03/15/2012: Gerri from Cranford, New Jersey, Usa: "This is a terrific site. I googled kidney stones & alfalfa as I was texting with a friend who is having symptoms. There was the remedy I had heard about years ago... Shaklee Alfalfa and lots of water! I also found the other remedies to be interesting and I passed them on to my friend. I'm a little doubtful about the beer and wine cure!"

09/27/2012: Smmt from Rochester, Mn replies: "I have tried every drink, food, herbal med out there to dissolve, pass, prevent calcium stones. My Dr. at Mayo Clinic told me to quit as NOTHING but tons and tons of plain water helps. Once you have a stone, fluids help push it out but water helps your body relax to help pass the stone. Everything listed here just creates more stones down the road. So you are correct in saying more fluids helped, not what it was. Think ahead. What you drink today causes your stones tomorrow. Coke is the number 1 cause of stones. Salt is #2.."

09/27/2012: Roec from Los Angeles, Ca replies: "Doctors are people too. People can be wrong. Chanca Piedra works! Grandma has to usually have surgery to pass them.

Not any more with chanca piedra. I will come here everyday to defend Chanca Peidra because how awesome it is.

Most Earth Clininc readers are here with an open mind, often times even when or after docs say "Nothing" else works and yet so many amazing accounts of success with remedies here.

Chanca Piedra works. Period!"

09/28/2012: Wayseeker from Modesto, Ca/ Usa replies: "Chanca Piedra means "stone breaker". Look it up! --T."

09/28/2012: Bill from San Fernando, Philippines replies: "Agree with Roec completely on chanca piedra. I have used the decoction of CP on a man who had painful arthritis in one knee which was swollen to the size of a small football. He couldn't walk anymore. After five days of taking the CP decoction, the knee was back to normal with no pain and he could walk again. Little known also that CP has such remarkable anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties like this.

But if you take CP, you must take it as a tea or decoction -- this is the best and most absorbable way to take it. I also do not trust tablets that undergo chemical processing and have unnecessary additives -- as this can hinder proper absorption into the body.

So if you buy CP -- try and get the organic powder from a good and honest organic seller like the one shown in this link:

Chanca Piedra Source"

09/28/2012: Ed2010 from Oakville, Canada replies: "Hi Bill, Can you explain the recipe to make Chanca Piedra - Phylanthus Niruri decoction. I take it as mixing 1/2 tsp cp with a glass of water, leaving it for 5 mins. And then drink it. I like to test your method to see its effects. thanks"

09/28/2012: Bill from San Fernando, Philippines replies: "Hi Ed2010... I use one whole chanca piedra plant, with roots included, for the decoction. I chop the plant up, bruise the stem amd roots to open it up, then add it to a large pan. I add 2 litres of water. Then I boil this gently to reduce the liquid in the pan down to about 1 litre.

I let it cool then decant the liquid off, strain it, and put it into a sealed glass container and store it in the fridge. The way that I take my doses is by filling a glass a third full with the CP decoction and then topping up with fresh orange juice. CP tastes quite bitter so fruit juice does help to get it down.

If you are buying the CP powder, then you can take this as a tea with fruit juce or with hot green tea perhaps - say mixed with a 1/4 of a teaspoon CP powder. Drink two or three cups a day."

09/28/2012: Lisa from Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa replies: "I have to laugh whenever I read posts which say their Dr.says "there's nothing that can be done" or "no, diet has nothing to do with your problem", etc. Witness how often we read this on EC. This is why a site like this is so important and shows how drs. only rely on medications as "answers".

As Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food. " Oh my, how far the medical profession has veered from this! Here's to everyone's health, Lisa"

09/28/2012: Ed2010 from Oakville, Canada replies: "Hi Bill, during my childhood, I used to pluck one full plant of CP and eat it raw. Now, I am taking 1/4 tsp of CP powder in a glass of water occasionaly. Thanks for your recipe."

