Sometimes the balance of fluid in and fluid out of your body gets disrupted. You could just feel an occasional bit of bloating or suffer from more serious conditions like high blood pressure or edema. In many cases, all your body needs is a little push to get it to flush away excess fluid rather than hold on to it. For natural health enthusiasts, herbal diuretics can fit the bill.
Stinging Nettle
Adding stinging nettles to your tea might help your body retain less water, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). In fact, stinging nettles make such effective diuretics in some people that UMMC advises people who are already taking prescription diuretics to avoid the herb. If you'd rather not drink stinging nettle tea, you can instead take 2 to 4 g of dried stinging nettle leaf three to four times per day. You can also take 2 to 5 ml of the leaf extract three times per day, 1.5 ml of the root extract three to four times per day or 1 to 4 ml of root tincture three to four times per day, according to UMMC.
Dandelion
Those fast-multiplying yellow weeds that many try to eradicate from their lawns may be better used in your kitchen. The leaves are edible, often added to salads or cooked with greens. When taken in concentrated amounts, as in a capsule or extracts, dandelion has potent diuretic properties, according to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. It's used to treat liver, kidney and spleen disease as well as minor digestive disorders. Do not use dandelions from any lawns or fields sprayed with pesticides. Avoid the plant if you have gallbladder problems or blocked bile ducts.
Bilberry
Bilberry's effect on water retention is twofold. First, it works as a diuretic to help flush excess water out of your system, and second, it increases how efficient your circulatory system is at returning blood from your extremities to your heart. This is especially important for people with edema, who experience fluid retention as a result of blood pooling in the legs. UMMC notes that 80 to 100 mg of bilerry taken three times per day can help ease edema symptoms and provide antioxidant support. It has a blood-thinning effect, so it shouldn't be taken with some blood pressure medications and prescription blood thinners.
