Loss of kidney function is a common ailment for many people as they age. Certain diseases affect the function of the kidneys, as does an individual's nutrition. You can add various herbs, foods and juices to your diet to increase kidney function and slow down atrophy. Before using natural products and herbs to treat your kidneys, consult your health practitioner.
Cranberries
Cranberries and their juice have long been used to strengthen the urinary tract and improve kidney function. In particular, cranberries are known to protect the kidneys against the formation of oxalate stone formation, according to the "British Journal of Urology." Cranberries are best consumed by drinking their juice. Mixing 1 cup of unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate with 3 cups of water and drink the total amount daily throughout the day, recommends the journal article. If the juice is too tart for you, add some raw, organic honey to sweeten. Honey provides the body with enzymes and other nutrients to help strengthen all digestive and elimination functions.
Dandelion
Dandelion greens have been used for centuries to treat the urinary tract and as an aid in elimination, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Using the herb to reduce swelling and fluid retention helps reduce the chance of hypertension. The kidneys are the primary organ controlling sodium levels and the delicate balance of other minerals and fluids that are responsible for normal blood pressure levels. When retained fluids are flushed from the body, the kidneys are better able to balance these electrolytes and keep blood pressure levels within normal parameters. Dandelion is an excellent diuretic for use as kidney support. Some people develop allergies to dandelion and may have a rash or mouth sores. If this occurs, stop using it. Do not use dandelion if you take diuretic medicine unless under a doctor's supervision. Speak with your health practitioner before starting a regimen that includes dandelion.
Lemon Juice
You can protect your kidneys from developing urate stones by consuming lemon juice mixed with water, says Dr. Roger Sur of the University of California San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center. Lemons are high in citrate, which helps to alkalize and dissolve uric acid crystals, the main component of urate kidney stones, says Sur. Lemon juice also makes an excellent diuretic, flushing your body of toxins that might interfere with healthy kidney function.
Sur suggests mixing 4 oz. fresh, frozen or reconstituted lemon juice with 1 1/2 qt. water and drinking the entire amount throughout the day. Sweeten lightly with raw, organic honey if desired.
Chaparral
The Mexican herb chaparral, or Creosote bush, has been used traditionally to prevent and dissolve kidney stones, according to the Herbal Safety website provided by the University of Texas cooperative pharmacy program. There is anecdotal evidence that chaparral is not only good for ridding the body of kidney deposits, but also helpful in the elimination of gallstones. Great care must be used when taking this herb, and it should only be used under the supervision of a health practitioner familiar with its properties. Various supplements made from chaparral were banned by the FDA in the United States because they were much more potent in supplement form than the herb is when made in a natural tea. When used for too long a period or in too concentrated of a dosage, chaparral can cause liver and kidney damage, rather than preventing problems. A practitioner who monitors your case can only discern dose and length of time of use.
References
- University of California San Diego Health System: "From Lemonade to Surgery: Five Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones"; Dr. Roger L. Sur
- British Journal of Urology; "Influence of Cranberry Juice on the Urinary Risk Factors for Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Formation"; T. McHarg; October 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dandelion
- Herbal Safety: Creosote Bush, Chaparral
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
