Hydrogen-rich water combined with traditional Chinese medicine compound in the treatment of kidney stones: a randomized controlled prospective clinical trial.
JOURNAL/mgres/04.03/01612956-202701000-00009/figure1/v/2026-09-13T085902Z/r/image-tiff The formation and development of kidney stones are related to abnormal urine metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation. Hydrogen-rich water has clear efficacy in antioxidant and improving inflammatory status, while Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula is a clinically effective traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation for treating kidney stones. This randomized controlled prospective clinical trial from July 2025 to March 2026 at the Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine examined the effect of hydrogen-rich water and Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula on kidney stones. The included 100 patients with kidney stones were randomly divided into blank, hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen-rich water and Chinese medicine, and Chinese medicines groups. The patients received drinking hydrogen-rich water and/or Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula daily for 12 weeks. All subjects received basic treatment following the guidelines. Imaging examination, urine metabolism testing, renal function, inflammation and oxidative stress index, blood routine and liver function are used to detect the efficacy and safety of hydrogen-rich water and Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula. Results showed that the total effective rate of kidney stone treatment in blank group, Chinese medicines group, hydrogen-rich water and Chinese medicine group and hydrogen-rich water group was 28%, 76%, 80% and 32%. The Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula can partially alleviate the oxidative stress, uric acid metabolism and urinary magnesium levels of patients with kidney stone and improve the function of renal tubules. The hydrogen-rich water therapy showed only efficacy in improving glutathione reductase but the combination of hydrogen-rich water and Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula has shown superior efficacy in improving oxidative stress and related metabolic factors of blood uric acid and urine stones, as well as in renal tubular function. The results indicate that the addition of hydrogen-rich water can improve urinary metabolism and oxidative stress status in the treatment of kidney stones with Ye-Shi-Shi-Lin-Formula. The study was registered at the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. ITMCTR2025001446).