Using herbs to help urination can treat a number of medical problems. Conditions that herbal and synthetic diuretics might address include edema, kidney disorders, osteoporosis, bladder infections, premenstrual bloating and benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some cases, herbal treatments prove as effective as prescription medicine. Check with your doctor before attempting any herbal therapies.
Green Tea
Sipping green tea to promote urination goes back thousands of years in India and China, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Green tea, the unfermented leaves of the tea plant, promotes urine output and also contains antioxidants. Other benefits of green tea include promoting heart health, lowering cholesterol and protecting against many forms of cancer. Green tea comes as loose or bagged tea, or as herbal supplements. For use as a diuretic, using green tea in beverage form makes the most sense, as you combine the benefits of the herb with the flushing powers of water. Drink two to three cups per day.
Horsetail
A diuretic dating back to ancient Greece, horsetail performs well in studies on its effect on increasing urine production, according to MedlinePlus. Although the website calls for more studies evaluating the best dosage recommendations, it currently suggests either 300 mg tablets taken three times a day or up to six cups of tea per day. To make the tea, use 1.5 g of dried horsetail per cup of boiling water.
Dandelion
According to "The Green Pharmacy Handbook," dandelion root makes a powerful weapon in fighting bladder infections because it flushes bacteria and urine from the bladder. The mineral potassium, along with the compounds eudesmanolides and germacranolides, is believed to contribute to the dandelion's diuretic properties. Another herbal compendium, "New Choices in Natural Healing," recommends using the leaves, rather than the roots, of the dandelion plant. Gather and dry dandelion leaves, and harvest or buy dried burdock and marshmallow root. Mix two parts each dandelion leaf and burdock root to one part marshmallow root. Use three to four tbsp. per quart of brewed tea, and sip several glasses of the hot or cold mixture during the day.
Stinging Nettle
The University of Maryland Medical Center specifically recommends stinging nettle to treat BHP because of the herb's ability to combat low urine flow and difficulty emptying the bladder. Studies suggest stinging nettle treats BHP as effectively as the prescription medication finasteride. Gather your own leaves and roots of the plants, being sure to wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid skin irritation. Make a tea using three to four tsp. of dried root or dried leaves for every ¾ cup of water used. Drink up to four cups a day.
Additional Herbs
Other herbs mentioned by MayoClinic.com and UMMC for helping urination include saw palmetto, rye grass extract, yarrow, linden leaf and pau d'arco. Check with a qualified herbalist or your physician for recommended applications and dosages.
