Do They Work Together
Yes, the liver and kidney work together in many ways, including waste removal, sodium regulation, calcium absorption and more. For detoxification and waste removal, the liver breaks down toxins into two substances: bile and urea. While bile is sent through the digestive tract, urea is transported through the bloodstream directly to the kidneys where it is then excreted from the body as urine along with other toxic waste.
The liver and kidney also work together with the adrenal glands in water and sodium regulation. High levels of salt in the blood can greatly hinder circulation. So, as the chain of commands go, when there is a reduction in blood flow the kidneys send an enzyme called renin to the liver, which assists the liver in producing a substance that is sent to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are then cued to produce a hormone called aldosterone, which commands the kidneys to store salt and water.
In terms of calcium absorption, it all starts with the sun. When the sun hits your skin, its actually the liver that turns it into vitamin D. The vitamin D then travels through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where the kidneys turn it into calcitriol, a hormone that aids the intestines in absorbing calcium from food.
Kidney Cleansing Herbs And Detoxes: The Dangers For Kidney Patients
Know someone who is looking for this info? Share it!
Cleansing the kidneys has become a hot topic. Many herbs, supplements, foods, and drinks promise to make you feel great. But before you start looking for kidney cleansing herbs, learn if there is any truth to these best kidney detoxes and if it is even possible to naturally cleanse kidneys for improved health.
Detox Drinks And Juicing For Kidneys
The best drinks for cleansing the kidneys is a question that often comes up with kidney patients. There are a ton of kidney cleanse drinks that claim to improve kidney health. But when it comes to research some of these may be no help at all. See how these kidney cleansing drinks stack up.
Water
You cannot function without water. It is an essential nutrient that needs to be consumed daily. Water flushes toxins from the body by increasing urine output.
Water helps move blood to the kidneys for filtration. Increased water reduces the levels of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and uric acid. This can prevent kidney stones.
Increases in water slowed the progression of kidney disease in animals. It also prevented high blood pressure and heart disease.
For optimal hydration getting 2 to 2.5 liters a day is recommended.
Cranberry Juice
Drinking cranberry juice for kidney health is popular due to the antioxidants found in cranberries. Cranberries contain tannins that have antimicrobial properties. They can block the growth of bacteria on the urinary tract as well as flush toxins out of the body.
Cranberry juice is recommended to improve both UTIs and kidney stones.
Increased incidences of gut permeability and leaky gut occur in kidney disease. This can also increase the production of toxic bacteria further fueling inflammation.
Some cranberry juices are high in potassium and sugar. It is best to get one that has no sugar added and is 100 percent juice.
Coconut Water
Lemon Juice
You May Like: Can You Heal Leaky Gut
Leonurus Ja Ponicus Houtt
Leonurus ja ponicus Houtt. was first published in Shennongs Classic Materia Medica. It is considered to be a safe and nontoxic HM drug that is widely used in the clinic. It has the functions of activating blood and regulating menstruation, disinhibiting urine, dispersing swelling, clearing heat, and removing toxins. A poisoning death caused by Leonurus ja ponicus Houtt. was reported in the late 1980s. The patient took a 400 g decoction of Leonurus ja ponicus Houtt. and died of abdominal pain, headache, lower back pain, and multiple organ bleeding 1 day later. Analytical results showed that the excessive dosage and repeated use of Leonurus ja ponicus Houtt. resulted in renal failure and death by poisoning .
Medicinal Herbs That Promote Liver And Kidney Health
The world is filled with stressors that pose challenges to our health. Fortunately, Mother Nature has equipped the human body with some heavy-hitting detox armaments. The bodys chief defensive weapon is the liver, that football-sized organ located under the right-front ribs. Another vital defense system is the kidneys, fist-sized organs nestled on either side of the mid-spine. Naturopaths agree that certain herbs can maximize the detox functions of the liver and kidneys, while also promoting their overall effectiveness. Such botanical boosters can be found in our 100% alcohol-free liquid herbal supplements, including Herbal Detox, Kidney& Bladder Blend and Liver Build with Milk Thistle. These herbal medicines are some of the best products we offer for overall health of the kidneys and the liver.
Don’t Miss: Long Term Effects Of Gallbladder Removal
My Top 8 Herbs For Kidney Failure
So, what are some of the best herbs for kidney failure? Here are my top picks that are very potent, anti-inflammatory, and packed with antioxidants! They can be consumed in foods, in the form of a detox tea, as a tincture, or as powdered supplements. And remember they are not only wonderful for the kidneys, but are likewise effective in cleansing the liver and the entire elimination pathways.
My favorite way to eat herbs is to add them to my main meals and salads. After doing this for many years, foods without them seem so bland and unpalatable you simply expect more flavor with herbs and spicesyour standards when it comes to food will go way up!
Do make sure that all of the herbs are certified organic, since pesticides can be found in many of our healthiest foods and can add additional toxic strain on the body, reversing many of the benefits of herbal detoxification.