03/31/2011: Bill from San Fernando, San Fernando, Philippines replies: "Hi Stone Quarry... I would certainly recommend Chanca Piedra to remove kidney stones. I used Chanca Piedra as well as a herb called Tinospora cordifolia or Heavenly Elixir, also known as Heart Vine, on a Filipino friend who had both kidney stones and diabetes. This combination, as a decoction, worked well and his stones and the pain went in about a month and a half and half and he was also able to reduce his diabetes meds.

But Chanca piedra is the one to use for removing both gallstones or kidney stones. During my recovery from candida, while taking Chanca piedra on a daily basis as a decoction several times a day, every day, all my own gallstones(which I didn't know I had) were safely expelled over a few months which was a great surprise.

Chanca piedra isn't called "Stonebreaker" for no reason.

It's probably best to take Chanca piedra as a tea several times a day, every day, for full effect. But the herb capsules should work just as well -- 1000 mg Chanca piedra three times a day with meals."

03/31/2011: Sue M. from Worden, Il. Usa replies: "I just wanted to add to your research besides the tea. I was reading about the liver and ran across chanca piedra, which the site claimed was excellent for breaking up kidney stones. Thought you might check it out. Good luck."

08/26/2011: Sylvia from Toronto, Ontario replies: "Gallstones: Where do you buy Chanca Piedra? In a healthfood store or online somewhere?"

08/26/2011: Jay from Toronto, Ont, Canada replies: "Replying to Sylvia from Toronto, Ontario who wrote: "Gallstones: Where do you buy Chanca Piedra? In a healthfood store or online somewhere?"

Sylvia, Chanca Piedra is available in Toronto in any good health food store. Of course it is also available on line from amazon or iherb to name but two websites."

10/30/2011: Kim from Whitby, Ontario replies: "I recently bought Chanca Piedra to get rid of my kidney stone that has been stuck in my ureter for the past four months works GREAT!! It did its job within a few days.. you can purchase this product at any HEALTH FOOD STORE."

12/11/2012: Tsirena from Manila, Philippines replies: "Bill, what is the Filipino name of Chanca Piedra?"

12/11/2012: Bill from San Fernando, Philippines replies: "Hi Tserina... Chanca piedra is called sampa-sampalukan in Filipino and it looks like this:

http://www.stuartxchange.org/SampaSampalukan.html

You can also find Chanca piedra in Quiapao Market in Quezon City in Manila."

06/30/2011: Lorrie from Belcourt, Nd replies: "I drank about 1 gallon of olive oil mixed with lemon juice and nothing has happened, its been 1 1/2 weeks how long does it take? ct scan showed I had 6 stones. @ in mu urethra?"

[YEA]  01/02/2008: Alex from Toronto, Canada: "'I used German natural drug Kalkurenal about 17 years ago. Now the stone is back and I am planning to try it again."

[YEA]  04/09/2013: Stevie Lynn from Lala Land, Ca, Usa: "Grandma's Miracle Kidney Stone Cure:

8oz 100% tomato juice
6oz 100% beet juice
Juice of two lemons
2 Tbs. Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
1 small jar asparagus baby food

Stir or blend all ingredients well. Drink as quickly as possible without causing discomfort. Repeat every 4 hours until you pass your stones, which will look like sand when they pass. In between doses, try to drink at least two to three 8oz glasses of water with a little lemon and ACV. Two doses will usually do it, I have never known anyone who tried it to require more that three doses."

08/22/2009: Chili from Cadillac, Mi, 49601: "VERY LARGE / ALKALINE STONES

I am hoping someone can give me some advise. I was diagnosed with two kidney stones in my left ureter. One 5mm and one 6mm. These may or may not have passed already. I also have one stone in my left kidney that is 8x11mm and several others in my left kidney that are between 3mm and 5mm. And one in my right kidney that is 7mm. I am told these are too big to pass and am scheduled for lithotripsey in 6 days.

I've been doing an herbal kidney dissolving routine, and herbal kidney cleanse. I do not know if it is working or not. I feel discomfort but no pain yet. (although I had horrendous pain when I think I passed the two in the ureter).

I saw a chemist the other day who checked my urine and saliva and said I am too alkaline and that the stones I have are "alkaline". I have not heard of this.

