5 Herbal Drinks To Prevent Kidney Stones

As one of the main indications for preventing kidney stones is to drink plenty of water, many people wonder if they can supplement their hydration with some herbal drinks.

The answer is yes, it is possible, but always with moderation and a prior consultation with the doctor. The idea with this is to avoid discomfort and interactions with medications or food. 

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are small crystals, or pellets, of calcium, phosphate, oxalate or carbonate. They are formed because there is a lot of mineral that the body does not absorb properly and it solidifies in the urinary tract.

They can also be formed for other reasons, such as consumption of certain foods, the concentration of calcium or other minerals or substances in the urine, etc.

It should be noted that, in general, they do not usually cause symptoms until they move to the kidney or ureter. In these cases, according to Mayo Clinic specialists, some of the following symptoms may occur:

• Burning when urinating
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Frequent and painful urination
• Pain in the sides or back

How to treat and prevent kidney stones?

Although kidney stones can be easily treated, prevention is ideal. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of food ultraprocessados or high in sodium.

It’s also a good idea to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Also, it is important to be careful when taking other medications that can damage the kidneys, so self-medication is not recommended at all.

It is very important to consult your doctor to see if you should start a diet or change allopathic medications. Also, you need to know what types of natural treatments you can perform according to your pathological condition.

5 Herbal Drinks to Prevent Kidney Stones

Here are some drinks that can help prevent kidney stones and clear them if they are already forming.

1. Horsetail

Horsetail is considered an  excellent diuretic and treatment aid to dissolve and prevent kidney stones.  You can take capsules of this plant or prepare a tea.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (250 ml).
• 1 spoon of horsetail (15 g).
• Optional: 1 teaspoon of honey (5 g).

Preparation

• First, place the mackerel in a pot with boiling water and leave it to heat for a few minutes.
• Then remove from heat and let stand.

• Sweeten with honey.
• Drink one or two cups of this tea daily.

2. Radish

According to popular wisdom, radish helps in kidney health and the plant has  properties that favor kidney cleansing and helps prevent kidney stones. To enjoy it, you can make radish juice from the root and leaves.

Ingredients

• 1 radish.
• 1 glass of water (250 ml).

Preparation

• First, peel the radish, remove the stem and grate it.
• Then mix the grated radish with water to extract the juice.
• Drink a glass of this juice in the morning and another in the evening, preferably before meals.

3. Basil

According to the grandmothers, basil is a plant that can help reduce uric acid levels in the body, which prevents the formation of kidney stones. To enjoy it, you can chew about two basil leaves or prepare it in an infusion.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (250 ml).
• Basil leaves (15 g).

Preparation

• First, place the basil leaves in boiling water and leave it on the fire for a few minutes.
• Afterwards, remove from heat and let it rest.
• Drink a cup of this infusion every morning.

4. Celery

As celery is one of the richest foods in water and fiber, it is considered that it can be the perfect complement to a diet aimed at preventing kidney stones. It can be eaten fresh as a snack with a touch of hummus, a smoothie or as an infusion.

On the other hand, regular consumption helps to dissolve the stones when they already exist.

Ingredients

• 2 celery stalks.
• 3 glasses of water (600 ml).

Preparation

• First, wash and cut the celery stalks into pieces.
• Then mix them with water until you get a homogeneous mixture.
• Drink a glass of this juice daily.

5. Nettle Leaves

Nettle ( Urtica dioica L. ) is a highly irritating plant when fresh or in the wild. Therefore, it is recommended to use it only when it is dry.

According to popular wisdom, nettle has diuretic, depurative and anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it is considered that its consumption as an infusion can help in the prevention of kidney stones. So, nettle tea is very suitable for preventing these diseases.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (250 ml).
• 2 tablespoons of nettle leaves (30 g).

Preparation

• First, add the nettle leaves to boiling water and leave it on the fire for about 10 minutes.

• Afterwards, remove from heat and let it rest.
• Strain the infusion.
• Drink this infusion two to three times a day for two weeks.

Hydration is essential in prevention

As you have seen, one of the best ways to prevent kidney stones is to maintain good lifestyle habits and, above all, seek adequate hydration. That means consuming a lot of water every day. 

Always give priority to water, but if your doctor authorizes it, also consider enjoying the drinks we discussed earlier.