Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located near the center of your back, on either side of your spine. They act as biological blood filters, constantly processing your blood to separate it from toxins and waste generated by your food intake and the natural breakdown of human tissue. When your kidneys are functioning efficiently, nearly all of the filtered toxins are passed along to the bladder in the form of urine. Sometimes, however, impurities can accumulate in the kidneys, in which case an herbal cleanse can be an effective natural remedy.
Dandelion
Though dandelion is often considered by gardeners to be an undesirable, hard-to-control weed, it is valued by practitioners of natural medicine for its numerous purported medicinal benefits. It is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including hypoglycemia, chronic joint pain, eczema and acne, but it is also among the most commonly used herbs for natural kidney cleanses and overall detoxification. Its use for this purpose dates back to early Native American medicine, when dandelion decoctions were used to treat kidney disease, and today there are several forms of dandelion roots and leaves that are available at drug stores without a prescription. The leaves have a diuretic effect that can stimulate the production of urine without depleting your body's potassium levels, as can some other natural diuretics. This helps to more efficiently expel toxins from your body, strengthening your kidneys. Dandelion can be taken orally as a tablet, capsule, tincture, extract or an herbal tea.
Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle gets its name from an unpleasant attribute; each stalk is covered with hundreds of fine hairs that create a nearly instantaneous and substantially painful stinging sensation upon contact with the skin. Properly prepared, however, the stinging nettle can have powerful medicinal effects, especially in the area of kidney and urinary health. Because the herb is rich in flavonoids and potassium, it acts as an effective diuretic, and strong doses can help dissolve painful kidney stones. Stinging nettle can also help flush toxins out of the intestinal tract, making it an effective part of any whole-body detox. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it is a widely used treatment in Europe for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that enlarges the prostate. An enlarged prostate can restrict the urethra, limiting urine flow and causing an accumulation of toxins in the bladder and kidneys. It is commonly available as a liquid extract, capsule and dried or freeze-dried herbal tea.
Horsetail
Horsetail is a perennial, fern-like weed that has been used as an herbal kidney treatment for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating at least as far back as ancient Rome and Greece. Though there has not been substantial human research into the medicinal properties of horsetail, anecdotal and historical evidence suggests it to be an effective diuretic. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that studies show horsetail can increase urine output in people who have a family history of kidney stones, and according to Mamaherb, a strong tea made from horsetail spores may be able to dissolve kidney stones. In addition to being taken as a tea, horsetail is also typically available as a liquid tincture and as a dried herb, which can be consumed in capsule form.
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