Optimize Your Kidney Function Detox with 4 herbal helpers :: Health and Disease :: Urinary Tract

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Optimize Your Kidney Function
by author Jodie Peacock, ND

To maintain optimal health it is important to regularly cleanse our organs of detoxification—the kidneys, liver, intestinal tract, skin, and lungs. Often overlooked when starting a cleanse, most people are unaware of the important role the kidneys play in removing toxins from the body.

The kidneys process about 166 quarts (189 L) of blood each day and remove about 1.66 quarts (1.89 L) of waste products and extra water which are converted to urine.

Kidney disease or damage often goes undetected until serious symptoms arise. It’s therefore important to remember the kidneys when it comes to taking preventive health measures.

Herbal helpers

Listed below are several herbs that can help to cleanse the kidneys.

Pine bark
An extract of pine bark called Pycnogenol contains bioflavonoids with great antioxidant potential. In animal and human studies, Pycnogenol has demonstrated a potent ability to scavenge free radicals.

Juniper berry
Flavonoids in its leaves produce the juniper berry’s anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Oil made from the berries has high antimicrobial and antibacterial effects. When taken as an oil or drunk as a tea, juniper berry supports healthy kidney and urinary tract function by removing waste and acidic toxins from the body.

Cranberry
A study reported in the British Journal of Urology International demonstrated that cranberry juice can be used to help prevent kidney stones from recurring.

Cranberry can also help prevent the recurrence of urinary tract infections. This berry appears to prevent uropathogens (for example, E. coli) from attaching to the epithelium in the urinary tract, thereby preventing infection.

Meta-analyses confirm that cranberry is most effective for young and middle-aged women, reducing the recurrence of urinary tract infections by up to 35 percent over a one-year period.

Corn silk
Historically, corn silk has been used to smooth the functioning of the urinary tract with its diuretic and detoxifying properties. Taken as a tincture or drunk as a tea, corn silk can be used to treat infections of the urinary system.

Using herbal support once or twice a year to ensure proper filtration by the kidneys may help reduce the toxic burden on our system and help the kidneys to work optimally throughout the year.

24-hour cleaners

The kidneys always work hard to

filter the blood
remove toxins and byproducts
produce hormones that control blood pressure
produce the hormone erythropoietin that makes new red blood cells
convert vitamin D into its active form to help maintain bone health

Jodie Peacock, ND, is a naturopathic doctor and founder of the Root of Health clinic in Oakville, Ontario. Her practice focuses on women’s health, pediatrics, and sports medicine.

Source: alive #325, November 2009

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