relieve the pain if you are set on using only home remedies. Mao Shing Ni, a doctor of Chinese medicine, recommends using ginger and turmeric. Ginger can be used either in your cooking or to brew a healthful tea. Turmeric is also relatively simple to add to your diet as a spice in other dishes. You may also be able to get some pain relief by using hot compresses. Simply wet a towel using hot water, fold it up, and the apply the compress to the affected region.
Citric Acid
Edward Group, an expert in natural healing, recommends using foods and liquids containing citric acids in home remedies for treating kidney stones. He uses the example of lemon juice because lemon is a fruit known to contain high concentrations of citric acid and other beneficial chemicals. His claim is that the citric acid helps to break up the minerals that can coalesce in the kidneys to produce kidney stones, thereby either preventing or loosening kidney stones.
Other Helpful Herbs
Other herbs might also prove helpful if you are in the process of passing a kidney stone. Diuretics can help you pass kidney stones faster by increasing your rate of urination. Once again, Group claims that lemons and celery stalks are natural diuretics. He also recommends the root of the dandelion, which is usually ground into a powder used for tea. Similarly, foods that can prevent inflammation of your urinary tract after the kidney stone has passed through can also help you fight the symptoms. Turmeric is a prime example of a natural pain reliever that also possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
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