# Does Olive Oil & Lemon juice 'lube' your kidneys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373 "2010-04-26T04:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/21 "2010-04-27T21:11:53Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I know someone who was given vegetable oil to drink by her doctor to get rid of stones, I thought kidney but possibly gallstones. This was about 20 years ago; was this accepted then and not now? She said it was horrible trying to keep the oil down but she did get rid of the stones, she said.(?) IIRC, she was going to Kaiser for her health care and they’re pretty mainstream. Was the vegetable oil a one time thing? The reason I ask is that when I had gallstones, I had to get an x-ray to confirm. There was fasting. There was an industrial strength laxative. Then, the morning of the x-ray, I was told that if they didn’t get a clear image, I’d have to drink a cup of cream and then they’d take another shot. I guessed that the lipid in the cream makes the gall bladder contract, which pulls the stones together. Vegetable oil would do the same thing. The gall bladder reacts to the presense of lipids in the stomach. As bad as I felt both from having stones and from the laxative, I was not looking forward to drinking cream. Fortunately, they got a clear image. I can’t imagine any other use for oil with gallstones. If it wasn’t associated with the x-ray, the result would be: drink oil - gall bladder contracts on stones - feel great pain. No clue about oil and kidney stones. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/22 "2010-04-28T02:54:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Was the vegetable oil a one time thing? Yes, it was. Maybe that was what it was for. Makes a lot more sense. Thanks, **Yllaria**. ---
**Author:** ![sandeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sandeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandeep)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/23 "2011-10-07T05:20:24Z")
> [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](#): > > Ok, hopefully I can avoid the ban on personal medical advice, I am asking about the science of anatomy here, and a chance to debunk yet another ‘home remedy’, not for any diagnosis or treatment. > > Word on the street is that downing a mixture of Olive Oil & Lemon juice will both partially dissolve (by the acid in the lemon) a Kidney Stone, and lubricate the passage between the kidney and the bladder. > > There are tons of [internet pages](http://www.ehow.com/how_4604355_pass-kidney-stones-easier.html)with successful anecdotes about how effective this ‘home remedy’ is. > > _I had kidney stones not that long ago and my husand came across this mixture- it was pure magic! I was able to pass mine with a few hours of drinking it. Works great (if you can keep it down!) 5_ \* > > Someone also dissed it though: > > \*Let’s look at this remedy logically for a second. The kidneys filter the bloodstream and olive oil does not pass from the digestive system to the bloodstream to lubricate anything. The same goes for the lemon juice. The only thing that works is lots of fluids and time. \* > > Sadly this merely reminded me of my ignorance of human anatomy. I have no idea how it really works. > > MD Dopers: So what is true? Does what you drink, like Olive oil, have any effect on ‘lubing’ your urinary track? What about the lemon juice acidifying your urine – is that true? If the Kidneys just filter blood, where is the actual urine coming from? How could it not pass through them? > > (I realize that if it worked doctors would be prescribing it, but if it’s just a placebo, why so many internet postings?) THE DOCTORS DO NOT WANT TO CHOP OFF THE HAND THAT FEEDS IT !!! Meaning : IF EVERYBODY STARTS SELF MEDICATING , THEN WHAT WILL THEY DO ??? FOR THAT MATTER , WHAT ABOUT THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ??? IT’S A BIG LOBBY AND THEY WILL NOT ALLOW SUCH A THING TO HAPPEN . SIMILARLY , THE OIL LOBBY WILL NOT ALLOW US TO RUN OUR VEHICLES ON WATER NOR WILL THEY ENCOURAGE ALTERNATE SOURCE OF ENERGY !!! WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CHOICES , BUT THEY WILL MAKE SURE WE " DARE NOT " IMPLEMENT IT !!! THE ANCIENT INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE ( AYURVEDHA & HOMEOPATHY ) HAVE DOCUMENTED THESE THINGS AND IT IS ONLY NOW THAT WORLD IS BECOMING AWARE OF IT !!! ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/24 "2011-10-07T05:59:55Z")
Hmmm… zombie thread, brand new username, odd paranoid rantings. **sandeep** , move your left pinky to the left about 1" to the left and press down. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/25 "2011-10-07T12:18:06Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > This thread is giving me a craving for greek salad. Or hummus. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/26 "2011-10-07T13:02:21Z")
I am confused about a couple of things - when did homeopathy become part of “the ancient Indian system of medicine” (it was invented by Hahnemann in the U.S. in the 19th century)? And what’s with all the doctors and drug company people who are suppressing the olive oil-lemon-poop-a-big-glob-of-pseudo-stones remedy? Don’t they realize they’re sacrificing their own health and that of their loved ones by failing to use these wonder cures? Buncha sociopaths. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lestrade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Lestrade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lestrade)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/27 "2011-10-07T17:11:39Z")
Hmm, at first I thought **sandeep** was being sarcastic. Now I’m pretty sure he was serious. Damn Poe’s law. This is why we need smileys, people. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/28 "2011-10-07T21:11:46Z")
