Top 14 Herbal Remedies for Kidney Pain

If a sudden lower back pain has surfaced in your body, it may be due to some kidney infection. While not all back pains are kidney pains but yes sometimes lower back pain is due to internal organs, specifically due to kidney problems like kidney stones, infections or some other kidney diseases. This can accurately be called flank pain- the pain which develops between your lowest rib and the buttock. Flank pain generally occurs on one side and is usually sharp and severe that comes in waves. This pain can even extend to your hips and groin area. If this is a kidney pain, it may also show such symptoms as pain while passing urine, fever, chills as well as blood in the urine that your naked eyes may sometime not see. If you have even a little doubt that your back pain can be a kidney pain, you must visit your doctor because it may indicate a serious, underlying health issue needing immediate medical attention. These home remedies for kidney pain are meant to be used as additional therapy and under the supervision of your healthcare provider.

Remedies for Kidney Pain

1. Drink Lots of Water to Relieve Kidney Pain

Keeping yourself well hydrated not only prevents kidney stones but can also flush out those already present in your ureter, the thin tube connecting the kidneys to your urinary bladder. Water will dilute your urine preventing minerals and salts from clustering and forming kidney stones. Water also flushes out the toxins from your body. However, what is most important is that drinking a lot of water can immediately subside kidney pain whenever it occurs.

Do this:

• As soon as you realize that you are about to have intense back pain, start drinking clean filtered water. You may have to drink 1 to 1- ½ liters of water.
• When you start having this kidney pain, you may not know before this occurs but when you have had a few incidences of such sharp intense pain, you will learn to recognize the pre-symptoms of such kidney pain.
• Water therapy is specifically useful in kidney pain due to stone and in some events of pain due to kidney infection too.

Suggestion: Although drinking water may flush out your kidney stones, this may always not be so. You should consult your doctor about your kidney issue.

2. Drink Fresh Lemon Juice to Relieve Kidney Pain

Lemon juice is one of the best remedies for kidney stones as well as for kidney pain. The acetic acid in such citrus foods as lemon help breaking up and dissolving the stones. However, you need to use fresh lemon to make your drink and not the flavored lemon drinks.

Ways to have lemon juice for kidney pain

1. In the morning, start your day with a glass of normal water mixed with the juice of one fresh lemon.
2. At the onset of kidney pain, mix about 4 tablespoons of lemon juice in a glass of water and have this water. If your body excepts this remedy, your pain may go away in as less as 20 minutes.
3. If you can stand drinking raw olive oil, mix 4 tablespoons of lemon juice with 4 tablespoons of olive oil and drink this. However, do this only if you can digest such amount of oil. Many people feel sick after having lemon juice mixed with olive oil. Lemon juice alone too can relieve your kidney pain.

3. Dandelion Tea to Relieve Kidney Pain

Dandelion herb has diuretic properties meaning it can increase your urine output. Thus it can flush your kidneys to relieve you of the pain as well as stone. Not only this, dandelion tea can also stimulate blood circulation in kidneys.

Make dandelion to get rid of kidney pain

Get this:

• Dried dandelion leaves herb- 1-2 tsp
• Hot water- 1 cup

Do this:
Add dandelion tea herb to water.

• Let it steep for 10-15 minutes.
• Strain and drink this tea.
• You may have 2-3 cups of dandelion tea throughout the day.

4. Watermelon Seed Tea to Relieve Kidney Pain

Another fine diuretic is the watermelon seed tea. It is a good stimulant which flushes the kidneys as well as urinary bladder. In fact, if your kidneys are under active, watermelon seeds tea can even stimulate that too.

Make watermelon seed tea to relieve kidney pain

Get this:

• Watermelon seeds (ground or cut)- 1 tablespoon
• Water- 2 cups

Do this:

• Boil the water.
• Place the watermelon seeds in a vessel.
• Pour the hot boiling water over the watermelon seeds.
• Allow the tea to cool down.
• Strain and drink the tea.
• Drink this tea once a day for three days a week.

