About one in ten people will develop kidney stones in their lifetime, which can be dissolved with medicinal or herbal remedies. Medicines can control the level of acidity or alkalinity in the urine, which can help dissolve certain types of stones. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotypsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or ureteroscopic stone removal have also been shown to be successful medical treatments. Drinking phosphoric acid is a natural way to break down calcium buildup, as is drinking herbal teas and plenty of water.
It is widely accepted that prevention is the best medicine. For people with a history of kidney stones, doctors generally recommend passing at least 2.5 quarts (2.3 liters) of urine a day. To do this, a patient will need to drink about 14 cups (3.3 liters) of fluids each day, and even more if the patient lives in a hot, dry climate. Lemon also helps prevent stone formation by increasing the levels of citrate in the urine. Many doctors recommend that patients have a glass of lemonade, made with real lemons, once a day.
Most kidney stones are calcium stones. Calcium stones cannot be dissolved by changing your diet or taking medicine. A small percentage of kidney stones are made of uric acid, a waste product that normally leaves the body in the urine. Uric acid stones can sometimes be dissolved with medication. To dissolve kidney stones like these, your doctor may prescribe allopurinol and an alkalizing agent.
Acids are often prescribed because they can naturally dissolve kidney stones that are calcium-based. The liver does not play a role in acid-based regulation and is therefore easily transmitted to the kidneys. Phosphoric acid can be found in most soft drinks and it has been claimed that drinking a glass of soda along with mashed green vegetables can help dissolve and pass kidney stones. Phosphoric acid is a mineral (inorganic) acid and pH adjuster, used in the manufacture of fertilizers, detergents and pharmaceuticals and as an additive in cola drinks. This may not seem like something a patient wants to put into their body, but if used in a small dose, the acid can help dissolve kidney stones.
Some more appealing natural remedies include herbal teas that use herbs like hydrangea root, wild yam root, cramp bark, joe-pye weed, yarrow leaf, plantain leaf, and corn silk. Dandelion and corn silk are effective diuretics to help pass stones naturally once they have dissolved. Goldenrod, an herb commonly found in nature, can also be effective in an infusion. The teas should rest in a covered pot for 20 minutes and it is recommended to consume 3-4 cups a day.