> [@Lestrade](#): > > Hmm, at first I thought **sandeep** was being sarcastic. Now I’m pretty sure he was serious. Damn Poe’s law. > > This is why we need smileys, people. Yeah my first thought was “Good one! :D” , but then just out of curiosity I looked up his posting history and I know you’ll be shocked to learn this is his one and only post. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/29 "2011-10-07T21:24:39Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Here’s some information about Carter’s Little Liver Pills: > > [Bisacodyl - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisacodyl) OK I just read that wikipedia article: > [@](#): > > If taken in the afternoon or early evening, the action of this drug will start during sleep with undesirable results. If taken at the maximum dosage, there will likely be a sudden, extremely powerful, uncontrollable bowel movement and so precautions should be taken. and now I HAVE to find some of this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Visitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@The\_Visitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Visitor)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/30 "2012-09-28T23:46:48Z")
QUOTE OP > [@](#): > > "Sadly this merely reminded me of my ignorance of human anatomy. I have no idea how it really works. > > MD Dopers: So what is true? Does what you drink, like Olive oil, have any effect on ‘lubing’ your urinary track? What about the lemon juice acidifying your urine – is that true? If the Kidneys just filter blood, where is the actual urine coming from? How could it not pass through them? > > (I realize that if it worked doctors would be prescribing it, but if it’s just a placebo, why so many internet postings?") Think about what you have just said. So you are saying drinking Olive Oil doesnt make its way through the body? Also the citric acid in Lemon Juice doesnt reach the Kidneys? Sadly our Doctors are trained and are sponsored by Drugs Companies and are not interested in Olive Oil and Lemon Juice. I have personally used Lemon Juice and it has dissolved the Kidney stones the Doctors failed to spot were causing me numerous Health problems. Think about it only a small amount of Citric Acid is Required by the Liver the rest is flushed out. Where does it get flushed out I wonder? The Eyes? The Nose?.. no the Kidneys…yey! And when I drink too much Olive Oil my Skin gets Oily? I wonder how this happens? Maybe people think it just absorbs like a sponge? As you Quoted - "Sadly this merely reminded me of my ignorance of human anatomy. I have no idea how it really works. " IGNORANCE. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/31 "2012-09-28T23:52:42Z")
If the doctors failed to spot the stones, how did you know they were there? Lemon juice is digested just like everything else, it won’t reach the kidneys in it’s original form. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/32 "2012-09-28T23:55:11Z")
Just out of curiosity let’s go check… Yep - one and only post. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/33 "2012-09-29T00:04:54Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > (it was invented by Hahnemann in the U.S. in the 19th century)? Germany, 1792 first practiced, 1796 first published. The US is responsible for a lot of quackery, but you have your hands clean of this shite. Dammit, Zombie Thread! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/34 "2012-09-29T00:05:04Z")
> [@The\_Visitor](#): > > QUOTE OP > > Think about what you have just said. > And when I drink too much Olive Oil my Skin gets Oily? I wonder how this happens? Maybe people think it just absorbs like a sponge? > > As you Quoted - "Sadly this merely reminded me of my ignorance of human anatomy. I have no idea how it really works. " > > IGNORANCE. zombie or no you should sit naked on leather furniture, the oil will be good for it. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/35 "2012-09-29T00:21:34Z")
> [@The\_Visitor](#): > > …blah, blah, blah… “Doctors hate this mom’s secret for treating kidney stones! [CLICK HERE]” ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/36 "2012-09-29T00:31:32Z")
> [@The\_Visitor](#): > > QUOTE OP > > Think about what you have just said. > > So you are saying drinking Olive Oil doesnt make its way through the body? > Also the citric acid in Lemon Juice doesnt reach the Kidneys? > Sadly our Doctors are trained and are sponsored by Drugs Companies and are not interested in Olive Oil and Lemon Juice. > > I have personally used Lemon Juice and it has dissolved the Kidney stones the Doctors failed to spot were causing me numerous Health problems. > > Think about it only a small amount of Citric Acid is Required by the Liver the rest is flushed out. > Where does it get flushed out I wonder? The Eyes? The Nose?.. no the Kidneys…yey! > > And when I drink too much Olive Oil my Skin gets Oily? I wonder how this happens? Maybe people think it just absorbs like a sponge? > > As you Quoted - "Sadly this merely reminded me of my ignorance of human anatomy. I have no idea how it really works. " > > IGNORANCE. Random capitalization makes Everything more Legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/37 "2012-09-29T00:46:36Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Random capitalization makes Everything more Legitimate. _Every_-Thing. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/38 "2012-09-29T00:55:51Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > If the doctors failed to spot the stones, how did you know they were there? > > Lemon juice is digested just like everything else, it won’t reach the kidneys in it’s original form. probably got some of those x-ray glasses they used to sell in pulp mags. Good for spotting zombies too. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/39 "2012-09-29T01:01:53Z")
Oh, FFS ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373/40 "2012-09-29T01:11:49Z")
I personally will guarantee that Dr. Exapno’s Miracle Elixir will cure 100% of ailments doctors say you don’t have! Send your money now. Now! Sooner than now! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-olive-oil-lemon-juice-lube-your-kidneys/537373.md?page=3)