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Chances are you don't give a whole lot of thought to your kidneys, the organs that filter blood and remove waste via your urine. Unless, that is, you're dealing with kidney stones.
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Kidney stones are tan or brown masses that form in the kidneys. They can be as tiny as a grain of salt or — in rare cases — as large as a golf ball (ouch!). They're created when you have high levels of certain minerals in your urine, which then crystallize into the lump-like "stones."
And they're painful as heck — the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says the most common symptoms include sharp pain in your side, back, stomach or groin; bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine; frequent urination; and a burning sensation when you pee.
If you're having any troubling symptoms, the first step is to call your health care professional. "You need an evaluation to understand what constituents are causing your kidney stones," says Matthew Weir, MD, director of the Division of Nephrology at the University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore. "Once you know what you're dealing with, your doctor can give you a plan to reduce the likelihood that you will form more stones, by altering your diet or prescribing medication."
As for getting rid of an existing kidney stone, it has to pass through your urine. It's not possible to "dissolve" a stone at home, but if it's quite large or painful, a urologist can surgically remove the stone or blast it into little pieces that are easier to pee out.
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Plus, there are DIY measures you can take to reduce pain and decrease your risk of getting stones in the future. Here, we dive into the home remedies for kidney stones that can really make a difference — and debunk those that are a waste of time and money.
1. Drink Lots of Water
Let's hear it for H2O! A July 2015 analysis in Medicine found that for every additional half-liter (about two cups) of water you drink, your risk of growing a stone decreases by 8 percent.
"Water dilutes the concentration of minerals in your urine, making it less likely that they will crystallize," Dr. Weir says. He typically recommends stone-prone folks guzzle three liters (about 12 cups) of agua a day. But if you work out or spend time in the heat, up your intake even more.
And if you already have a stone, the NIH suggests that going gangbusters on your water bottle might help move the stone more quickly through your system.
2. DASH Toward a Healthful Diet
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According to the National Kidney Foundation, the DASH diet (which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) lowers your risk of kidney stones. This eating plan is low in saturated fat and sugar; rich in fruits, veggies and whole grains; and also includes low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, fish, poultry and beans.
Bonus: The DASH diet could help people shed pounds. That's good news, because obesity and weight gain are linked to an increased risk of kidney stones, reports a 2020 Reviews in Urology study.
