Kidneys make one of the most essential organs of the human body. Their constant healthy functioning is required to ensure the body’s smooth mechanism. After all, kidneys help to detox and filter impurities from the blood, pulling out the waste products, and further regulating the fluid balance in the body. They excrete toxins and excess water to the bladder for elimination as urine.

However, due to various reasons, if the kidneys are not able to excrete these toxins and waste, crystals or unprocessed minerals start to develop, which are known as kidney stones. Kidney stones may be small or big depending on how grave the situation is. Small kidney stones are easily curable unless you hit the nerve in the initial stages. There are various symptoms to identify this problem and get it treated on time. Here, we jot down the causes, symptoms and natural cure for kidney stones.

Causes of Kidney Stones

The general causes of kidney stones may include lack of water in the body, production of excessive acidic environment in urine, urinary tract infections, etc. It is curable easily if diagnosed at an early stage.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

There can be more than one symptom for kidney stones, which include,

• Excessive pain in the abdomen, lower back or urinary tract. The pain can vary from excruciating, sharp or mild depending on the severity.

  Persistent urge to urinate, or even blood in urine.

• Feeling nauseated or severe vomiting

• Constant sweating or chills

The symptoms may vary on the basis of severity. There can be a constant discomfort and pain on the sides, which could further spread down to other parts of the body.

Note: These symptoms may vary from person to person. It is not necessary to witness all these symptoms altogether.

1. Kidney Beans

Kidney beans that have a close resemblance to that of a kidney, is known to remove kidney stones effectively and cleanse the kidneys. Kidney beans are high on fiber and are a great source of minerals and B vitamins that help in cleaning your kidneys and help the urinary tract function better.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

The presence of citric acid in helps in dissolving kidney stones, further alkalising blood and urine, and helping to remove the stones. Regular consumption of apple cider vinegar will help in flushing out the unnecessary toxins in the kidney.

3. Pomegranate Juice

The seeds and the juice of pomegranate are important for removing kidney stones as they are a good source of potassium. Potassium prevents the formation of mineral crystals that can develop in to kidney stones. It also reduces the formation of stones due to its astringent properties, flushing out the toxins from the kidney and lowering the acidity levels in the urine.

4. Dandelion Root

According to our expert Nutritionist and Macrobiotic Health Coach, Shilpa Arora, drinking or dried organic dandelion for tea is good for cleansing kidneys. It acts as a kidney tonic and further stimulates the bile production that carries away the waste and aids in better digestion.

5. Basil

is diuretic in nature and acts as a detoxifier that helps in removing kidney stones and further strengthens its functioning. It lowers uric acid levels in blood, cleansing the kidneys. It consists of acetic acid and other essential oils that help in breaking the stones down to pass through urine. It also acts as a pain killer.

6. Lemon and Olive Oil combo

While olive oil acts as a smooth passage to let the stone pass through the kidney to the bladder, according to the book Healing Foods by DK Publishing, lemons have the highest concentration of citrate. Consuming dilute lemon juice daily has been shown to decrease the rate of stone formation. The compound hydroxycitrate (HCA) can dissolve calcium oxalate crystals, the most common component for kidney stones.

7. Watermelon

Watermelon consists of high amount of potassium salts that help in regulating the acidic levels in urine. According to , try drinking a cup of watermelon juice with one fourth teaspoon coriander powder. Watermelon is a diuretic, so this mixture will give the kidneys a good flushing and help to remove small stones and crystals. Use this two to three times a day.

8. Dates

According to Shilpa Arora, “Dates soaked in water overnight and consumed after taking the seeds out works well for dissolving kidney stones.” Dates have a high amount of fiber that helps lower the risk of forming kidney stones. It also consists of magnesium that is responsible for cleansing the kidneys.

According to Shilpa, other remedies also include cherries, cucumber juice and coconut water, which work really well for removing kidney stones. However, we still recommend referring to your doctor before starting to consume these ingredients.