Renal insufficiency, also called renal failure or kidney failure, is poor performance of your kidneys that may be caused by renal artery disease and decreased blood flow to your kidneys. Talk with your physician about treatment options for your renal insufficiency, including herbal remedies and their associated merits and risks.
Renal Insufficiency
Common signs and symptoms of renal insufficiency include dangerously high blood pressure, impaired kidney function or kidney failure that requires dialysis. However, some people with renal insufficiency experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. According to the University of California-Davis Vascular Center, risk factors for renal insufficiency include advanced age, a family history of the condition, genetics, elevated blood pressure and fats in your blood, smoking, diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis in other blood vessels throughout your body.
Herbal Approach
In her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant, states that there are several herbs that have proven effective in treating renal insufficiency or kidney failure. Celery and parsley seeds are natural diuretics that keep your levels of uric acid in check. Cranberries help acidify your urine, destroy harmful bacteria and encourage healing of urinary tract structures. Dandelion is helpful in excreting your kidneys' waste products. Other helpful herbs include juniper berries, nettle and red clover.
A Commonly Used Herb
The berries of the juniper plant are commonly used to help treat kidney failure. According to Balch, juniper berries act as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and decongestant. Juniper berries also help control your blood sugar levels, and they have been used to treat asthma, chronic bladder and kidney infections, fluid retention, gout, obesity and certain prostate conditions. Important nutrients contained in juniper berries include chromium, iron, potassium, selenium and certain B-vitamins. Juniper is a plant that grows in many areas throughout the world.
Considerations
If you are experiencing the symptoms associated with renal insufficiency, visit your doctor as soon as possible for a full evaluation. Your doctor can test your urine for certain substances -- albumin protein, creatinine, hemoglobin, phosphorus, potassium, urea and others -- to determine the health of your kidneys. Certain infectious diseases, including measles, scarlet fever and tonsillitis, can harm your kidneys if they are not treated in a timely and effective manner.
References
- University of California-Davis: Renal Insufficiency
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
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