What types of herbs can improve our kidney health? The kidney is an extremely important organ in our body. It has numerous functions and responsibilities that our body depends on and cannot live without. Some might not comprehend the significance of this organ till it’s too late. Luckily, on top of modern medical treatment, there are also natural ways that will help improve kidney function almost instantly and without much effort as well.
Table of Contents
What does the Kidney Do?
Kidneys play important roles in maintaining and managing our body liquids. They cleanse our blood by filtering out unwanted waste and excess liquid from the bloodstream, regulate blood pressure, produce red blood cells and also balance our electrolytes level. These waste and toxins are discarded through urine. Simply put, one basically cannot live without a kidney and its contribution to our body’s health.
What Causes Kidney Function to Worsen?
There are various causes that worsens the kidney. The two most common and main causes are high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, happens when there’s an increase in pressure of blood against the walls of the blood vessels in your body. This can result in kidney problems when uncontrolled. Diabetes is when the blood sugar level is too high and damages multiple of organs in the body including the kidneys.
While those are the two main causes of kidney problems, there are also other conditions that affect the kidney function. Inherited diseases like polycystic kidney disease creates large cysts to form in the kidneys and damaging the surrounding tissues. Repeated urinary infections can also cause the kidney function to worsen. A group of diseases called glomerulonephritis can cause inflammation and damage to the kidney’s filtering units.
How to Care for Your Kidney?
It’s best to start caring for your kidneys early even if you show no signs of kidney problems, as these issues occur overtime rather than instantly. Avoiding smoking is probably the best way to care for your kidney as it prevents blockage and unnecessary excess waste in the body. Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine should be avoided as well, for the same reason.
Having regular checkups for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels will definitely help in ensuring your kidney’s health. If these factors are healthy, so are the kidneys. Staying at an acceptable weight and drinking enough fluids to drain out the excess waste is highly recommended as well.
1. Garlic
Garlic is one of the most effective herbs that helps in kidney function and improving the kidney’s health. There’s an ingredient called allicin that is present in garlic, which holds antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory characteristics. All of these are extremely efficient in cleansing the kidney and maintaining the kidney function.
Having garlic supplements is a potential way of consuming the garlic herb, but the easiest method is including them in your daily meals. Chopping up some garlic and putting them in your lunch or dinner is one of the most effortless ways to have garlic in your daily diet.
2. Turmeric
Another herb that’s amazing for the improvement of kidney function is turmeric. Not only does it help the kidney in its health but also potentially cures existing kidney diseases naturally. There is an active ingredient in turmeric known as the curcumin, and this ingredient hinders the expansion of numerous microorganisms that aren’t good for the organ, keeping the kidneys fit and healthy. It also removes unwanted particles.
Be it the actual herb itself, supplements or powder, adding turmeric into your daily intake is as easy as it gets. Some add them into the meal dishes while others prefer to have daily supplements.
3. Juniper Berries
According to experts, juniper berry is one of the most highly regarded herbs that promotes kidney health. Not only does it maintain the kidney’s health, it also promotes normal cholesterol levels in the kidney tissues. Juniper berries are also known to protect the kidney cells against harmful toxins that can worsen the kidney.
This herb can be found in capsule and powder form, giving the consumer choices on how they can take it. It’s recommended to take it on its own for the most efficiency, but the alternatives are just as effective.
3. Ginger
Ginger has become one of the most useful herbs as natural remedies, and has been used for thousands of years. One of its uses is being extremely effective for kidney diseases and kidney detoxification. The gingerols in ginger is an antibacterial agent that prevents the spread of bacteria within kidneys. Not only that, ginger increases the body’s natural antioxidants in the kidneys, remove toxins, reduce fibrosis and at the same time create healthier kidney tissues.
Whether it is eating ginger on its own or making ginger tea, adding it into meals or supplements, the ginger herb is extremely effective for those looking to maintain their kidney’s health and function.
5. Hydrangea Root
This herb was extremely popular among the Native American tribes and early American settlers. The hydrangea root has been used for decades to promote kidney and bladder health. It also acts as a solvent and smoothens the jagged edges of possible kidney stones. This herb uses calcium and thus prevents kidney stones from forming in the first place, as kidney stones are 80% made of calcium.