In general, the consumption of the following herbs is safe in high quantities, and they make for the ideal dietary supplement. However, do ensure that if youre taking any prescription medication, to research whether the herbs could combine chemically to cause any adverse effects.
Can Herbal Medicine Can Damage My Liver And Kidney
When I was interning at UCLAs Center for East-West Medicine, someone brought this question to the Centers director Dr. Hui. The person had read a news article that some herbs can damage peoples liver and kidney. Dr. Huis response was remarkable. He said, there will be no news article reporting liver and kidney damage due to pharmaceuticals why? because almost all pharmaceuticals cause some liver and kidney damage.
Liver and kidney is the bodys organ of eliminating waste. Everything ingested must go through them. Therefore, any substance has the potential to damage them. In Morgan Spurlocks Super-size Me, he successfully induced liver damage by simply eating at McDonalds everyday. So to say herbal medicine may cause liver or kidney damage is very disingenuous. Overall, herbal medicine is milder and safer than modern pharmaceuticals. Some herbs have the potential to cause liver and kidney damage if used improperly. Modern pharmacological researches in China have extensive record of those herbs and the dosage limit. A well-trained physician of Traditional Chinese Medicine should be familiar with those research and practice safely.
Recommended Reading: What Are The 4 Stages Of Cirrhosis Of The Liver
The 12 Best Herbs For Liver Related Issues
Liver health related issues are not linked to certain symptoms or disease states.
However, an overburdened or taxed liver can present symptoms such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, sex hormone imbalances, IBS and digestive imbalances, dry hair and brittle nails, disrupted sleep, fatigue, anxiety.
More specific conditions may manifest such as gallstones, NAFLD and elevated liver enzymes, cirrhosis, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
I like to use the analogy of the liver as a bucket with tiny holes at the bottom which represent its detoxification output.
Oxidative stress is a key cause of liver damage and an overburdened liver.
If you imagine the liver as a bucket, each toxin were exposed too is a rock in this bucket. And as we go through life, we throw more rocks into this bucket alcohol, drugs, pharmaceuticals, xenoestrogens, pesticides, caffeine, air pollution etc.
Slowly but surely, our bucket starts to fill up and physical symptoms of a full bucket will begin manifest if we don’t work on detoxing liver.
The key to restoring and repairing healthy liver function is to consume herbs for liver health such as the twelve well explore below.
These herbs for liver related issues help grind down those burdensome rocks and when their dust disappears, oxidative stress reduces, and liver function begins to perform better and better at its optimal functioning level.
These are the best herbs for liver repair.
Herbs For Kidney Health
To keep your kidneys happy and healthy, you might consider adding some of these herbs, berries, roots, and supplements into your daily regiment. Be careful when ingesting these things as they can be toxic in any quantity. Consult a doctor the moment you believe your kidneys to be in jeopardy.
- Milk Thistle
- Teas: Fenugreek, Ginger, Mint, Nettle, Hydrangea, Tumeric, Sambong
When cleaning or healing your kidneys, Ayurvedic medicine suggests the following herbs: Brahmi or Gotu Kola , Shilajit, Punarnava, Manjishtha, and Varuna. When cleansing your kidneys, consider consuming lots of watermelons, leafy greens, roots, and teas with the herbs as mentioned above.
You May Like: How Much Cod Liver Oil Per Day
Basic Functions Of The Liver
Liver Detox Benefits For Histamine Response
In the season when hay fever is at its peak and pollen is inescapable, many people suffer from seasonal aggravations like runny nose, sinus pressure, watery eyes, and more. Detoxing the liver and utilizing other natural supplements that support histamine response can help relieve these symptoms while fortifying the whole body to process what life throws at it.
Inflammation-modulating nutrients are key to taking on pollen season. Studies suggest that supplements like quercetin and vitamin C exhibit antioxidant and antihistamine properties that may be supportive for allergy sufferers. These beneficial nutrients paired with liver detoxification are a potent combination for promoting easier breathing in the season ahead. For more sinus support tips, check out our guide to using neti pots.
Recommended Reading: Stage 4 Gallbladder Cancer Life Expectancy With Treatment
The Use Of Medicinal Herbs Today
Herbs have been, and still are today, the most effective way to address disease from physical, emotional, and mental detox to detoxifying thinking and behavioral patterns.
They help us regulate our inner states of health by balancing the endocrine system, which coordinates the different functions in the body and is the source of the bodys hormone production.
They also work at a cellular level through bio-electrical communication, which is beyond consciousness and simply cannot be accessed with synthetic drugs and their reactions.
In short, herbs are natural detox healing tools designed by nature herself for complete body detoxification and cellular restoration. And they do so naturally without side effects or addictive properties.
Although we currently use herbs mainly as a garnish for cooking and as an herbal tea, herbology and the science of using herbs as remedies is an ancient art of high complexity. There are over 7,000 plants used worldwide in detoxifying medicines.
Herbal detox remedies and cleansing detox diets include detox teas, tinctures, tonics, herbs, supplements, topical ointments or oils, as well as many more natural medicinal applications of herbs.
