Combat Kidney Stones With These 8 Natural Solutions

Sometimes real life gets in the way. Other times it gives me ideas for blog articles.

Last week my husband woke up at 3:30 am with severe side pain.  Usually my husband is tougher than nails but I could tell from his voice and his shakiness that this was REALLY painful.  After several hours in the emergency room, we discovered he had a kidney stone.

So that propelled me to find the best way to help him – and others – who may experience the same thing.

Click Here to get Leann’s TOXIC TEST to Determine How Toxic You Are.

What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts located in your kidneys. Now while your body does contain some minerals and salts, it’s when combined with other chemical compounds (and too much that your urine can’t dilute) that a stone can form.

There are different types of kidney stones – calcium, struvite, uric acid and cystine.  And unfortunately, for the most part, you don’t know what type you have until it comes out. Fun!

If you research or ask your doctor what causes kidney stones, you’re most likely to find that there is no definitive trigger. But there are factors that contribute to your risk:

Foods to Avoid 

Foods high in oxalate can cause kidney stones when eaten in excess.  

Oxalates are naturally-occurring substances found in a wide variety of foods and they play a supportive role in the metabolism of many plants and animals and in our human metabolism as well.

Oxalates themselves are not the problem, it’s when the concentration of oxalates increases in our kidneys, that kidney stones can form.

According to a University of Chicago article, “typical diets contain upward of 200 – 300 mg of oxalate. For stone prevention, a reasonable goal is below 100 mg of oxalate daily. An ideal would be about 50 mg daily if that can be accomplished”.

Here is a list of foods that have been categorized as “very high” in oxalates by the Department of Urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center:

Food GroupFood ItemServing SizeOxalate Value

Whole Foods

Avocados1 fruit19mg
 Dates1 date24mg
 Grapefuit1/2 fruit12mg
 Kiwi1 fruit16mg
 Orange1 fruit29mg
 Raspberries1 cup48mg
Canned FruitCanned Pineapple1/2 cup24mg
Dried FruitDried Figs5 pieces24mg
 Dried Pineapple1/2 cup30mg
 Bamboo Shoots1 cup35mg
 Beets1/2 cup76mg
 Fava Beans1/2 cup20mg
 Navy Beans1/2 cup76mg
 Okra1/2 cup57mg
 Olivesapprox. 1018mg
 Parsnip1/2 cup15mg
 Red Kidney Beans1/2 cup15mg
 Refried Beans1/2 cup16mg
 Rhubarb1/2 cup541mg
 Rutabega1/2 cup31mg
 Spinach, Cooked1/2 cup755mg
 Spinach, Raw1 cup656mg
 Tomato Sauce1/2 cup17mg
 Turnip1/2 cup30mg
 Yams1/2 cup40mg
PotatoesFrench Fries1/2 cup51mg
 Baked Potato w/ skin1 medium97mg
 Mashed Potatoes1 cup29mg
 Potato Chips1 oz21mg
 Potato Salad1/3 cup17mg
 Sweet Potatoes1 cup28mg
BreadsFrench Toast2 slices13mg
Pasta, Rice & GrainsAll-Purpose Flour1 cup17mg
 Brown Rice, Cooked1 cup24mg
 Brown Rice Flour1 cup65mg
 Buckwheat Groats1 cup cooked133mg
 Bulgar, Cooked1 cup86mg
 Corn Grits1 cup97mg
 Cornmeal1 cup64mg
 Couscous1 cup15mg
 Lasagna1 serving23mg
 Millet, Cooked1 cup62mg
 Miso1 cup40mg
 Rice Bran1 cup281mg
 Soy Flour1 cup94mg
 Wheat Berries1 cup cooked98mg
 Wheat Flour, Whole Grain1 cup29mg
Meat & Meat AlternativesTofu3.5 oz13mg
 Veggie Burger1 pattie24mg
Nuts & SeedsAlmonds1 oz122mg
 Candies w/ Nuts2 oz38mg
 Cashews1 oz49mg
 Peanuts1 oz27mg
 Pistachios1 oz14mg
 Mixed Nuts w/ Peanuts1 oz39mg
 Pumpkin Seeds1 cup17mg
 Trail Mix1 oz15mg
 Walnuts1 cup31mg
Cakes, Candies, Cookies & Pudding SnacksBrownies1/2 brownie31mg
 Cake (store brand)1 piece15mg
 Cake (homemade)1 piece16mg
 Candies w/ Nuts2 oz38mg
 Chocolate Syrup2 tbs38mg
 Fudge Sauce2 tbs28mg
BeveragesCarrot Juice1 cup27mg
 Hot Chocolate (homemade)1 cup65mg
 Lemonade (frozen from concentrate)8 oz15mg
 Rice Dream1 cup13mg
 Tea, Brewed1 cup14mg
 Tomato Juice1 cup14mg
 V8 Juice1 cup18mg
Spreads, Sauces & ToppingsPeanut Butter1 tbs13mg
 Peanut Butter, reduced fat1 tbs16mg
 Stuffing1 cup36mg
 Tahini1 tbs16mg
IngredientsCoca Powder4 tbs67mg

