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According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than half million people tend to visit the emergency rooms of their local hospitals due to kidney stones each year. Kidney stones are made from chemicals found in urine but most of them are produced from calcium. Inappropriate diet, family history, obesity, and lack of water in the body are some reasons behind the formation of kidney stones.
Although these stones can be as small as grain of sand, they can trigger unbearable pain and discomfort. Therefore, it becomes necessary to either dissolve these stones or discard them by forcing them to pass through urine by consuming lots of liquids. If the condition is not critical, the patient can try a variety of herbal remedies that have shown their effectiveness in dissolving kidney stones.
Effective Herbal Remedies for Kidney Stones
Dandelion Root
According to Michael Castleman who has written the book named ‘Herbal Medicine’, dandelion root can play a big role in dissolving kidney stones. Since times immemorial, dandelion has shown its effectiveness in cleansing the internal organs and keeping kidney free of stones.The herb works like a diuretic due to which it helps in discarding the stones by boosting urination. Experts suggest drinking hot dandelion tea every 20 minutes to experience relief. You can even try mixing dandelion and gravel root tea to reduce pain and soften the stone for its easier removal through urination.
Wild Carrot (Daucus Carota)
Also known as Queen Anne’s lace, wild carrot is a biennial herb that is being used since ancient days to heal a variety of bladder and kidney disorders. Traditional healers used its root or aerial parts to treat kidney stones and infections. This herb is rich in ingredients such as volatile oil, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Further, it contains diuretic and antilithic properties. Therefore, it helps in discarding the stones smoothly. Herbalist David Hoffmann recommends using a wild carrot tincture or tea to treat kidney stones.
Warning: Use caution if fresh plant is in use, as the juice may trigger photosensitivity.
Burdock
This is another herb that is used since centuries for cleansing the kidney. Burdock helps in eliminating kidney stones by acting as a diuretic. This means that it forces the stone to leave the kidney and discards it through urine. According to Charles Kane who is the author of ‘Herbal Medicine: Trends and Traditions,’ burdock helps dissolve kidney stones when taken as a capsule, tincture, or as an infusion.
Other experts suggest steeping the fried herb in a cup of hot tea and sipping it three to four times in a day. The best part of this herb is that it does not only aid in dissolving kidney stones, but also avert formation of stones.
Pellitory of the Wall (Parietaria Officinalis)
This is a perennial herb present in cracks of walls made up of stone. Several herbalists utilize its aerial parts for treating bladder issues, kidney stones, and other infections. This herb contains several organic acids and tannins, and that it triggers a demulcent action for calming and safeguarding the irritated tissues. Even herbalist David Hoffmann claims that pellitory helps in alleviating inflammation and is much useful in discarding kidney stones. Pellitory can also relieve you from severe pain due to kidney stones.
Uva Ursi
According to the certified nutritionist Phyllis Balch, the leaves of this small shrub acts as a diuretic that helps alleviating uric acid. There are a few stones that are made up of this acid. Further, this herb also contains high amounts of arbutin that boosts urine flow as well as alkalinizes urine for dissolving the stone. So, drinking uva ursi tea five to six times a day can aid in dissolving kidney stones. However, avoid using this herb with citrus fruits and vitamin C.
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Aloe Vera
Interestingly, the gel of this herb was widely used by the ancient healers for treating constipation. But today, even more interesting fact is that it is now recommended for treating kidney stones. Aloe is rich in lectins, mannans, polysaccharides, and anthraquinones. Further, it contains anti-inflammatory as well as immunostimulant properties due to which it can help dissolve stones in the kidney.
‘The Herbal Drugstore’ explains that anthraquinones are the influencing ingredients that attack the stones in kidney. According to Phyllis A. Balch, aloe juice can be very useful in preventing kidney stones as well as in alleviating the size of the stones at the time of an attack. The amount of this herb needed for treating kidney stones is less than that required for constipation. So, you can reduce the quantity if you experience a laxative effect.
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium Purpureum)
This is a perennial herb having bunches of purple flowers and is native to North America. Popularly, it is known as kidney root, which confirms its historical use as a medicine for kidney stones. The herb is rich in flavonoids, volatile oil, and resin. Apart from that, it contains diuretic and antilithic properties. According to David Hoffmann, roots and rhizomes are the effective parts of this herb in eliminating kidney stones. Further, the book named ‘Medicinal Plants and Herbs’ suggests having a tea made with the herb’s leaf or root for eliminating stones from the kidney. Some more experts have agreed that the herb can eliminate kidney stones and avert their reformation by triggering irritant and diuretic actions.
Warning: This herb is not meant for people who are allergic to the plants belonging to the Asteraceae family.
Goldenrod
This is one of the well known medicinal plants, which has shown its effectiveness in discarding kidney stones. It acts as a diuretic due to which it enables flushing the stones from the kidney.Even the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests using goldenrod. It advises people to use this herb in its tea form so that the stone can easily pass from the kidney. However, you can use this herb as a fluid extract or as a tincture for treating the condition.
Horsetail
This plant belongs to the non-flowering, perennial family that has the appearance of a green horse’s tail.Experts have agreed that horsetail is a potent diuretic, which means it aids the body to get rid of excess fluid. Further, it also acts against the production of kidney stones of calcium. Therefore, this herb is a useful remedy for kidney stones.
Note: Always speak to your health care professional before using any of these herbs.
