Passing Kidney Stones Fast: Natural Remedies and Prevention

Kidney stones are small mineral deposits that cause shooting pain. Ask anyone who’s had a kidney stone: they’re awful. And if you have one, you want to get rid of it as fast as possible. Passing a kidney stone can take a while. However, you can do a few things to speed up the process.

How to pass kidney stones as quickly as possible

Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) are lumps of minerals or acids that build up in your kidneys. These substances can eventually harden, turning into “stones.”

Small kidney stones may cause little to no pain or discomfort. Larger stones, however, can be very painful. This is usually because they’re blocking some part of the urinary tract.

Your body releases kidney stones through the flow of urine. The time it takes to pass a kidney stone depends on its size:

• Smaller stones (around 0.16 inches or less): Often pass through your body on their own within a few weeks, especially if they are close to your bladder.
• Medium stones (about 0.16–0.24 inches): Some pass, but many need a procedure.
• Large stones (above about 0.24–0.28 inches): Less than half pass on their own, and many require removal. Stones larger than 0.35 inches pass only a quarter of the time.

If a stone is big enough to cause pain or discomfort, it’s likely too large to pass within a few days. Naturally passing even a small stone may take several weeks to a month. But you can use several natural remedies to speed up the process and pass a kidney stone fast.

At-home remedies to pass a kidney stone fast

The best way to encourage the passing of a kidney stone is by drinking plenty of the right kinds of fluids. This means lots of water and fewer sugary drinks. Dark sodas in particular can carry a higher kidney stone risk as they contain phosphoric acid. If you’ve had kidney stones before, ask a doctor about your coffee or caffeine intake.

Here are some common natural remedies to pass kidney stones quickly:

1. Drink enough water

Drinking plenty of water can help your body flush out kidney stones quickly. Peeing more helps wash the stone from your kidneys, through your ureters, and out of your body.

Aim to drink about 2.5–3.5 L (10.5–15 cups) of water total each day if you are dealing with a kidney stone. This target can vary based on your body size, activity, and local climate. Ultimately, you want to drink enough water to ensure you are producing at least 2–2.5 L of very pale urine each day.

2. Add lemon juice to your water

Lemon and other citrus juices contain citrate. High citrate in your urine can prevent calcium stones from forming and growing. Citrus juice also offers Vitamin C, which supports your overall health.

If you add citrus juices to your diet, be mindful of their sugar levels.

3. Try some apple cider vinegar

One study shows adding vinegar to your diet can prevent new kidney stones from forming. To try this, add 5 mL of vinegar to your food or water 3 times a day.

Don’t drink straight vinegar, as this can cause acid reflux and damage your tooth enamel.

It’s also important to note that there is no evidence that vinegar can dissolve kidney stones that are already in your body.

4. Drink celery juice

A 2019 study found that flavonoids in celery juice helped increase urine volume in lab animals. Urinating more can help move small crystals through the urethra.

There is no research yet on whether celery juice does the same for humans. To try this home remedy, blend one or several celery sticks with water and drink the juice.

5. Stay Active

With good hydration, light to moderate exercise may help some people lower kidney stone risk. A massive six-year study tracked daily movement in over 80,000 adults. Those who moved the most—even just light activity—cut their risk of developing new kidney stones by 34–50%, regardless of genetic risk.

Drink enough water when you exercise, and be careful not to exercise too hard or long. Dehydration increases urine concentration and risk of kidney stones.

There’s a key theme through all of these home remedies—drinking enough fluids is the best way to help your body pass a kidney stone as fast as possible. Stay well hydrated throughout the day and try to track your daily urine output.

You should also cut down on sugary beverages and alcohol. They can dehydrate you, which is a primary risk factor for kidney stones.

Medical treatment to pass a kidney stone fast

If drinking water isn’t doing the trick, you may want to talk to a primary care provider or urologist. Larger stones may not be able to pass on their own and might require medical intervention for removal.