Most consumers take this herb in supplement and capsule forms, while others sprinkle the herb in their cooking meals. Either way, having a healthy intake of hydrangea root is known to promote healthy kidneys.
6. Cornsilk
The shiny, sticky fibres at the top of corn cobs are known as cornsilk, and this herb is extremely popular when it comes to kidney health. Cornsilk is known to maintain kidney functions and promote urinary tract health through maintaining healthy calcium and fluid levels in the organs and body. As this herb maintains the calcium levels, the consumer will have lower chances of getting kidney stones at all since the uncontrolled level of calcium that causes the formation.
Cornsilk is often taken as tea or tincture, but recently there are also capsules and supplements for those who are looking for a regular intake of this herb.
7. Cranberry
Cranberry is well-known for its positive effects on the kidney organ. While it may not be known as a herb per se, it’s one of the best natural ingredients that promotes kidney health. Cranberries are perfect to prevent urinary tract infections, kidney stones and kidney infections. It has ingredients that have strong antioxidant properties as well as prevent harmful organisms from forming in the organ and body.
Most people drink cranberry juice to improve kidney function and maintain kidney health, but supplements and it on its own are just as effective ways to consume cranberries daily.
8. Dandelion Root
Dandelion root has many health benefits, so much that it’s become a staple as one of the natural remedies for countless of issues. Kidney health is one of them. Its diuretic characteristics allow the herb to purify the kidney organ as well as urinary infections and diseases.
Most people consume dandelion root as a herbal tea as it is the easiest and most hassle-free method to include daily.
9. Beetroot
This herb is extremely effective for the maintenance and improvement of kidney function. Beetroot enhances the production of nitric oxide in the body, which dilates blood vessels and increases the blood flow. This helps the kidney to function better. Beetroot also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are essential to kidney health.
It is extremely easy to include beetroot into your daily diet. Most opt for supplements, but cutting them up and including in meals or drinking beetroot tea are also wonderful alternatives.
10. Parsley
Parsley is an excellent herb that prevents kidney stones from forming. Because it is a diuretic, this herb is efficient in cleansing the kidney and flushing out excess liquid from the body. The kidney will then be strengthened as there is no build-up of toxics and waste in the organ, allowing it to maintain a healthy functioning organ.
Some of us are already adding parsley into our meals on a daily as it is a well-known and essential seasoning as well as ingredient. Having a moderate intake of this herb will promote the best of health for the kidney.
11. Celery Root
This herb has been used for centuries as a natural diuretic. The celery root clears out toxins and unnecessary waste in the organ and body by increasing urine output. The more the output, the clearer the organ is from the negative matters. Celery root also has nutrients like potassium and sodium, which acts as a stimulating tonic for the kidneys.
Regardless whether it is the root or seed, this herb has many forms like supplements and seasoning. Depending on how you prefer it, adding celery root to the daily intake is definitely recommended to promote kidney function.
12. Goldenrod
This herb was used very frequently by the Native American tribes for quite some time. Goldenrod promotes urinary tract health, thus supporting and detoxifies the kidneys along the way. Not only that, goldenrod helps the consumer to have a normal response to inflammation overall.
While it is not the most common ingredient to include in cooking, it is known that some do have them in as a way to consume it daily. This herb also comes in capsule forms for those that find that easier.
13. Marshmallow Root
The marshmallow root is a wonderful herb to cleanse your kidneys as it increases urination that flushes out the toxins and waste from your kidney and body due to it being a gentle diuretic. It also calms the tissues of the urinary tract system. Marshmallow root is perfect at cleansing your kidney and preventing kidney stones from forming.
Most people consume marshmallow root by making a soothing marshmallow root tea that calms not only the kidney but the body as well.
Herbs to Avoid If One Has Kidney Disease
In general, one who has kidney disease should consult their doctor before taking any herbal supplements that may or may not interfere with their current medication, as well as the dosage that is safe for them.
Some herbal supplements are especially risky, and that includes barberry, cat’s claw, horsetail, grape root, astragalus and nettle.
The kidney is an extremely important organ in our body as it provides functions that we cannot live without. Hence, we need to take care of them properly and prevent unnecessary problems and infections that can harm the organ and eventually the body. These natural remedies from herbs are simple yet effective to do just that.
