Effective Home Remedies to Relieve Kidney Pain
Experiencing kidney pain can disrupt your daily life and leave you wondering what to do. If you’re currently experiencing kidney pain, you’re not alone. Millions of people worldwide deal with kidney-related issues, and understanding the causes, symptoms, and management of kidney pain is crucial for your well-being.
While we suggest that anyone who experiences kidney pain visits their urologist, there are several ways to alleviate kidney pain and discomfort from your home. Below, you’ll learn the most common causes of kidney pain and how to treat this type of pain at home. If you or a loved one are experiencing mild to moderate pain in your kidney, this list of home remedies should offer relief.
It’s important to note that while kidney pain is a common symptom of urinary issues, it may be a warning sign of a more serious problem. If kidney pain is recurrent, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms, contact your urologist immediately.
What Causes Kidney Pain?
Kidney pain can stem from various factors and underlying conditions––and a thorough understanding of the causes of kidney pain is essential for both diagnosis and effective management.
This section will explore the most common causes of kidney pain. They are:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
- Bladder infection
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection is an infection that occurs in any part of your urinary tract — your kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. The most common symptoms of a UTI are frequent trips to the bathroom, burning sensations when urinating, dark-colored urine, urine that appears to have blood in it, bladder discomfort, and kidney pain.
Kidney Infection
UTIs can occur in both the lower and upper urinary tract. Infections in the upper urinary tract are kidney infections. The symptoms of a kidney infection include pain in the upper abdomen, fever or chills, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney infections can become serious very quickly and are usually the result of an untreated UTI or bladder infection. Contact your urologist if you are experiencing the symptoms of kidney infection.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are also extremely common –– so much so that one in 10 people will experience a kidney stone at some point in their life. Kidney stones are hard, mineral-based masses that typically form in the kidneys or urinary tract and cause an immense amount of pain. About 90 percent of stones can be treated to pass through the system independently, but some are too large and will require surgery to remove.
Kidney stone symptoms are typically severe pain in the back and side and pain that radiates and fluctuates between the lower abdomen and groin. In addition, urination will likely be painful, discolored, and odorous. Kidney stones may also cause nausea and vomiting.
Bladder Infection
A bladder infection is simply a bacterial infection in the bladder. Bladder infections can also be referred to as urinary tract infections since your bladder is a part of the urinary tract. The symptoms of a bladder infection are pain while urinating, cloudy or bloody urine, frequent urination, foul-smelling urine, and cramping or pain in the lower back or abdomen.
Pain in the kidneys could also be an indicator of kidney cancer, bleeding in your kidneys, polycystic kidney disease (PKD), or blood clots in your kidneys. It’s important to schedule an appointment with your urologist if pain is persistent or severe, or if you are experiencing the symptoms of a kidney infection.
6 At-Home Solutions for Kidney Pain from Urinary Tract Infections
Now that we’ve discussed what might be causing your kidney pain, let’s dive into the ways you can alleviate this type of pain at home. Since three of the most common causes of kidney discomfort (UTI, bladder infection, and kidney infection) occur in the urinary tract, here are some remedies to relieve pain in the kidneys related to the urinary tract:
1. Stay Hydrated
Hydration is key to relieving kidney pain since water will help flush bacteria out of the body. Plus, staying hydrated will help clear out the urinary tract as a whole and work to eliminate any possible infections.
Many specialists recommend the 8×8 rule, meaning you should drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water daily. However, water intake highly depends on you and your health, so consider this article when determining your daily amount of water intake.
2. Drink Cranberry Juice
While not scientifically proven, cranberry juice is known to be a remedy for urinary tract infections. If you choose to alternate between cranberry juice and water, choose a cranberry juice that isn’t packed full of additional sweeteners. A cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is always the best way to go!
3. Take Probiotics
Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that promote gut health, can also positively affect kidney function. Studies suggest that probiotics may enhance kidney function and assist in the processing of waste products in the body. Incorporating probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables into your diet or taking a probiotic supplement can support your kidneys and reduce the risk of kidney-related pain.
4. Drink Parsley Juice
While the thought of drinking parsley juice likely doesn’t sound appealing, it can increase urination and help flush out bacteria. Parsley juice is a nutrient-dense diuretic that can aid in increasing the frequency of urination. You can also mix parsley into a smoothie to make drinking it more bearable. Check out these recipes for inspiration!
5. Take a Warm Epsom Salt Bath
A warm bath filled with Epsom salts can be a soothing way to alleviate intense kidney pain temporarily. While it may not provide a long-term solution, the warm water and Epsom salts can help relax your muscles and ease discomfort. This can be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing muscle tension or spasms along with kidney pain.