 

Soy Protein Isolate1 oz27mg
SoupsClam Chowder1 cup13mg
 Lentil Soup1 cup39mg
 Miso Soup1 cup111mg
Breakfast ItemsCream of Wheat1 cup18mg
 Red River Cereal1/4 cup13mg
 Farina Cereal1 cup16mg
 French Toast2 slices13mg
 Pancakes (homemade)4 pancakes22mg
 Pancakes (dry mix)4 pancakes37mg
 Danish Pastry (homemade)1 pastry14mg
 Sweet Rolls (low fat)1 pastry13mg

Click here for the full list of oxalate content of foods.

Treatments for Kidney Stones

Doctors often consider the size, location and possible type of stone you have before deciding on a treatment plan. Small stones will simply pass through your urinary tract and no treatment is needed. Note, this is not a painless option, so they may prescribe a pain medication. 

Larger stones (greater than 6mm), can be blasted into smaller stones with shock wave lithotripsy. Or a doctor can insert a cystoscope ureteroscopy to remove or breakup the stones. There is also the possibility of actual major surgery to remove large kidney stones. Obviously, it would be best if you can avoid surgery.

These treatments may come with a prescription for diuretics (to help rid your body of water), potassium citrate (to increase citrate and pH levels in your urine), and antibiotics

Natural Treatments for Kidney Stones

As always, I look to natural alternatives first. Here are a few that are effective and safe:

1. Hydrate – drinking enough water can actually prevent kidney stones because the water flushes out toxins from your system. To treat stones, increase drinking to 12 glasses per day (instead of the usual 8). Adding lemon essential oil to your water will step-up your citrate levels.

2. Basil – add fresh, dried or even basil essential oil to a cup of tea or a smoothie. Basil contains acetic acid, which can help break down kidney stones. 

3. Apple cider vinegar – I’m a huge fan of ACV for so many natural remedies, and it alkalizes your blood and urine, which can prevent new stones. ACV also flushes out your kidneys and can ease the pain a bit. Simply add 2 tablespoons to 8 ounces of water and drink once per day.

4. Celery juice – blend celery with water and drink to clear out toxins.

5. Kidney bean broth – cook kidney beans and drink the drained liquid to dissolve the stones, as well as improve the overall health of your kidneys. 

6. Magnesium supplement – By taking 250 mg 2 times per day, it can prevent the formation of kidney stones.

7. Other supplements – both of these will reduces calcium-oxalate levels: Vitamin B6, take 50 mg daily and Vitamin E, take 400 IU daily.

8. Essential oils – Lemon oil, juniper berry, and helichrysum oil are the three that I found are highly recommended. You can put 2 drops of citrus oils like lemon (or you can use lime, wild orange or grapefruit) to your water 2 times per daily.  For juniper berry or helichrysum oil, rub topically (may need a carrier oil) over lower abdomen or add to your bath.

Are you in need of a good detox?  Click here for more info on my 10 Day Detox Program.

8 Strategies for Kidney Stones | GroovyBeets.com

Leann Forst, MBA, CHC — Family Health & Cancer Coach

Leann is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Essential Oils Coach, holding a Master’s degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University. Leann is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. And she is an award winning author of 2 books How to Get Your Kids to Beg for Veggies and 100 Ways to Lose Weight”.

Born and raised as an Iowa farm girl, she moved to Texas in 1998 where she lives with her husband and 2 kids.

As a wife of a brain cancer survivor, Leann has a special interest in anti-cancer nutrition and detoxification. She works with individuals and groups, and speaks regularly at hospitals, schools and organizations to teach people how to attain optimal health by getting to the root cause of chronic and inflammatory conditions, while using healing modalities such as essential oils. Click here to get Leann’s free report, “37 Cancer Facts You Should Know…But Probably Don’t”. And take Leann’s Nutrient Deficiency Quiz here.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

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