It’s recommended to make fresh watermelon seeds tea whenever you want to drink it.

5. Celery Seeds Tea to Relieve Kidney Pain

Celery (Apium Graveolens) directly works on kidneys by speeding up the elimination of waste material. Some clinical studies conducted in China have shown that celery increases urine output which may be the reason for relieving you of kidney pain. Celery has a very calming effect on your stomach and thus can grant you relief from pains as well as flatulence. The volatile oil found in celery has antifungal properties and is effective against many bacteria. Thus, it may also get you rid of kidney infections.

Make celery seeds tea to get rid of kidney pain

Get this:

• Celery seeds- 1 tablespoon
• Hot water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Ground the celery seeds.
• Place the freshly ground celery seeds in a cup.
• Pour the hot water over this.
• Allow the tea to cool down.
• Now strain it and drink.
• Have this tea once a day. Repeat three days a week.
• Make fresh celery seeds tea every time.

Warning: As celery is a uterine stimulant, pregnant women should not have celery seeds tea. Celery seeds tea is good to give relief from spasms but can result in delayed menstruation.

6. Corn Silk Tea to Relieve Kidney Pain

If along with kidney stones or infection, you are also experiencing pain while passing urine, corn silk tea can rescue you from such pain. Corn silk herb exceptionally soothes painful urinary tract issues and rapidly ease your pain while speeding up the healing process. Many studies have proved the diuretic properties of corn silk. Laboratory studies have also demonstrated its capacity to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Traditional herbal medicine uses corn silk tea to cure painful inflammation of the kidneys and also retention of fluid in the body. Above all, corn silk is a safe herb for anyone to use. You can easily get dried corn silk in any herbal store.

Make corn silk tea to get rid of kidney pain

Get this:

• Corn silk- 1 tablespoon
• Boiling water- 2 cups

Do this:

• Place the corn silk in a vessel or pot.
• Pour boiling water over this.
• Cover and let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
• Strain and drink this tea.
• Have 2-4 cups of corn silk tea every day.

7. Parsley Tea to Relieve Kidney Pain

Parsley is a proven diuretic used by medical herbalists to treat kidney and bladder issues. Not only they recommend parsley tea, juice etc. to be taken internally but also suggest applying a paste of parsley to reduce swelling and painful inflammation. Due to its diuretic effects, parsley can assist in flushing toxins out of your system. It is also ant-viral which helps cure infection too.

Make parsley tea to get rid of kidney pain

Get this:

• Fresh parsley- 1 big bunch with stems and roots
• Water- 4 cups

Do this:

• Chop the parsley finely to get at least 4 heaped teaspoons of such minced parsley.
• Boil the water.
• Put off the flame.
• Add the chopped parsley to the hot water.
• Cover and steep for 20 minutes.
• Strain and drink one cup at a time.
• You can have both, hot or cold parsley tea.
• Have 4 cups of parsley tea for at least 7 days.

Warning: Avoid having parsley tea if you are pregnant.

[Also Read: Natural Remedies for Gallstones]

8. Cabbage Leaves Poultice to Relieve Kidney Pain

Cabbage has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Hippocrates is known to have said once that physicians should not hesitate in borrowing those from folklore that have medicinal value. Although no remarkable study has been conducted to disclose the healing properties of cabbage, it is known that cabbage leaves can push disease-causing fluids out of the body tissues. It is because of this quality that cabbage is traditionally used to treat scurvy, eczema, gout etc. and its tender leaves are applied to ulcers and wounds. Cabbage leaves can also be used to get relief from pain due to kidney diseases and those of bladder. You need to make a cabbage leaves poultice for the purpose.