6. Use Non-Aspirin Painkillers
Non-aspirin pain relievers like Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can be effective in reducing kidney pain, especially if it is associated with inflammation. If you have a fever along with kidney discomfort, taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help relieve pain and potentially lower your fever. Always follow the recommended dosage guidelines on the medication label and consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns or questions about pain relief options.
9 At-Home Solutions for Kidney Stones
While most of the remedies above will help ease kidney stone pain as well, there are more specific solutions for kidney stones. Let’s take a look at some of the specific ways you can alleviate kidney stone pain.
1. Monitor Your Alcohol Consumption
Interestingly enough, alcohol—specifically wine—can be useful for preventing kidney stones and providing pain relief. The antioxidants in wine are beneficial for kidney health, and the extra fluid intake will help flush any stones out of your system as long as they’re passable.
However, you don’t want to drink too much of it. Do your best to limit your libation intake to 12 ounces of beer or five ounces of wine per day in addition to water.
2. Add Citrus to Your Water
Lemon juice contains citrate, which is known to prevent calcium stones from forming and breaking apart existing stones. Adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to your water will help work against kidney stones and flush them out of your system. Plus, as we mentioned earlier, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water will help relieve general kidney discomfort.
3. Choose Acidic Beverages
Basil, celery, and pomegranate juices are known to fight kidney stones and relieve pain in the kidneys as well. Each contains antioxidants, which will improve your kidney health and flush toxins out of your kidneys. However, these types of juices aren’t for everyone, so we suggest asking your urologist before including any of these juices in your diet.
4. Drink Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is sometimes considered a home remedy for kidney stones due to its acetic acid content, which is believed to aid in dissolving certain types of kidney stones, particularly those composed of calcium oxalate. To use apple cider vinegar for this purpose, individuals typically mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a large glass of water and consume it daily. This remedy is thought to work by gradually breaking down kidney stones.
5. Drink Hydrangea or Dandelion Root Tea
Herbal teas like hydrangea root and dandelion root are often considered natural remedies for kidney stone management. Hydrangea root tea is believed to support kidney stone passage, with preparation and consumption instructions typically provided on the tea’s packaging. Dandelion root tea, on the other hand, acts as a diuretic, potentially increasing urine production to aid in flushing out stones. To make dandelion root tea, steep dried dandelion root in hot water and consume it regularly.
6. Add More Watermelon to Your Diet
Watermelon is a refreshing addition to your diet that offers multiple benefits for kidney stone prevention and overall kidney health. With its high water content, watermelon helps maintain proper hydration, which is crucial for diluting urine and reducing the concentration of minerals that can form kidney stones. Additionally, watermelon is rich in potassium, a mineral that may help counteract the formation of certain types of kidney stones, particularly those containing calcium.
7. Eat Kidney Bean Broth
An intriguing home remedy for kidney stone management involves kidney beans and their potential to assist in dissolving stones. According to some beliefs, boiling kidney beans and consuming the resulting broth may contribute to the breakdown of kidney stones. To prepare this remedy, kidney beans are typically boiled until they become soft, and then the liquid is strained and consumed as a broth.
8. Use a Hot Compress
Applying a warm compress to the lower back or abdomen, specifically targeting the area where kidney pain is concentrated, can help alleviate discomfort. Apply a heating pad to the affected area for approximately 20 minutes at a time to help alleviate discomfort. The warmth from the compress can have a soothing effect, helping to relax the muscles surrounding the urinary tract and ease tension in the muscles surrounding the kidneys while also helping improve blood flow to the area.
9. Moderate Your Calcium Intake
Reducing excessive calcium intake can play a vital role in the prevention of certain types of kidney stones. While calcium is an essential mineral for overall health, an overabundance of dietary calcium can increase the risk of developing calcium oxalate stones, one of the most common types of kidney stones. Therefore, it’s essential to strike a balance in your calcium consumption to support your overall health and kidney stone prevention.
Not All Kidney Pain is Treatable With At-Home Remedies
While these solutions may help relieve, or in some cases eliminate, mild kidney pain, they will not stop infections from spreading. When left untreated, even the occasional UTI can turn into something more severe, which is why it’s always in your best interest to contact your urologist when you are experiencing any type of pain in your kidneys.
Based on your symptoms, an in-office visit may not be required. Talk to your urologist and ask questions about the type of pain you are experiencing. They can tell you if at-home remedies are possible or if you need to schedule an appointment.
As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. And don’t forget to download our Nutrition & Lifestyle Guide before you go for more health and wellness tips from our urological experts!
This post was originally written in September 2019 and rewritten in October 2023.