How can I treat kidney stones at home?

How to Treat Kidney Stones at Home

Immediate Action: Increase Fluid Intake Dramatically

The single most important home intervention is to drink enough water to produce at least 2-2.5 liters of urine per day, which reduces stone recurrence by 55% and is the most powerful and economical prevention measure available. 1, 2, 3

Calculating Your Fluid Needs

• Don't rely on the vague "8 glasses per day" recommendation 1
• Drink enough to produce light-colored urine throughout the day (though waking at night is unnecessary) 1
• If you currently produce 1.5 L of urine daily, add approximately two 8-ounce glasses (480 mL) of water to reach the 2 L target 1
• Water, coffee, tea, beer, and wine all reduce stone risk and count toward your fluid goal 1, 2

Critical Dietary Modifications

What to Increase

• Maintain normal dietary calcium at 1,000-1,200 mg daily from food sources - this paradoxically reduces stone formation by 30-51% by binding oxalate in your gut 4, 1
• Consume ample fruits and vegetables to counterbalance acid load 5

What to Limit

• Reduce sodium to 2,300 mg (100 mEq) daily - sodium increases urinary calcium excretion 1, 4
• Limit non-dairy animal protein to 5-7 servings per week - animal protein increases urinary calcium and reduces protective citrate 4
• Avoid cola drinks (those acidified with phosphoric acid) - these increase stone risk by 40%, though citrus-flavored sodas are safer 1
• Stop vitamin C supplements exceeding 1,000 mg/day - vitamin C converts to oxalate and increases stone risk 4

Beverages That Help vs. Harm

Beneficial Beverages

• Water (any type, though low-calcium mineral water may be slightly better) 1, 6
• Coffee and tea (both reduce stone risk) 1, 2
• Beer and wine (reduce stone risk) 1, 2
• Orange, apple, and grapefruit juices (reduce calcium oxalate saturation) 6

Beverages to Avoid

• Cola sodas (phosphoric acid increases risk by 40%) 1
• Grapefruit juice in large amounts (associated with 40% higher risk in some studies, though other evidence shows benefit) 1, 6

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Never Restrict Dietary Calcium

Restricting calcium is one of the most dangerous mistakes - it paradoxically increases stone formation by allowing more oxalate absorption from your gut 4, 1. A normal calcium diet (1,200 mg/day) decreases stone recurrence by 51% compared to a low-calcium diet 4

Avoid Calcium Supplements Between Meals

• Calcium supplements increase stone risk by 20% compared to dietary calcium 4
• If you must take supplements (for osteoporosis), always take them with meals to bind dietary oxalate 4
• Never exceed 2,000 mg total daily calcium (diet plus supplements) 4

When Home Treatment Is Insufficient

Signs You Need Medical Evaluation

While dietary modifications work for prevention, you should seek medical care if:

• You have severe pain, fever, or inability to pass urine (these require emergency evaluation)
• Stones recur despite aggressive fluid intake and dietary changes 1
• You have documented metabolic abnormalities on 24-hour urine testing 1, 7

Medical Therapies Available

If home measures fail, evidence-based medications include:

• Thiazide diuretics for high urinary calcium (reduce recurrence by 52%) 7
• Potassium citrate for low urinary citrate (reduce recurrence by 75%) 7
• Potassium citrate for uric acid stones to alkalinize urine to pH 6.0-6.8 1, 7

Monitoring Your Progress

Track your success by:

• Urine color - should be consistently light yellow 1
• Urine volume - measure output for 24 hours to confirm you're reaching 2+ liters 1
• Stone recurrence - if stones continue forming despite these measures, you need formal metabolic evaluation with 24-hour urine testing 1, 7