Is It Possible To Dissolve Kidney Stones Naturally?

Kidney stones (kidney stones, nephrolithiasis) are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. Those who have suffered them say that there is no greater and more uncomfortable pain. The truth is that removing kidney stones is not easy, especially when they have reached a certain size.

The question is, can these kidney stones be removed without resorting to surgery and / or medications?

Kidney stone facts

Kidney stones can be formed by various causes and are very painful in the expulsion process, in addition to burning when urinating. They can be related to urinary tract infections or a predisposition to form them (by inheritance, by medical treatments, etc).

Other consequences of kidney stones are vomiting, nausea, or bloody urine. This last symptom can be a very traumatic situation, but it will help us to realize that something is not right and that we must consult a doctor without fail.

Tips to prevent and help eliminate kidney stones

Keep in mind that stones can re-form if we do not carry out adequate prevention. Therefore, below we present these three tips that can be used as a treatment to prevent kidney stones.

1. Drink plenty of fluids

Mostly water. While you may not feel like drinking fluids, be sure to do so, because it is very important that you stay hydrated if you have ever had kidney problems like stones.

When elements such as oxalate, calcium and uric acid accumulate in the kidneys, all the necessary factors are given to form stones, that is, crystals or solids that when descending through the urine can hurt a lot.

So, don’t stop drinking water or juices as much as you can, even if it’s winter. Two liters per day are recommended if you are an adult. In winter you can substitute it for tea or infusions.

Also read: 7 ways to drink more water

2. Adapt the diet according to which stone we face

There are some foods that are very good to prevent the appearance of kidney stones and in turn, to increase your defenses and strengthen the immune system. This helps prevent other illnesses or unpleasant conditions that could further aggravate the pain.

It is advisable to consume certain foods according to the type of stone that usually forms, to prevent calcium from forming and accumulating in regions prone to creating such unwanted stones, such as the kidneys, bladder or urinary tract in general.

Depending on the type of stone you have, you can prevent future kidney stones by making changes to the amount of sodium, animal protein, calcium, or oxalate in the foods you eat. In any case, the same thing will be to consult with a professional which is the most appropriate diet in our case.

Here are dietary recommendations, depending on the condition, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:

Calcium oxalate stones

Reduce oxalate

If you have had a calcium oxalate stone, you may need to avoid the following foods to reduce the amount of oxalate in your urine:

• nuts and nut or dried fruit products
• peanuts (or peanuts), which are legumes and not nuts, and are high in oxalate
• rhubarb
• spinach
• wheat bran

Ask a healthcare professional what other sources of oxalate there are and how much oxalate should be in what you eat.

Reduce sodium

The chance of getting kidney stones increases when you eat more sodium. Sodium is a part of salt. Many canned and packaged foods and fast foods have sodium. Many condiments, dressings, and meats have it too.

Ask a healthcare professional how much sodium should be in what you eat.

Limit animal protein

Eating animal protein can increase your chance of getting kidney stones.

A healthcare professional may instruct you to limit your intake of animal protein, including:

• meat, chicken, and pork, especially offal
• eggs
• fish and shellfish
• milk, cheese, and other dairy products

Even if you have to limit the amount of animal protein you eat each day, you need to make sure you get enough protein. Consider replacing some of the animal proteins in your typical diet with beans, dried peas, and lentils. These are plant foods that are high in protein and low in oxalate.

Ask a healthcare professional how much protein you should eat in total and how much should come from animal or plant foods.

Get enough calcium from food

In the correct amounts, calcium can block other substances in the digestive tract that can cause stones. Ask a healthcare professional how much calcium you should be consuming to help prevent more calcium oxalate stones from forming and to help build strong bones.

Calcium Phosphate Stones

In this case, something similar to when you have suffered from calcium oxalate stones is recommended :

• Reduce sodium
• Limit consumption of animal protein
• Get enough calcium from food

Uric acid stones

In this case, it is mainly recommended to limit the consumption of animal protein.

Cysteine ​​stones

Drinking enough fluids, especially water, is the single most important lifestyle change you can make to prevent cystine stones from forming. Ask a healthcare professional how much liquid you should drink.

Diet can play a role in preventing kidney stones. Regarding its elimination, it is probably not possible for us to carry it out without painkillers. In any case, it is best to consult with the doctor at the moment in which we notice the symptoms.