Medicinal plants for kidneystones

Herbal  treatment of kidney stones

How to prevent or dissolve kidney stones

Before undertaking some home treatment you should take into account the following advice:

  • Although most calculi dissolve spontaneously, you should visit the doctor to diagnose which kind of calculation you are suffering from and what treatment you should undertake to prevent its recurrence.
  • If a kidney stone is suspected, you should urinate in a container where you could filter the stone, to take it to analyze.
  • If there is some fever or blood in urine, you should visit the doctor.

There are some kidney stones that, due to their size, can not be ejected thus requiring dissolution or other methods of extraction, including shock waves or surgery.

Phytotherapy. Herbal remedies for kidney stones

The primary role of phytotherapy in the problem of kidney stones is to use plants with the following purposes:

  • Antispasmodic and sedative plants to reduce pain caused by renal colic.
  • Diuretic plants to increase urination, and permit the removal of the stones.
  • Bactericide plants to prevent infections.
  • Plants that prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Internal preparations with medicinal plants for kidney stones

Parsley
Parsley leaves

Among all the suitable medicinal plants to treat kidney stones, se can point out the following:

  • Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): It is one of the best diuretics so it can be very useful to prevent stones from forming, since it allows the removal of the sand through the urine before it can sediment and compact in the form of a calculus.
    • Decoction of a teaspoon of dried root. Let it settle for 1 / 4 hours and take a couple of cups a day
    • Squeeze the tender plants and take a couple of tablespoons a day. The juice is also sold in pharmacies and herbalists
  • Nettle (Urtica dioica) Another plant well suited to increase urine output so that, like parsley, may help prevent formation of stones or facilitate their removal when they are small.
  • Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) It increases renal elimination of calcium and it is adequate in preventing calcium oxalate kidney stones (antilithiasic). (Infusion 1 teaspoon of dried flowers per cup, let stand 5 minutes. Take 3 times daily)
Moringa leaf
Moringa leaf
  • Moringa (Moringa oleifera): Moringa root wood extract was evaluated in mice that had stones in the kidneys. This extract was able to dissolve the stones and prevented the formation of new ones.
  • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) very effective for water elimination – dropsy, kidney stones, obesity – as  well as  to eliminate toxins from the blood – cholesterol, uric acid, diabetes, etc. (Infusion of dried leaves. Take 3 cups a day. The same infusion can also be done with a mixture of leaves and roots.)
  • Agave (Agave americana) (Infusion of 5 tablespoons of dried leaves per liter of water. Take four cups with a little honey.)
  • Poplar (Populus nigra) Poplar helps reduce uric acid, prevents urinary tract infections and increases urine output. Uric acid, or oliguria and kidney infections are causes that can favor the occurrence of kidney stones. (Infusion of two tablespoons of dried buds per liter of water for 10 minutes. Drink two or three cups per day)
Marshmallow flower
Marshmallow flower
  • Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) Like mint, its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties are used either for the urinary tract or for the respiratory system (A couple of teaspoons a day of dried root powder mixed in honey or jelly to make it enjoyable)
  • Bearberry/ kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) It is quite effective in treating kidney stones, not because of its power to dissolve them, but because of its bactericides values which prevent the infections that often are associated with this type of disease.
    • Maceration for 4 hours at room temperature of four teaspoons of shredded dried leaves per liter of water. Drink 3 cups a day. Avoid macerate the leaves in hot water because this would release too much tannin
    • 20 drops of extract fluid twice daily
    • Crush some leaves and take 2 teaspoons a day. It can be mixed with honey to make it more enjoyable
  • Rice (Oryza sativa) Studies carried out in Japan demonstrated that the daily ingestion of a pair of spoonfuls of rice bran helps to eliminate and prevent the formation of kidney stones. These properties appear because of the presence of fitates and fitic acid, elements that inhibit absorption of calcium. These same properties are counter-productive in those people who need to assimilate more calcium of the normal, in which case the habitual ingestion of this complement is not advisable.
Mint
Mint leave
  • Mint (Mentha ssp.) Any variety of mint possesses soothing properties, very useful for reducing pain caused by an acute renal colic.
  • Birch (Betula alba) Birch sap has been considered one of the best treatments to dissolve kidney stones. Birch sap is obtained by cutting the trunk of the tree in late winter, back in March.
    • Drink a few glasses a day.) This treatment is useful to remedy the stones located in the urinary tract. In all these cases, if not available fresh sap, you can replace it by a decoction of dried bark
    • Decoction for 5 minutes a teaspoon of crushed dried bark per cup of water. Drink 3 cups a day (More information on obtaining the sap)
  • Turmeric (Curcuma longa): It is used to reduce the size of the stones. It is a spice and a pigment that is obtained from the dust of the dried root, used to season certain dishes. It is one of the ingredients of curry together with coriander, ginger, cardamom, mustard and cumin. (Use turmeric or curry for seasoning meals)
  • Corn (Zea mays) The decoction of two tablespoons of corn beards per cup water for 20 minutes is also useful as a stimulant for the kidney and the kidney stones.
  • Lime tree /Linden (Tilia sp) (Mixed infusion of half a teaspoon of the mixture of equal parts of lime tree flowers and leaves of gayuba. Drink two cups per day)

External use preparations for kidney stones

Rosemary infusions can be added to the bath water to relieve pain.
  • Horseradish: Applying a lotion on the painful area with the juice of white radish. This remedy can be counterproductive in certain people sensitive to this plant, so it is better to test it for a short time. Never keep on the body for more than 20 minutes.
  • Clover (Trifolium pratense): this herb is used to make an ointment to calm the pain. (Make a decoction of tender flowers over a low heat until water evaporates to form a thick paste. Mix it with beeswax and store in a tightly closed glass jar)
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) It is a good soothing and relaxing remedy. Infusions of dried floriferous summits can relieve pain. Similarly, if we add a handful of dry plant in the bath, it will relax and relieve us.

Are asparagus suitable for kidney stones?

There is a controversy about whether the asparagus can dissolve kidney stones, or whether they can help forming them. The most widespread opinion seems to be in favor of the first point of view.

punto rojo More information about kidney stones 

Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

11 October, 2022

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