Make a cabbage leaves poultice for kidney pain

Get this:

• Cabbage leaves- 2-4
• Onions (chopped)- 2
• Bran- 3-4 handfuls
• A little water
• Gauze to make a poultice

Do this:

• Place cabbage leaves, chopped onions, bran and water in a pot.
• Boil it for about 20 minutes. Within this time, the water will evaporate wholly.
• Now place the prepared poultice on the gauze.
• Apply this hot gauze with a poultice to the area where you have pain.
• Keep it there for at least 1-2 hours. If needed, you can leave it overnight too.

Warning: Don’t apply anything hot on your abdominal pain. There may be various causes for such abdominal pain that only your doctor can diagnose. Some abdominal infections causing such pain may worsen the condition.

9. Marshmallow Root to Relieve Kidney Pain

Marshmallow root has been used by medical herbalists to relieve kidney pain and help pass the stones out of a kidney. Marshmallow is a fine diuretic which works very fast. This wild herb is especially beneficial if you find it extremely painful to pass urine or your urine just doesn’t come out giving you a burning sensation along with pain that you can’t bear with. The root of this herb has mucilages to soothe and protect inflamed irritated tissues of your body. Marshmallow mucilages create a coating all along your urinary tract to protect you against damage that kidney stone may cause Make marshmallow root tea or just chew on some after washing properly and you’ll find yourself running to the bathroom and get relief from pain too.

1st Way of Using Marshmallow Root for Kidney Pain- Infusion

This is a marshmallow root tea made with cold infusion method, good for extracting pure extract of mucilage from the root.

Get this:

• Marshmallow root- 4 tablespoons
• Water- a little less than 1 liter
• Mason jar of 1 liter capacity (a 32 ounce jar too does well)
• Honey or stevia (optional)- as per taste

Do this:

• Place the marshmallow root in the jar.
• Fill the jar with water.
• Cover and let it soak overnight, preferably in the refrigerator. If not so long, let soak for at least 4-5 hours.
• In the morning, strain the water to get a pale golden thick viscous liquid.
• Drink this throughout the day. You may like to sweeten it naturally with stevia powder or honey.

2nd Way of Using Marshmallow Root for Kidney Pain- Tea

You can even make marshmallow tea if you don’t have much time and want fast relief. Infusion needs time as long as 4-8 hours but tea can be made within 10-15 minutes.

Get this:

• Marshmallow root- 1 tbsp
• Hot water- 1 cup
• Honey or stevia (optional)- as per taste

Do this:

• Place the marshmallow root into a pot.
• Pour hot water over it.
• Cover and let steep for 10-15 minutes.
• Strain and drink.
• If you want to sweeten it, do it by using honey or stevia.
• You may drink 2-4 cups of marshmallow tea during the day.

Magnesium salts and Castor oil packs over the kidneys can be of great benefit. Wet a cloth with concentrated warm Epsom salt solution and place it over the kidneys. Keep warm for 1 – 2 hours with a hot water bottle. At other times use warm Castor oil on a woollen cloth, keep warm. Repeat these packs frequently. With inflammation and pain, a fresh outer cabbage leaf over the kidneys may bring relief.

10. Plaintain to Relieve Kidney Pain

Plantain, the common backyard herb, is often thought to be a useless weed but it is quite a healing herb and ancient people knew this. The Anglo-Saxons as early as 450 A.D. to 1066 A.D. had listed plantain as one of their 9 sacred herbs due to its great healing powers to get rid of worms, kidney disorders, and hemorrhoids. Native Americans also used plantain leaves to relieve the pain of bee stings and insect bites. They also used it for poison ivy itches as well as other allergic rashes. Chinese to use plantain to cure kidney problems. The antibacterial properties of this herb help in preventing infection while its anti-inflammatory properties help relieve pain, burning, and itching. It is a mild diuretic and laxative to and thus useful in kidney problems and urinary bladder issues.

Make plantain tea for kidney pain

Get this:

• Dry or fresh whole plantain (seed, root and leaves)- 1 tbsp
• Boiling water- 1 cup
• Honey or stevia (optional)- as per taste

Do this:

• Place the plantain herb in a pot.
• Pour hot water over it.
• Steep for about 10 minutes.
• Strain and drink this.
• You may sweeten the tea with honey or stevia if you so wish.
• Have one cup of plantain tea 4-5 times a day.

