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# Got kidney stones?  You may remove them at home *****
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/uric_acid_stones_0712130744/
- Published: 2013-07-13T20:43:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:01:45.000Z
- Description: A case report in Urolithiasis describes two patients who dissolved uric acid kidney stones by drinking two liters of water a day, eating more fruit and vegetables and avoiding animal protein and salt. One was clear at six months, the other at four.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Diet, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Saturday July 12, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new case report in Urolithiasis demonstrates that some kidney stones called uric acid stones can be removed at home by following a modified diet for four to six months or alkali therapy.

As reported, two patients were advised to simply drink 2 liters of water per day and eat lots of fruits and vegetables and avoid eating animal protein and high salt. One patient got rid of kidney stones at six months of the dietary treatment and the other removed stones at four months of the treatment.

Ji Yun Chae and colleagues from Korea University Guro Hospotal in Seoul, the Republic of Korea say in their report that uric acid stones are the most readily dissolvable of all types of urinary stones. Normally, patients can take potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate pills or drink their solutions to alkalize the urine to dissolve the stones. The treatment is highly effective, but some patients like those in the reported cases may have conditions such as advanced chronic renal failure, disorders of coagulation or allergic reactions that do not allow use of this treatment.

In both cases, patients had elevated levels of uric acid at 53.9 mmol/L and 39.2 mmol/L in the blood and low pH in the urine (5.0 and 5.5) for case 1 and case 2 respectively. After six and four months of treatment, case 1 and case 2 lowered serum uric acid to 37.8 and 22.2 mmol/L respectively and increased urinary pH in both cases to 7.0.

Uric acid stones are formed when urinary pH is chronically low and uric acid is high in the urine.

Diagnosis and treatment of kidney stones can be painful and potentially damaging. First, spiral dual energy computerized tomography or CT scan or conventional x-rays or traditional CT scans may be used to diagnose a kidney stone. X-rays and CT scan per se use a fairly high dose of radiation, which can increase the risk of cancer among other things. Then kidney stones after diagnosis can be treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a surgical procedure to remove large kidney stones.

These two cases suggest that food consumers can do something when they suspect they have developed uric acid stones before they rush to a hospital to receive expensive and invasive diagnosis and treatments. The lowest cost for surgical removal of kidney stones is on average $17,400 in the U.S..

**Here are some tips as to what consumers who suspect they may suffer kidney stones may do:**

1) Use a pH paper to test the urinary pH. PH papers can be purchased over the internet or from a local pharmacy. When pH is as low as 5.5 or 5.0, you may be vulnerable for the formation of uric acid stones.

2) If the urinary pH is low, then prepare some alkaline solution with sodium bicarbonate or baking soda. Test the pH of the solution with pH paper to make sure you add sufficient baking soda in the drinking water. Drink the alkaline water a few times a day and continue doing the same for a few days. Ingestion of too much sodium is not a good idea. Alternatively you can use potassium salt. So you may check your local pharmacy to see if you can buy potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate tablets. Alkali therapy is commonly used to treat metabolic acidosis.

3) Check the urinary pH to make sure the pH is raised to 7.0 after a day or two.

4) Continue drinking the alkaline water until you have the pain or symptoms associated with kidney stones disappear. The alkali therapy should remove uric acid stones fairly quickly.

5) If you feel allergic or you have a kidney condition as diagnosed in the past, then you need to follow the dietary intervention described in the report, that is, eating foods that tend to lower your urinary pH and avoid foods that generate high levels of uric acid. It would take some weeks or months as described in the report to dissolve uric acid stones.

6) Be warned that during the process described above, if your symptoms become worse, stop any intervention and seek medical attention immediately.

*(Disclaimer: These methods are based on the case report and the writer does not guarantee any efficacy or safety. Use the methods at your own risk.)*

**How to prevent uric acid stones in the first place**

The formation of uric acid tones requires two things, uric acid and low urinary pH. So eating foods that do not form uric acid can help prevent uric acid stones. And eating foods that result in a high urinary pH can also help prevent the formation of uric acid.

When it is desired to have a low uric acid load formed in the body, one should follow a low purine diet. Purine is a dietary component contained in many foods. Foods with high purine include anchovies, bacon, bouillon, brains, broth, codfish, goose, gravy, heart, herring, haddock, kidney, liver, mackerel, meat extracts, minced meat, mussels, partridge, roe, sardines, scallops, shrimp, sweetbreads veal, venison, yeast and yeast extract.

Foods with moderate levels of purine include fish, poultry, meat, shellfish, asparagus, dried beans, lentils, mushrooms, peas and spinach. 

Foods that have high protein tend to have high amounts of purine.

One important food that forms uric acid after ingestion is high fructose corn syrup, which is commonly used in sweetened soft drinks and processed foods like cookies. Those who are vulnerable may want to avoid this food. 

Foods that result in a high urinary pH include lemons, limes, watermelon, cantaloupe, baking soda, sea salt, pumpkin seed, sprouted lentils, seaweed, kelp, sea vegetables, onion, taro root, lotus root, sweet potato, nectarine, persimmon, dates, figs, mango, papaya, parsley, raspberry, tangerine, and pineapple, celery, seedless grapes, watercress.

Foods that result in a low urinary pH include artificial sweeteners, meats, pork, poultry, fish, seafood, beer, wine, liquor, processed cheese, fried foods, breads, sugar, carbonated soft drinks, cereals, cigarettes and tobacco, coffee, black tea, white wheat flour, jams, jellies, processed maple syrup, sulphured molasses, white pasta, pastries and cakes from white flour, commercial pickles, white bread, vinegar and sweetened yogurt. 

If that is too much to remember, remember this

Alkaline foods include most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs, seeds, and nuts. Eat as much greens as possible to keep a high pH. Acid forming foods include meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, grains, and legumes. Eat as little animal foods as possible to have a high urinary pH.

(Reporting by Jimmy Downs)