Treating Kidney Stones with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated: Oct 19
Oct 19, 2026 · @Erika
Anyone who has passed a kidney stone remembers it. The pain often starts suddenly in the back or side, spreads toward the groin, and comes in waves. About 1 in 10 people will have a stone at some point. Once you've had one, your chance of another goes up a lot.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has treated urinary stones for more than 2,000 years. TCM doesn't only focus on the stone. It also looks at the pattern in the body that let the stone form. Treatment has two goals: help the current stone break down and pass, then correct the imbalance so new stones are less likely.
How TCM understands kidney stones
In TCM, kidney stones fall under Shi Lin, or "stone strangury." It means painful, difficult urination caused by stones or grit. The classic idea is that heat in the Lower Burner (the lower abdomen and urinary system) slowly "cooks" the fluids. Over time, the impurities harden into sand and then stones.
A practitioner usually sees one or more of these patterns:
Damp-heat in the Bladder: burning, urgent or frequent urination, dark or cloudy urine, sometimes blood in the urine. This is the most common pattern.
Qi and Blood stagnation: sharp, fixed or colicky pain in the back, side or groin. This is what happens when a stone blocks the flow.
Kidney deficiency: stones that keep coming back, a dull ache in the low back, tiredness, and weak knees. This often shows up in older patients or chronic cases.
Most people have a mix of these. That's why a TCM treatment plan is matched to the person, not just to the diagnosis.
Key herbs for dissolving and expelling stones
TCM has a group of herbs called pai shi yao, or "stone-expelling herbs." Their job is to soften and break down stones, increase urine flow, and help sand and small stones pass. Practitioners combine them with herbs that clear heat, ease pain and support the Kidneys.
Jin Qian Cao (Lysimachia or Desmodium): the main stone herb
Jin Qian Cao means "gold coin grass." It's the herb most closely tied to treating stones in TCM. It clears damp-heat, increases urination and is known for "expelling stones," in both the kidneys and the gallbladder. It's usually given in fairly large amounts and is in almost every modern stone formula.
Two plants go by this name: Lysimachia christinae (Da Jin Qian Cao) and Desmodium styracifolium (Guang Jin Qian Cao). Desmodium has the most lab research. A 2021 mouse study found that its extract lowered calcium oxalate crystal buildup in the kidneys and reduced markers of kidney injury (Chen et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology). This is early, animal-based research, not proof in people, but it fits how the herb has long been used.
Hai Jin Sha (Lygodium spore)
Hai Jin Sha means "sea golden sand," and it's made from the spores of a climbing fern. It's a key herb for urinary pain with sand, gravel or stones. It eases burning and pain when urinating, and it's often paired with Jin Qian Cao.
Ji Nei Jin (chicken gizzard lining)
Ji Nei Jin is the dried inner lining of a chicken's gizzard, the organ that grinds hard food. TCM uses it to "transform hardness" and dissolve stones in the urinary tract and gallbladder. Stone formulas often include it together with Jin Qian Cao and Hai Jin Sha. This trio is sometimes called the "three golds" (San Jin).
Shi Wei (Pyrrosia leaf)
Shi Wei increases urine flow, clears heat from the Bladder and helps stop blood in the urine. It's the lead herb in the classic formula Shi Wei San.
Other supporting herbs
Herb (pinyin) | Common name | Main role in a stone formula |
Che Qian Zi | Plantain seed | Increases urine output, clears damp-heat |
Hua Shi | Talc (purified mineral) | Makes passage "slippery," eases painful urination |
Dong Kui Zi | Mallow seed | Lubricates and promotes urination |
Qu Mai | Dianthus | Clears heat, helps with burning, bloody urine |
Bian Xu | Knotgrass | Clears damp-heat, relieves painful urination |
Hu Po | Amber | Eases urination, helps with blood in the urine |
Chuan Niu Xi | Cyathula root | Moves Blood and guides the formula downward |
Yan Hu Suo | Corydalis | Moves Qi and Blood, relieves colicky pain |
Wang Bu Liu Xing | Vaccaria seed | Moves Blood, unblocks urination |
Your practitioner picks the herbs and doses based on your pattern, the size and location of the stone, and your overall health.
Classic formulas
TCM herbs are almost always given as a formula, not one at a time. These are the formulas most often used for stones:
Formula | Best suited for | Key ingredients |
Shi Wei San (Pyrrosia Powder) | Stones with burning, difficult urination | Shi Wei, Dong Kui Zi, Qu Mai, Hua Shi, Che Qian Zi |
Ba Zheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification) | Strong damp-heat: urgent, burning, dark urine | Qu Mai, Bian Xu, Che Qian Zi, Hua Shi, Zhi Zi, Da Huang |
San Jin Pai Shi Tang (Three-Gold Stone-Expelling Decoction) | A modern formula aimed directly at stones | Jin Qian Cao, Hai Jin Sha, Ji Nei Jin, plus supporting herbs |
When there's a lot of pain, a practitioner may add herbs that move Qi and Blood, such as Yan Hu Suo. Once the stone passes, many treatment plans shift toward supporting the Kidneys to help prevent the next stone.
Acupuncture, diet and lifestyle
Herbs work best alongside other kinds of support.
Acupuncture: can ease kidney stone pain and relax the ureter, the tube a stone passes through. Points along the Kidney and Bladder channels and on the low back are often used during an attack.
Drink plenty of water: enough to make about 2 to 2.5 liters of pale urine a day. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent stones.
Cut down on damp-heat foods: greasy and fried foods, alcohol, too much red meat, and very salty foods.
Eat cooling, draining foods: cucumber, watermelon, winter melon, barley water and corn silk tea are classic choices.
Ask about your stone type: if you have calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may suggest eating fewer high-oxalate foods, like spinach, nuts and rhubarb.
Safety and when to see a doctor
TCM can be a helpful partner to conventional care, but it doesn't replace it. Go to urgent care or the ER if you have:
Fever or chills along with stone pain, which can mean an infection
Pain so bad that you can't sit still or keep fluids down
Little or no urine
A lot of blood in your urine
In general, stone-expelling herbs work best for smaller stones (often under about 6 mm). Larger stones may need medical procedures. Your doctor can tell you the stone's size and type from imaging and lab tests, and that information helps your TCM practitioner too.
Get your herbs from a licensed practitioner. Some herbs once used for urinary problems, especially Aristolochiaspecies such as Guan Mu Tong, contain aristolochic acid. The FDA has warned that it can cause permanent kidney damage and cancer (FoodNavigator). Licensed practitioners use safe substitutes and buy from suppliers that test their herbs. Always tell your doctor and your practitioner about every medication and supplement you take, and mention it if you're pregnant or have kidney disease.
Ready to get support?
If you're dealing with kidney stones or want to keep them from coming back, a TCM treatment plan can help. That plan may include herbs, acupuncture and changes to your diet. Book an appointment to talk about your situation.
This article is for education only and isn't medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider about any symptoms or treatment.
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