So, I have two questions:

One: Is it possible to dissolve stones this big, or do you think I need the surgery?

TWO: Is it likely they are alkaline, and if so, what would dissolve them?

We have hard water , so I assumed they are calcium stones.......but of course I don't know. I have never passed stones before. OH, Also, I have mudullary sponge kidneys, so I have been told that with that type of kidneys, I will make stones, because the urine cannot fully get out of the kidney and it will collect in the pockets and make stones.

Any advise would be SO appreciated! I'm feeling desperate and panicky to save my kidneys!!! (I also have stones in my liver........gallbladder is removed.)
Thank you."

08/23/2009: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "For Chili from Cadillac, Mi:

Whew, Chili,

Sounds like you could start your own rock quarry! Composition of kidney stones is usually determined by examining the stone, not the body pH. But since I am assuming that these stones showed up on xrays, we can eliminate uric acid stones because these usually don't show on xrays.

I am not a urologist but I think if were in your shoes, I would definitely be found trying the extra virgin olive oil/lemon juice mixture at least daily to see if you can pass them before they blast them with lithotrypsy. They probably gave you a little strainer to check for passage of the stones in the ureters. If so continue using them and if you catch one of those disgustingly painful-passage stones, carry it in to be analyzed on your doctor visit. I have never had renal stones that I know of, so have never needed to check this easy remedy out, but you can easily find the how to use it on EC because I have read many yeas on EC for this remedy and can only recall one nay on it.

Considering it is apparently so effective (many of those yeas came from happy campers who could not believe they passed stones so easily and relatively painlessly after using orthodox methods before) and so cheap and so safe, I would definitely be found trying it and if it works with your history, I would keep them cleared by continuing to take the EV olive oil/lemon juice remedy every other day or so.

Lots of luck and keep us posted!"

10/26/2012: Amanda from Lyndonville, Ny Us replies: "I have a small keny stone I went to the ER last sunday mow it is friday I dont have no pain does it mean my keny stone is gone?"

04/29/2013: Kavita from Mumbai, Maharashtra: "I want to know the homeopathic medicine or other medicine for kidney stone of size of 7.8 mm."

04/30/2013: Oso from Brazil replies: "Hi, I'm a fan of homeopathy but I think at this stage you need something more agreesive. Why don't you try the olive oil and lemon juice cure?

Also, homeopathy medicines need to be prescribed by a licensed homeopatic doctor. You can't just buy it over the counter, they are custom made for you. Good luck!"

06/21/2012: John from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico replies: "I can only relate to my experience with the VA Medical Center in La Jolla, California, but I have had no bad experience with any of the staff, the fact is they have all been wonderful. I was in a severe vehicle accident in Mexico, in the hospital for ten days with a hand that was skin sluffed and a head wound that took part of my scalp. The Drs. in Mexico wanted to do plastic surgery right away, but I decided to wait until I went to the VA in La Jolla. The wound clinic Dr. there said I needed to go through the necessary protocol, which included a CAT scan of my neck. They found a fractured vertabrae, C-2, my primay care Dr. Came running into the pharmacy waiting area with a neck brace and signed me into the E. R. immediately. The nerosurgeon Dr. checked me out and told me I could have died as the C-2 is in the area of the spine which controls automatic breathing. So because of the splendid care that was given me the staff at the La Jolla, Califonria VAMC saved my life. So I only have the highest regard and praise for these dedicated people. Regards John"

[WORKED TEMPORARILY]  10/06/2008: David from Vancouver, BC, Canada: "Hi Everyone. I just found this site and I'm amazed by the wealth of information. I have suffered from Kidney Stones since 1985. I have had 18 stones over this time and according to the latest CT scans, I have 2 in the Left at 1cm or larger and 1 in the Rigth at about 50mm. The one in the Right is now trying to make its passage and the pain yesterday was very bad. I spent most of the day using my pain remedy of a hot bath and a case of beer. I think this one is stuck.

