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Which Chinese herbal medicine is specifically used to treat kidney stones and hydronephrosis?

Dec 12, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
There is no single herb that specifically treats kidney stones and hydronephrosis. However, traditional Chinese herbs commonly used for these conditions include Lysimachiae Herba (Jin Qian Cao), Lygodii Spora (Hai Jin Sha), Gallus gallus domesticus (Ji Nei Jin), Plantago asiatica seed (Che Qian Zi), and Pyrrosia leaf (Shi Wei). These herbal medicines should be used only under the guidance of a qualified physician and must not be taken blindly on one's own. If symptoms such as increased stone size or worsening hydronephrosis occur, prompt medical attention is necessary.

There is no such thing as a single herb that specifically treats kidney stones and hydronephrosis. However, some traditional Chinese herbs commonly used for these conditions include Lysimachiae Herba (Jin Qian Cao), Lygodii Spora (Hai Jin Sha), Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum (Ji Nei Jin), Plantaginis Semen (Che Qian Zi), and Pyrrosiae Folium (Shi Wei). These herbal medicines should be used only under the guidance of a qualified physician and must not be taken blindly on one's own. If symptoms such as increasing stone size or worsening hydronephrosis occur, prompt medical attention is necessary.

1. Lysimachiae Herba (Jin Qian Cao): Slightly cold in nature, with a sweet and salty taste. It promotes diuresis, relieves urinary obstruction, clears dampness, and resolves jaundice. It helps increase urine output and facilitates the elimination of small stones from the body. It serves as an adjunctive treatment for kidney stones and hydronephrosis caused by downward infiltration of damp-heat.

2. Lygodii Spora (Hai Jin Sha): Cold in nature, with a sweet and salty taste. It clears damp-heat, promotes urination, and alleviates pain. It can relieve frequent, urgent, and painful urination caused by stones and aids in stone expulsion. It is suitable for hydronephrosis due to obstruction by gravel or stones.

3. Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum (Ji Nei Jin): Neutral in nature, with a sweet taste. It aids digestion, resolves food accumulation, promotes urination, and dissolves stones. It enhances digestive function and promotes the dissolution and excretion of stones. It shows certain effectiveness in patients with relatively small stones present for a short duration.

4. Plantaginis Semen (Che Qian Zi): Cold in nature, with a bland and slightly sweet taste. It clears heat, promotes urination, drains dampness, and stops diarrhea. It increases urine volume, flushes the urinary tract, helps expel small stones, and alleviates symptoms of hydronephrosis. It is suitable for patients with internal accumulation of damp-heat.

5. Pyrrosiae Folium (Shi Wei): Slightly cold in nature, with a bitter and sweet taste. It promotes urination, relieves urinary discomfort, clears the lungs, and stops coughing. It alleviates urinary irritation symptoms and facilitates stone passage. It provides supportive treatment for kidney stones accompanied by mild hydronephrosis.

In daily life, maintain adequate hydration with a minimum of 2,000 mL of water intake per day to promote urine circulation. Eat a light diet and avoid foods high in calcium, oxalate, and purines. Engage in moderate, gentle exercises such as walking or jogging to improve urinary tract metabolism and support recovery.

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