11. Uva Ursi to Relieve Kidney Pain

Uva ursi, also known as bearberry, is a herb that has been traditionally used by Native Americans to cure urinary problems like bladder infections which acts as a diuretic. Uva ursi is particularly beneficial for infections caused by E. coli, a bacterium found in the intestines causing bladder and kidney infections. If you decide to use this herb for your kidney diseases, consult a herbalist as it is indicated only for chronic conditions and is not meant to be used for longer periods.

Make Uva ursi tea for kidney pain

Get this:

• Uva ursi leaves- 1 tbsp
• Water- 2 cups

Do this:

• Add uva ursi leaves with water.
• Simmer the mixture for about 30-40 minutes till when it is reduced to one cup.
• Drink half cup of this tea twice a day.

Warning: Pregnant women should avoid taking uva ursi herb.

12. Sage-Peppermint Tea to Relieve Kidney Pain

The volatile oil present in Sage has various therapeutic properties including antiseptic, astringent and relaxing effects. The antiseptic properties of this herb are particularly beneficial in treating intestinal infection whereas the Rosmarinic acid is responsible for its anti-inflammatory effect. Combined with peppermint, sage tea can give relief from pain and spasms.

Make Sage and Peppermint tea for kidney pain

Get this:

• Sage herb- 1 tbsp
• Peppermint leaves- 1 tbsp
• Boiled water- 2 cups

Do this:

• Place sage and peppermint leaves in a container.
• Pour hot water over them.
• Cover and leave.
• When the water becomes cold, strain and drink throughout the day.
• You may have 2-3 cups of sage-peppermint tea daily for at least 3 months to treat your kidney infection even if the pain subsides in the first few days.

13. Mustard Plaster to Relieve Kidney Irritation

Sometimes you experience kidney irritation rather than pain. A mustard plaster or a poultice of mustard seed powder stimulates healing for such irritation. However, pure mustard plaster left on a bare skin for too long will result into burning or blisters. Therefore, a mustard powder is mixed with flour or is wrapped in cloth to avoid such contact with skin. Also, sometimes egg white is used in place of water as it prevents blistering of the skin.

How to make mustard plaster for kidney irritation?

Get this:

• Mustard powder- 1 part
• Whole wheat flour- 4 parts
• Water or Egg white- to make a paste
• Vaseline or lard

Do this:

• Mix mustard powder with flour.
• Use water or egg white to make a thin paste. Egg white prevents blistering so it is preferable to use this ingredient. It should be enough thin to spread smoothly but not watery thin that will flow away.
• Spread Vaseline or lard over the area where you feel irritation.
• Now apply the prepared mustard plaster.
• Leave for some time, not more than 30 minutes.
• You should remove the plaster (wipe off or wash off) if you feel more irritating or the skin gets deep red or blisters.

Warning: Don’t use mustard plaster for children below 6 years of age.

14. Nettle Tea to Relieve Joint Pains due to Kidney Diseases

Nettle is an effective diuretic which helps prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections. This herbal tea is also good for treating kidney inflammations as well as relieving joint pains that you get due to high uric acid in blood because of kidney diseases.

How to make nettle leaf tea for pain due to kidney diseases?

Get this:

• Nettle leaves (dried and the one that doesn’t sting)- 2-3 tsp
• Hot water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Place the nettle leaves in a pot.
• Pour hot water over it.
• Let it steep for about 10 minutes.
• Strain and drink.
• Drink 1 cup nettle leaves tea three times a day.

While using these home remedies for kidney pain, you must understand that kidney pain is not something that should be taken lightly. If your pain persists for a longer time, you should immediately consult your physician. Lack of attention to treating kidney diseases right at the first stage can lead to serious kidney problems like failure of renal tissues.