Roselle for Kidney Stones

A new study found that roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) may help treat kidney stones via uricosuric activity.

Uricosuric agents are used to lower the uric acid level in the blood and to prevent the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints and kidneys. These drugs are often used to treat gout, a disease in which uric acid crystals deposit in joints and cause pain. By decreasing plasma uric acid levels, these drugs decrease the deposition of crystals in joints, eventually decreasing inflammation and thereby reducing the pain of gout.

Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, urolithiasis or nephrolithiasis, usually develop when the urine becomes too concentrated. As a result, minerals and other substances in the urine form hard crystals in the kidneys. Over time, these crystals may combine to form a small, hard mass or stone.

There are four types of kidney stones that can develop: calcium oxalate stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones and cystine stones.

Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stones, accounting for 80 percent of cases. They develop when there are high levels of calcium and oxalate in the blood. Patients who consume excessive amounts of vitamin D or who have overactive thyroids may have high levels of calcium in the blood. Patients who consume large amounts of oxalic acid or undergo intestinal bypass surgery may have high levels of oxalate in the blood.

Struvite stones are usually caused by chronic urinary tract infections. The bacteria that cause these infections release enzymes that increase the amount of ammonia in the urine. This excess ammonia may form large, sharp stones that may damage the kidneys.

Uric acid is a byproduct of protein metabolism. Uric acid stones are usually caused by a cancer treatment called chemotherapy. They may also develop in patients who eat high-protein diets. Some patients are genetically predisposed to develop uric acid stones.

Cystine stones develop in patients who have an inherited disorder called cystinuria. This disorder causes the kidneys to release too many amino acids. The excess amino acids then form stones.

Researchers from Thailand conducted a study with nine subjects with no history of kidney stones and nine with a history of kidney stones. A cup of tea made from 1.5 grams of dry roselle was provided to subjects twice daily (morning and evening) for 15 days.

After taking the tea, both groups showed increases in oxalate and citrate. In the non-kidney stone group, increases in uric acid excretion and clearance were observed. In the patients with kidney stones, both uric acid excretion and clearance were significantly increased.

The study authors concluded that roselle has a uricosuric effect and they suggested that the chemical constituents exerting this effect should be identified.

Comments

[mo]

I think this sort of study could have significant effects on healthcare costs and patient quality of life. A kidney stone can be absolutely excruciating but is often not considered a serious medical condition. Nonetheless, many people end up in hospital emergency departments because the pain is so distressing. Having a natural means of preventing the formation of kidney stones, especially among those who are susceptible to developing them, would not only decrease hospital and insurance costs, but provide some peace of mind to those who have experienced this painful condition.

[Mike]

My first reaction is that if this therapy worked in a general population - imagine how inexpensive and cost-effective this therapy could be! At a dose of 1.5 grams for 15 days... is this enough time to show clinical benefits, or would the therapy need to be taken long-term for preventative effects?

[Liz]

Anyone who's had a kidney stone knows how absolutely awful it is. A lot of the time, doctors just recommend that you wait it out to see if you can pass it yourself. The pain can be agonizing. So, it's great to hear that there may be some natural ways to help get rid of them more quickly.

[mo]

Phosphates may also help kidney stones. Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods, such as milk, cheese, dried beans, peas, colas, nuts and peanut butter. Phosphate is the most common form of phosphorus. In the body, phosphate is the most abundant intracellular anion. Long-term, slow release neutral potassium phosphate has been shown to reduce calcium excretion in subjects with absorptive hypercalciuria, and it appears to be well tolerated. This use of phosphates may be considered to prevent kidney stone formation.

[Rachel]

This is a promising study, but I'm having trouble finding strong clinical evidence for this. I would recommend this as a preventative/early treatment alternative, but can anyone else confirm the effectiveness of this treatment? Besides this study (which does not appear to show clinical outcomes measures - just levels of excretion) the only other study I could find was a 1994 study by Kirdpon S, Nakorn SN, Kirdpon W (Changes in urinary chemical composition in healthy volunteers after consuming roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) juice). Do any herbalists or clinicians have experience/success with this herb?