Together with kidney detoxification herbs and a high fruit diet, which promotes body alkalization and hydration, our kidneys can regenerate and start to filter out toxins efficiently.
Where To Buy The Kidney Cleanse Tea
I purchased the kidney tea blend from the Present Moment website . But I have waited too long to write this post, Present Moment no longer carries Andreas Moritzs kidney tea. At the moment, you can buy the kidney tea from Herbathek , or make your own blend from individual herbs according to Andreas Moritzs book.
I have noticed that the kidney tea Present Moment used to sell was the exact formula listed in the book . However, the Herbathek kidney cleanse tea seems to use a couple herb substitutes. I am not expert enough to speak to the difference, or understand why, or able to tell you if the first edition of the book had a different formula altogether. My experience is based on using the Present Moments kidney tea, and I have not tried the Herbathek product myself.
Also Check: Foods That Are Good For The Gut
Best Herbal Medicine For Ayurvedic Liver Cleanse
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that uses natural ingredients to heal the body.
Ayurvedic Herbs are a fundamental part of Ayurvedic medicine. They are used to treat various ailments and to promote overall health and well being.
Here are the best Ayurvedic herbs for kidneys and liver support:
Tripterygium Regelii Sprague Et Takeda
In the treatment of glomerular diseases, T. regelii Sprague. et Takeda. can eliminate urinary protein. Although its curative effect is exact, its toxic and side effects are severe. Six patients with nephrotic syndrome due to taking T. regelii Sprague. et Takeda. were observed. Among them, four developed ARF within 21120 days after taking T. regelii Sprague. et Takeda. Liver and kidney functions were slightly damaged in two cases, and blood cell counts decreased and menstrual disorders were observed. Renal biopsy indicated severe renal interstitial and tubular lesions. Under light microscopy, obvious inflammatory cell infiltration was found in tubules and interstitium, and the obvious degeneration, necrosis, and atrophy of tubular epithelium cells were observed . The causes of death of 83 patients who died from taking T. regelii Sprague. et Takeda. were analyzed. Among them, 65 cases were due to ARF or circulatory failure .
You May Like: Can You Take Excedrin On An Empty Stomach
The Role Of Herbs In Modern Research
Physicians pour drugs of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, into humans of which they know nothing. Voltaire
Today, with our modern approach to health and disease, we are trying to dissect herbs into their separate elements so that we know what these plants have to offer as chemical compounds.
We isolate them from their whole-food matrix by growing them in a lab, depriving them of any synergy they might have been connected with when grown naturally.
Then, we give the isolated compound its own patent name or number like curcumin or resveratrol, develop a chemical compound that includes it in various quantities, and brand it as beneficial for whatever the research is claiming it does.
A lot of money is being made off of this fragmented science that has no consideration for natural law and wholeness, which is the true essence of a being, in which each part relates to every other part equally, rather than seeing creation from a material perspective as the sum of its parts.
This is exactly why most of the benefits pharmaceuticals offer are their placebo effect, given that their basis of development is far removed from understanding how the body and nature actually operate.
Why The Kidneys Require Regular Kidney Cleanses
So, why do kidneys need support if they are equipped with everything they need to do their job? There are many reasons for this!
For one, our current modern lifestyle is so removed from life in nature, and we are exposed to so many toxins on a daily basis, that our kidneys simply cannot keep up with the influx.
Secondly, our stress levels are much higher than that of our ancestors, and the repeated fight or flight response overstimulates the adrenal glands that sit right on top of the kidneys.
If the adrenal glands have to secrete cortisol to fight body stresses repeatedly, they get depleted, and since they are a part of the kidney system, this also weakens the kidneys.
Likewise, physical and emotional stress can lead to mineral imbalances and nutrient malabsorption, causing systemic depletion of energy and vitality.
And thirdly, our standard diets are highly processed, packaged, and full of artificial preservatives that would never be found in nature and that we were never meant to consume.
They rob the cells of energy, inflame the body with acidic chemistry, and dont provide the cells with the nutrition they require to thrive.
The body then must compensate by borrowing essential elements like calcium from tissues and organs, making them weaker and systemically diseased over time.
This influx of oxidative stress on the body and its elimination organs is exactly why herbal detox cleansing is essential in supporting kidney function.
You May Like: Signs Of Inflammation In The Gut
Liver Disease From Alcohol
Milk thistle is often suggested as a treatment for alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, but scientific studies show mixed results. Most studies show milk thistle improves liver function and increases survival in people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis. But problems in the design of the studies make it hard to draw any firm conclusions.
The Worlds Best Filters: The Kidneys
Most people know that the kidneys eliminate waste products and surplus fluid from what we ingest. In the course of filtering an impressive 200 quarts of fluid every day, these organs are so sophisticated they know what to reabsorb to help the body. The renal system also produces vital hormones to regulate blood pressure, triggers a form of Vitamin D to build healthy bones and boost immune function, balances blood pH and regulates potassium and sodium levels.
Read Also: Stomach Hurts After I Eat
