The pain from kidney stones can be excruciating. According to the American Urological Association, one in 11 Americans will develop kidney stones in their lifetime, with more than half of those afflicted, kidney stones will become a chronic condition. With many equating the pain to giving birth, it is crucial to not only find ways to help alleviate the discomfort and pain but prevent a recurrence. Here are several natural remedies that can help you get through the pain of kidney stones and decrease your chances of it turning into a chronic problem.

Apply Heat

Placing a hot compress or heating pad against the skin is an excellent way to alleviate the pain associated with kidney stones. When you start to feel discomfort, apply a hot compress directly over the area that is painful. Heat will help to increase your blood flow to the region, providing the area with more nutrients to help reduce the pain you are experiencing.

Drink More Water

Increasing your water intake is the most effective natural remedy and one of the treatments featured on KidneyStones.com. Most kidney stone pain is as a result of dehydration. The more water you drink, the more water that is available for your body to use to flush toxins from your body through the kidneys. It’s essential that you remember to drink eight to ten glasses of water a day to ensure you are well hydrated.

Drink Lemon Juice

The citric acid in lemons helps to break down the calcium that builds up in the kidneys, which is a common cause of kidney stones. The experts at Consumer Reports suggest drinking four ounces of lemon juice, diluted in a half-gallon of water, every day. Including this “lemonade therapy” in your daily routine can help to prevent the formation of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate-based kidney stones, two of the most common types of stones.

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Eat Whole Wheat

Whole wheat cereals and bread contain a high level of fiber, magnesium, and protein, all of which are essential minerals for healthy kidney function. The kidneys can process these minerals, which helps to stop the oxalates from forming. If you prefer white bread and pasta, you may want to seriously consider swapping them for whole wheat, your kidneys and body will thank you.

Drink Olive Oil

This one may seem odd, but virgin olive oil is surprisingly effective at helping to alleviate the pain caused by kidney stones. You can combine equal parts of virgin olive oil and lemon juice and drink it daily. The nutrients in the olive oil and the citric acid of the lemon juice will help your kidneys continue to flush out the toxins that are responsible for the formation of kidney stones.

Eat Basil

You can help your kidneys flush out infections and toxins by adding basil to your food. It can even help to reduce the pain you might be experiencing from a current infection. You can also combine basil juice with honey and drink this natural remedy to help reduce the occurrence of kidney stones. However, to get the full benefits of this solution, you have to drink the tonic daily for about six months.

For more than 500,000 Americans kidney stones have become a part of life. However, you don’t have to suffer from the pain. These natural remedies will help to alleviate the pain associated with kidney stones and reduce your chances of them coming back.

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