Chinese Herbs for Kidneys

Kidneys filter your blood and flush toxins from the body through your urine. According to acupuncturist Michael Tierra in his book "The Way of Chinese Herbs," traditional Chinese medicine sees pain in the joints, lower back and knees, as well as urinary problems such as frequent urination and dark yellow urine as symptoms of kidney imbalance. Other symptoms include constipation, hearing loss, and impotence. Chinese herbs that help the kidneys include rehmannia root, aconite, and cnidium fruit. Consult your doctor before taking any herbal remedies if you have severe kidney dysfunction.

Rehmannia Root

Rehmannia root, known botanically as Radix rehmanniae glutinosae, is known in traditional Chinese medicine as sheng di huang. It is a diuretic herb, Tierra notes, meaning it promotes urination and is used to treat kidney deficiencies.
In traditional Chinese preparation, rehmannia root is crushed into a black paste; Tierra recommends taking one to two teaspoons per day. Avoid during pregnancy.

Cnidium Fruit

Cnidium fruit is known in traditional Chinese medicine as she chuang zi, and botanically as Cnidium monnieri. According to the Chinese Natural Herbs website, it is a pungent and bitter herb that helps warm the kidneys and eliminate dampness. As it nourishes the kidneys, cnidium fruit helps treat excessive vaginal discharge caused by vaginitis, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, is an inflammation of the vagina. Cnidium fruit can also help with genital itching, including ringworm and scabies. Traditionally, Tierra writes, Chinese health providers used it to treat kidney-related impotence and infertility.
You can take cnidium fruit as a tea by adding one teaspoon of dried cnidium fruit to a cup of boiling water; it is also available in pill form through traditional Chinese medicine herb retailers.

Aconite

Known as fu zi in traditional Chinese medicine, aconite is known botanically as Aconiti praeparata. Traditional Chinese medicine considers aconite a stimulant to the kidneys, and, according to the Naturopathy Digest, it has been used to treat weakness and poor circulation. Aconite has a pungent flavor, and can be toxic if taken in excess. Traditional Chinese formulas usually blend it with other herbs to reduce its toxic potential.
When taken alone, aconite should be boiled to reduce its aconitine, the active ingredient that makes it toxic. Take no more than half a teaspoon per day of aconite boiled 30 to 60 minutes as a tea.