The use of essential oils for kidney stones can be a great option or addition to your current treatment plan. Kidney stones can cause great pain for sufferers, with most treatments relying on simply treating the symptoms while you wait for the stone to pass.
Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) are hard deposits made up of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They often form when the urine becomes too concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Kidney stones can be made of calcium and uric acid, with men being more commonly affected.
Essential oils for kidney stones
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Helichrysum: Extracted from the helichrysum flower, this oil can be useful for reducing inflammation, headaches, acne, promoting wound and burn healing, detoxifying the immune system, and even fighting fungal infections. It can decrease kidney stone risk by helping the kidneys and liver detoxify waste products more efficiently. It is advised to use this oil externally.
Frankincense: Also known as Boswellia carterii or Boswellia Sacra, this is a great healing essential oil. Frankincense helps promote pain relief throughout the body. It is thought to work by blocking leukotrienes—substances that initiate inflammatory responses in the body. This essential oil can also act as a mild sedative, making it great for stress relief. Frankincense is also known for stimulating the brain.
Geranium: Can be used for the treatment of nerve pain when applied to the skin as well as relieving diarrhea and promoting weight loss. However, geranium is known for carrying many side effects such as a rash or burning sensation when applied to the skin.
Wintergreen: Beneficial for aches and pains but is also known for helping to alleviate certain kidney problems, nerve pain, throbbing joints, and menstrual pain. However, Wintergreen can induce several side effects if ingested like ringing in the ears, belly pain, and vomiting. It is recommended to use this essential oil topically or in a diffuser.
Lemon: The oil from this citrus fruit has a lot of beneficial properties. Its citrus scent helps to boost concentration, making you feel fresh and energized. It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Lemon oil blends well with other essential oils such as ginger, basil, and rosemary.
Orange: This common fruit can also be found in oil form. It’s citrusy energetic scent is great for stimulating the senses. Additionally, orange oil can be used to make you feel more productive and focused. The oil also contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce pain caused by inflammation.
Peppermint: This pleasantly scented oil can help with most forms of pain. This effect makes peppermint oil great for relieving aching joints and muscular pain. Peppermint essential oil is refreshing and uplifting. Add it to your bath or simply massage on the skin to reap its benefits.
Basil: This essential oil can be used for its health effects as well as cooking. Superficially, French basil is best used through aromatherapy. It also works as a decongestant, antiseptic, muscle relaxant, and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for reducing pain caused by inflammation. Basil oil helps stimulate the adrenal glands and plays a vital role in relieving mental fatigue.
Fennel: Known for promoting digestive health, fennel can also be used topically over the area of skin where your kidneys lie for pain relief. It is advised not to use fennel oil in large quantities and to avoid it if you are pregnant or epileptic.
Rosemary: Derived from the widely used herb, this essential oil contains high levels of analgesic properties, helping to relieve aches and pains. It can even be used to increase energy levels and relieve nervous exhaustion and mental fatigue. Rosemary also has potent diuretic properties that can help remove uric acid that could potentially form into uric acid kidney stones.
Clary sage: Produced from the steam distillation of the Salvia sclarea plant, this essential oil is great for reducing pain and swelling thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Chamomile: This plant is well known for helping us relax and get much-needed sleep, but it can also be used to help relieve pain as well thanks to its sedative properties. Chamomile oil works by reducing inflammation. Simply massage your chamomile oil solution onto your area of pain to get relief.
Yarrow: This relaxing oil helps regulate irregular periods and can even help alleviate some menopausal symptoms. It is known for stimulating the circulatory system, ensuring blood doesn’t pool in the veins.
Eucalyptus: As this oil is absorbed by the body, the powerful compound Eucalyptol works as a potent vasodilator, increasing the size of blood vessels. This allows for more blood to flow and circulate around the body. This action helps to relieve aches and pains combined with eucalyptus’s strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ways to use essential oils for kidney stones
Topically: Apply the oil directly onto your skin and around the kidney area, which can be found near your lower back. However, before doing so, it is very important to dilute your essential oil of choice with a carrier oil, such as virgin coconut or jojoba oil. This is done to reduce the potency of the essential oil as it can be irritating to the skin. It is recommended to use 100ml of carrier oil for every 3–5 ml of essential oil.
Inhaled: Using a diffuser is one the best ways to utilize your essential oils. It also helps to get their healing properties into the bloodstream in a fast and safe manner. This is the method of use for most as it doesn’t require essential oil dilution. However, you can still get some side effects from inhaling essential oils, so it is advised to be cautious when using this method.
Internal use: While for the most part, ingestion of essential oils is usually avoided due to their potent nature, there are many oils that can be made into teas or used in cooking. Food-based oils, such as basil, rosemary, or peppermint are great choices for consuming. It is advised to speak to a medical professional first before ingesting any essential oil.
Recipes for essential oils for kidney stones
Pain Relieving Blend Recipe
What you need:
- 20 drops lemongrass
- 20 drops frankincense
- 10 drops helichrysum
- Fractionated coconut oil
- 10 ml roller bottle
Method:
Mix these oils together, using coconut oil as your base carrier oil. Apply the mixture to your lower back in the area of your kidneys.
Detoxifying Lemon Capsules
What you need:
- Food grade lemon oil
- Olive oil
- Vegetable capsules
Method:
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For each capsule, add two drops of lemon oil. Then fill the rest of the capsule with olive oil. Take two capsules a day with plenty of water.
Having kidney stones can be an excruciating experience and should be looked at by a doctor if the pain becomes unbearable. Sometimes you may need prescription grade medication to help deal with the pain and even minor surgery, depending on the size of the stone. A common tip is to drink plenty of water as it keeps the kidneys working effectively and flushes out any accumulating toxins and waste products. It is also considered by some to be the best way to make a kidney stone pass.
Related: How to get rid of kidney stones at home?
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
