Does cranberry juice help with kidney stones or help with infections in the kidney?

or does it help with both?

Hi A.P

Here are some ideas to heal the issue.

Cause
Kidney stones are more common during the summer, possibly due to concentrated urine caused by increased sweating and insufficient fluid intake. In general, mild chronic dehydration can play a role in the development of kidney stones. Chronic stress can also play a role.

Kidney stones that are high in calcium may be a signal of hyperparathyroidism (excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone). In serious cases of kidney stones an ultrasound that fractionalizes and breaks down the stones may be advised. See your medical doctor for more information about this.
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Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: Hyssop and juniper essential oils can be helpful.

Ayurveda: Cumin, coriander, and fennel tea. Drink one cup three times a day.

Diet: Diet alone cannot get rid of the stones. Higher-than-normal levels of oxalate related to a diet high in oxalic containing foods, such as rhubarb, spinach, leafy vegetables, and coffee, can promote kidney stone formation. High levels of dietary refined carbohydrates can also cause kidney stones. Sugar stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, causing increased calcium excretion through the urine. Other dietary factors that cause increased calcium excretion in the urine and promote stone formation are increased intakes of coffee, colas, acid-forming diets (such as high protein and grains), insufficient water intake, and excessive salt consumption. Soft drinks containing phosphoric acid can also encourage the formation of kidney stones and should be completely eliminated.

The most important dietary actions are to increase your intake of pure filtered water, fiber, and green vegetables, and reduce refined sugar consumption. Foods that are helpful in decreasing kidney stone formation include cranberries, black cherries, rice bran, kombucha tea. In addition to avoiding sugar, also avoid or reduce your intake of salt, dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, refined carbohydrates, nuts, chocolate, pepper, and animal proteins.

Herbs: Combine the tinctures of gravel root, cornsilk, wild yam, and blackhaw in equal parts and take one teaspoon of this mixture three times a day. Or drink one cup of an infusion of nettle three times a day. Other useful herbs include uva ursi, horsetail, and dandelion root.

Homeopathy: Berberis, and Sarsaparilla are both useful homeopathic remedies.

Juice Therapy: The following juices can help stimulate the overall health of the urinary tract and potentially flush out the stones: Organic lemon juice; carrot, beet, and cucumber juice with a dash of garlic and/or horseradish; and/or Organic cranberry and watermelon juice.

Nutritional Supplementation: Helpful nutrients include: magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C (keep your total daily intake below 6 grams to avoid increasing oxalate formation), vitamin A, proteolytic enzymes (away from meals), raw kidney glandulars, fat-soluble chlorophyll, lipoic acid, and the amino acids glutamic acid, lysine, and methionine.

Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating kidney stones: Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Detoxification Therapy, Reflexology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Ultrasound.


Best of health to you

Cranberry juice is usually thought to help with bladder infections at the beginning stages. However, you have to drink lots of it - there is something in the cranberry juice that makes it difficult for bacteria to adhere to the bladder wall and cause infection.

In either case, you should see a doctor for these two conditions. Bladder infections usually need to be treated with antibiotics.

All I would say is listen to the herdoc. He/she seems to know about it.

cranberry juice usually helps bladder infections. I have kidney stones but not from calcium.mine are from too much uric acid in my kidneys. Mine had to be operated on its called lithotripsy.They did that twice. I still have pieces in my kidney but its not painful now. The pain before was the worst I've ever had and that includes labor pains with 3 kids.I am supposed to take magnesium pills but after a month they just made me sick,and NO diet will help rid you of stones.See a nephrologist,not an herbologist.

Cranberry Pills really help for bladder infections. Drinking alot of water and staying hydrated is the best thing. You will learn alot at webmd.com

Doesn,t do any good for either! Cranberry jc helps ease a mild bladder infection, but as far as kidney stones wont do much