Before trying an internet remedy, it helps to separate three questions: Can it prevent future stones? Can it dissolve an existing stone? And can it relieve an acute attack?

Evidence for one does not automatically establish the others.

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Considering additional paid reading? View the Kidney Stone Removal Report. It is an information product, not a substitute for diagnosis or prescribed treatment.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Dissolve Kidney Stones?

There is not sufficient clinical evidence to recommend apple cider vinegar as a reliable way to dissolve an existing stone, relieve stone pain or speed passage.

Research into dietary vinegar and acetate has explored possible effects on urinary citrate, calcium and stone recurrence. A 2019 study reported encouraging findings, including laboratory and animal work.

However, findings about dietary vinegar and recurrence do not establish that an apple cider vinegar drink will dissolve a stone already causing symptoms. They also do not validate a particular home recipe, dose or treatment duration.

There is no established ACV dosing schedule for kidney stone treatment.

Using vinegar as an ingredient in food is different from drinking it repeatedly as medicine.

What Are the Risks of Drinking Vinegar?

Vinegar is acidic. Repeated or concentrated exposure can damage tooth enamel and irritate or injure tissues in the mouth and digestive tract.

ACV tablets are not automatically a safer alternative; reports of oesophageal injury have been published.

Do not drink undiluted vinegar or use cleaning vinegar as a health product. If a vinegar product causes pain, difficulty swallowing or other concerning symptoms, seek medical advice.

Dilution does not turn an unproven stone remedy into an effective treatment.

Can Baking Soda Help With Kidney Stones?

Baking soda contains sodium bicarbonate, which can make urine less acidic.

Clinicians sometimes prescribe sodium bicarbonate or alkaline citrate to dissolve appropriately identified uric acid stones. Treatment involves a selected dose, urine-pH monitoring and follow-up.

This does not mean baking soda dissolves every stone. Common calcium oxalate stones are not treated by simply making urine more alkaline.

Excessive alkalinisation can also favour calcium phosphate stone formation. The aim is an appropriate target for a specific condition—not the highest possible urine pH.

Read more about uric acid kidney stones.

Why a Low Home pH Reading Is Not Enough

An acidic urine reading does not prove that a stone is made of uric acid.

Do not use a single test-strip result to diagnose your stone type or decide how much baking soda to take. Your clinician may use stone analysis, imaging and other findings to guide treatment.

Our urine pH guide explains the role and limitations of home monitoring.

Why Self-Dosing Baking Soda Can Be Risky

Sodium bicarbonate adds sodium to the body and can affect other medicines. Its use needs particular attention in people with high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease or a sodium restriction.

Excessive amounts can cause serious disturbances in sodium levels and the body’s acid–base balance. Gas and stomach discomfort can also occur.

A pharmacist or prescriber should review your medicines and explain any necessary spacing between doses.

Do not copy a teaspoon-based internet recipe for stone treatment. If sodium bicarbonate has already been prescribed, follow that prescription rather than changing it to match a home-remedy article.

If you explore the Kidney Stone Removal Report, check any suggested supplement, bicarbonate or urine-pH routine with your clinician before following it.

What Happens When Vinegar and Baking Soda Are Mixed?

The acid and bicarbonate react, releasing carbon dioxide gas and producing water and sodium acetate.

The fizz shows that a chemical reaction is happening in the container. It is not evidence that the mixture will break up stones inside your urinary tract.

Mixing the ingredients also does not remove the sodium or establish a predictable therapeutic effect. This combination should not be presented as an equivalent to prescribed alkalising medication.

What Should You Do Instead?

Start by establishing what kind of stone you have and whether it can safely be managed at home.

Useful questions for your healthcare professional include:

• What are the stone’s size and location?
• Is there evidence of obstruction or infection?
• Is observation appropriate, or do I need treatment?
• Would medication help in my situation?
• How will we confirm that the stone has passed or treatment has worked?

For ongoing prevention, follow an individual fluid and dietary plan. See our guides to water intake for kidney stones and home remedies: evidence and limitations.

When to Get Urgent Medical Help

Seek urgent assessment for suspected kidney stone symptoms with:

• Fever or chills.
• An inability to urinate, or only passing a very small amount.
• Severe or uncontrolled pain.
• Persistent vomiting.

Do not delay care to try vinegar, baking soda or another home mixture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much apple cider vinegar should I take for kidney stones?

There is no established treatment dose. A recipe circulating online does not demonstrate that it is effective or safe for your circumstances.

Can baking soda dissolve calcium oxalate stones?

It is not an established dissolution treatment for calcium oxalate stones. Medically supervised alkalinisation is used for selected other conditions, including uric acid stones.

Is prescription sodium bicarbonate different from baking soda?

The active chemical is the same. The important differences are the reason for treatment, measured dose, suitability for the patient and monitoring.

Is a vinegar-and-baking-soda drink safer because the ingredients neutralise each other?

Neutralisation does not establish medical safety or effectiveness, and sodium remains in the mixture.

Can I replace prescribed citrate with this mixture?

No. Do not substitute a home mixture for prescribed medication without discussing it with your prescriber.

Optional further reading: Kidney Stone Removal Report. Purchasing a report is not necessary to obtain appropriate medical care or follow the guidance above.

Resources

• European Association of Urology: Urolithiasis Guidelines—Chemolysis
• Dietary Vinegar and Kidney Stone Recurrence: 2019 Research Paper
• MedlinePlus: Sodium Bicarbonate
• Poison Control: Vinegar Safety
• Poison Control: Baking Soda Risks
• NIDDK: Symptoms and Causes of Kidney Stones

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Medical disclaimer: This article provides general education and does not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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