I have almost always passed them with the exception of 1 that was too large and caused a blockage in the Ureter of my right kidney. They have almost always been extremely painful events. Here in BC the only therapies that the Hospitals have provided are Lithotripter, Demerol and Morphine when in Hospital and Tylonol 3 when I'm at home. When I had my first kidneystone making its way through the Ureter, I was already in the bathtub and was feeling some pain. When I got out the pain was so bad that all I could think about was the warmth of the bath which was providing a tremendous amount of relief. Over the years, I have passed most of my stones without any pain killers by sitting in the hot bath tub for hours on end reading books and magazines with a case of beer or a water bottle beside me. When I would go to the Hospital, all that would happen was: 1) wait 1/2 hour to 3 hours in the emergency waiting room until I vomited from the pain 2) wait in the ER for 5-10 hours with Gravol for stomach, a strainer for my urine and nothing for pain until the x-ray with die shows that yes I do have a kidney stone 3) wait 2-4 hours for a doctor to finally prescribe some pain killers, usually Demerol, and maybe to start a saline solution 4) wait in ER for another 12-24 hours until I can get a bed in the Hospital and on the waiting list for emergency Lithotripter. 5) wait 2-3 days in Hospital Bed until they decide that I'm not going to pass it on my own and the Emergency access to the Lithotripter is scheduled for 10-12 months and schedule me for a shunt, which has its own problems. 6) send me home with a Tylonol 3 prescription. 7) get into a hot bath and drink beer until it passes.

Until the pain gets too bad, I will be in my bath tub with a beer. I find that the water has to be very hot, the hotter the better. The only way to get it hot enough is to start the tub half full and get in. Then turn off the cold tap and warm up the water to the hottest temperature that you can handle. Fill the tub to the fullest and lie as prone as you can get and start drinking your fluids. I prefer beer and water. The other reason why I seem to like this therapy is that my wife, who hates me drinking beer, will actually go out and buy the beer for me, by the case load.

In the mean time, I will also be putting the Olive Oil (2oz) and Lemon Juice (2oz) to the test."

10/08/2008: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "I question if beer has the same effect on the kidneys as other carbonated beverages do, and I am sure that carbonated beverages damage the kidneys because they cause proteinuria (spilling of proteins in the urine) which would indicate swelling of the tubules in the kidneys itself. The only benefit I can see here is that the more fluid you drink, the faster you are likely to pass the stones, but I personally think that good old water will do that more efficiently & without the necessity of getting drunk on the beer. But just maybe, getting high on the beer is a desired side effect here. Frankly I think they can put the stuff back in the horse.

I can see how the warm bath would bring about relaxation of ureters, as well as other tubules in the body, but I would be a little wary of getting the bath as hot as you can stand (scalding)...

"

02/27/2013: Margaret from Okanagan Valley, Bc Canada replies: "Caution with Lithotripsy, they literallly implode these stones inside you, and, if the techie is inexperienced they can do permanent damage to your kidneys, We experienced Lithotripsy in desperation for help and it sounded simple and safe... Beware , not true, we have been dealing with high blood pressure (was not there before) since coming out of that procedure. So the kidneys can almost turn to blasted mush! Our favorite is Chanca Piedra, and the four herbs in apple juice, simmered for half hour, Hydrangea, Uva Ursi , marshmallow root and gravel root. Take care of your water works and be careful with the procedures THEY call safe!!"

09/02/2011: Jpark from Spanish Fork, Utah: "A wonderful herb to dissolve stones is hydrangea, it comes in capsules. It will break up the stones into smaller more easily passed pieces. It is very helpful for relieving the pain during a kidney stone attack. Take 6 capsules 3-4 times per day, even up to 10 at a time if you are in extreme pain, or try take 2-3 each hour. Continue taking them for a couple weeks, then try the olive oil/lemon juice to flush them out. You don't want to flush them out too early and cause more pain, try to dissolve them first. At about $10 a bottle it is an inexpensive, but very effective solution for your kidney stones. I have used this on several occassions for stones, the first time I was in so much pain I could hardly move, but within 30 minutes of my first dose of hydrangea the pain started to subside to a manageable level. Google Hydrangea and kidney stones, you will find a lot of info."