Below are some common medical treatments that are used to treat larger kidney stones:

1. Medication

Your healthcare provider may prescribe an alpha-blocker to help you pass a kidney stone. These medications can help relax your ureter muscles. This helps urine flow more easily through your urinary tract, so the stone can slide down more easily.

The most commonly prescribed alpha blocker for kidney stones is tamsulosin. Tamsulosin can also reduce ureter spasms, waves of sharp pain caused by kidney disease or stones. Lessening these spasms can relieve severe pain caused by kidney stones.

2. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive procedure. It uses high-pressure shock waves to break stones into smaller pieces. Those fragments can then pass through your urethra more easily. ESWL can require hospitalization for a few days.

3. Ureteroscopy

A ureteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure. It involves inserting a ureteroscope, a small instrument, through your urethra into your kidneys. It can retrieve stones or break up larger ones with a laser.

4. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

A percutaneous nephrolithotomy involves inserting an endoscope directly into your kidney through a small cut in your back. Stones are broken up with a laser or ultrasound probe and removed through the incision. A stent may then be placed in your urinary tract to help stones pass. You may need to remain in the hospital for several days after this procedure.

There's no doubt about it: kidney stones hurt. If you're experiencing pain while waiting to get care, an OTC pain reliever might help. Options include ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). These medications can make you feel more comfortable until you see your provider.

When to see a doctor

Smaller kidney stones might not cause any symptoms at all. You may have a kidney stone and not know it. However, these mineral masses may start causing problems as they get bigger.

Common symptoms of kidney stones include:

• Sharp pain in the lower back, side, abdomen, or groin
• Kidney pain with nausea or vomiting
• Pain during urination
• Blood in the urine
• Frequent urges to urinate
• Inability to urinate
• Fever or chills

One or more of these symptoms may be a sign that you have a kidney stone. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider right away.

Preventing kidney stones

Many large research studies show that simple, healthy daily habits around diet and hydration can cut your risk of new kidney stones. Start with these key steps:

1. Drink plenty of fluids

When you're dehydrated, calcium and uric acid can build up in your urine, which increases the chances of kidney stones. Fluids help prevent this by diluting your urine's mineral and acid content. Adults should aim for at least 2L of urine output a day to prevent kidney stones returning.

Try to limit soda and sugary beverages. These drinks can contribute to kidney stone formation. Ask your provider how caffeine might personally affect you.

2. Eat a balanced diet

Eating lots of nondairy animal protein can increase your risk of kidney stones. Animal protein increases calcium, uric acid, and sometimes oxalate in your urine. These substances can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Instead, try to balance your diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Opt for lean protein sources like chicken, turkey, fish, and lentils, and monitor how much calcium and sodium you eat.

3. Take a citrate supplement

If you have a history of kidney stones, you might develop new stones in the future. As noted above, citrate breaks down kidney stones and prevents them from forming.

Talk to your provider about citrate supplements, which increase citrate levels in your urine. Depending on your specific symptoms, your provider may also consider prescription medications that contain citrate.

Make sure to seek medical advice before starting a supplement.

Frequently asked questions

Can apple cider vinegar help kidney stones?

There is no strong evidence from human studies that apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help treat kidney stones. However, some animal studies have shown that daily doses of apple cider vinegar can reduce the formation of kidney stones, lower stone-causing chemicals in the urine, and protect kidney health in rats.

If you want to try ACV as a home remedy for kidney stones, be sure to dilute it with water or add it to your food. Drinking straight vinegar can damage your tooth enamel and cause acid reflux.

How Sesame can help

Experiencing symptoms of a kidney stone? A provider on Sesame may be able to help during a telehealth visit, especially if you have a history of kidney stones.

During your visit, your provider can review your symptoms and order a urinalysis if necessary. They can also prescribe medication to manage your pain or help you pass the stone, if appropriate.

If you have severe pain, your provider may recommend a CT scan or refer you to a primary care provider or urologist. They may also recommend emergency room evaluation depending on how severe your symptoms are.