No—there’s no good evidence that mixing lemon, olive oil, and vinegar dissolves kidney stones. This is a popular home remedy, but it shouldn’t be relied on to treat an existing stone.
Lemon juice: contains citrate, which may help prevent some kidney stones from forming, but that is different from dissolving an established stone.
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NIDDK
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Olive oil: has no established role in dissolving kidney stones.
Vinegar: hasn’t been shown to dissolve kidney stones in people.
For a small stone, drinking adequate fluids may help it pass naturally. Larger stones or stones blocking urine flow may require medication or procedures such as lithotripsy or ureteroscopy.
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NIDDK
Get urgent medical care if you have severe or persistent side/back pain, fever or chills, vomiting, blood in the urine, or difficulty passing urine. A blocked stone accompanied by infection can be dangerous.
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NIDDK
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If you already know the size and type of your kidney stone, tell me (for example, “6 mm calcium oxalate stone”), and I can explain what can realistically help it pass or dissolve.
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