[Leah Cohen]

I have not heard of hibiscus use for kidney stones as of yet. It looks like there was another study using hibiscus for kidney stones as well from 1994 (Kirdpon, 994, PMID: 7869018). Usually, herbal combination formulas for kidney stones include the use of demulcents, such as zea mays; marshmallow; diuretics, such as dandelion; antispasmodics, such as crampbark or viburnum; and perhaps analgesics, such as meadowsweet. And of course, dietary modifications and adequate fluid intake are also important.

[Carla]

If researchers are able to identify roselle/hibiscus as both a prevention and treatment option for kidney stone suffers, would this logic only apply to medicinal doses of hibiscus? In Mexico and other Latin American countries, a very popular drink is Jamaica juice, made from hibiscus. I would be interested in the results of a study that took place in Mexico, for example, that examined the correlation between Jamaica juice drinking and kidney stone occurrence. I think that if researchers found very low incidences of kidney stones in these high Jamaica juice-consuming countries, that would also support the suggestions of this study.

[Ben]

I totally agree, Liz. Kidney stones are horrible. I've only had one, and luckily it was very small. One of my friends had to undergo extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) therapy, which doesn't sound like fun at all. They use sound waves to break the stone into smaller pieces. Basically, the high-energy sound waves pass through your body and break the stone into smaller pieces. They usually give you sedatives and/or anesthesia beforehand, but it can still cause a lot of side effects, including blood in the urine, bruising on the abdomen or back, bleeding around the kidney or nearby organs and pain when the stone fragments are passed in the urine.

So, taking roselle or trying other preventative measures is very appealing to me.

[ATAD]

I am so happy to hear such great things about my favorite plant. I was actually on vacation in Hawaii a few years back and heard about this folk remedy and was quite surprised to learn about its use to clear and deodorize urine, which would ultimately protect one from kidney stones. This remedy is also known to be an effective treatment in those suffering from UTIs. The usual over-the-counter treatment for UTIs include increasing fluid intake, avoiding tight-fitting clothing, maintaining impeccable personal hygiene, as well as drinking cranberry and/or blueberry juice. Conversely, those suffering from kidney stones and UTIs should steer clear from the cranberry juice due to its high levels of oxalate and should instead use our new treatment discovery, roselle.

[DT]

I think we need more studies to be done in different populations and with different types of diseases. This study was conducted in only 18 people with and without kidney stones. It doesn’t mention anything about other diseases. With a small population, it is difficult to say that roselle treated kidney stones. Is there any interaction with other drugs? Now a days, people are taking more than two different medications.

[Christian]

You have a wonderful site for finding studies being conducted throughout the world. It is unlikely that someone with a family history of kidney stones and urinary tract infections, like me, would know of a study conducted in Thailand. I am grateful for having this compendium of medical experiments/studies so easily accessible! Thank you, Natural Standard!

[David]

These days, one of the most prominent problems is health. It is very important for all of us to have a healthy body. We are always interested in what we can do to make ourselves as healthy as possible, especially the parents and also their children.

It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s a story about how unhealthy Americans have become. Diabetes is skyrocketing in the United States. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise among adults and children alike. A recent story in the New York Times reported that kidney stones are becoming more and more common in children as young as five or six. A child with kidney stones used to be a rare occurrence, but now, some hospitals have opened pediatric kidney stone clinics in order to accommodate all of the kids that come in with kidney stones.

Our kidneys play a key role in keeping us healthy. It filters our blood, taking out waste and adding it to our urine to be expelled in our body. The main preventative measure parents can take to help their children avoid developing a kidney stone is to encourage them to stay hydrated and discourage the over consumption of salt. However, it’s hard for parents to be with their kids all the time to ensure they’re putting the right things in their bodies, and sometimes kids just don’t listen.

Not only is a kidney stone harmful to your kid, it can be a major blow to your budget. And let’s face it; keeping up with the financial demands of today is a daunting task. As a result of this, people are seeking financial assistance. For example, if their child develops a kidney stone or is hit with some other health issue and you have to pay for the medical expenses, you can always get payday installment loans to help cover the medical costs until you get paid next. This one is a great help for you.

[Dott]

One problem: which part of the plant is being used in this trial? Leaves, blossoms, roots?? It makes a difference.

[kidney stone symptoms]

It is very difficult to describe the pain that one experiences due to kidney stones. To me, it was worse than a thousand knives pricking my lower abdomen.