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Advice on using diuretic

What herbs can be used as a diuretic?
(24 Oct 2007)

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Diuretics are generally used to extract the surplus fluids or water from our body. Many herbs act as natural diuretics and produce the same effect as that of drug-based diuretics. Herbs such as dandelion, green tea, stinging nettle root, linden, horsetail also known as Equisetum Arvense, celery seed, elder flower and yarrow contain strong diuretic characteristics, and produce the desired effect.

Most herbal diuretics can be consumed in the form of tea or capsules, or they can also be eaten raw by adding them to salads, such as chicory, mint, fennel and parsley.

Green tea as a diuretic is a great option if you don’t mind drinking a few cups everyday. It is known to be rich in vitamins, minerals, volatile oils and essential nutrients.

It can be easily prepared by adding 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves in a cup of boiling water and leaving it for about 5 minutes. Yarrow also results in diuretic action that helps in the eradication of fluid and toxins from the body via urine. Herbs such as rauwolfia and mistletoe are also known for their diuretic capabilities, they tend to expand blood vessels thereby reducing water levels in the body. Since diuretics increases the frequency of urine, it is possible that some useful proteins such as potassium, calcium and other important electrolytes are also excreted. Therefore, it is important to increase the intake of foods, particularly fruits and veggies that would help maintain the optimum nutrition levels of your body. Dandelion tea is probably the most practical solution as an herbal diuretic. It is generally mild so you can drink up to 4 cups a day. Unlike most herbal or drug based diuretics dandelion tea does not deplete the body’s potassium levels, in fact it actually helps in building them up.

If you are considering diuretics only for nominal liquid reduction then there are other options available too. Increasing the intake of fruits and veggies like watermelons and cucumbers that contain a lot of water would help increase urination. Cucumbers are also rich in sulfur and silicon and help in energizing the kidneys in the removal of uric acid. Watercress is also considered as a natural diuretic that can be used for excretion of excess water. Increasing your water intake, to a minimum of 2 liters a day, would also help drastically as one of the main reasons our body retains water is because it doesn’t get enough of it.

answered by a on 18 May 2009, 12:58:33

Diuretic health advice

A diuretic is any substance that when consumed, increases the amount of urine passed. Using a diuretic if you are having urine flow problems is always recommended, but excessive usage can also cause long term damage. It is better to get medical advice on urine flow problems and then follow herbal remedies. The best diuretic in the world is water. The more you drink the more urine you will pass. You must try to keep your water consumption to between six to eight litres a day normally, and more than that when you need to pass more urine. There are also several herbs that make good diuretics. Celery is an excellent diuretic. It can be eaten or juiced and drunk. Elderflower is also a highly effective urine quantity enhancer. Green tea is a natural anti toxin and enables the body to remove any toxins by passing them out through urine. Traditionally, dandelion root is considered to be a powerful diuretic. Leaves of the white radish root are also diuretic in nature. They can be crushed along with the radish and drunk as juice. If you can get your hands on it, yarrow is an excellent diuretic as well. Horse chestnut, taken at least twice a day is also very effective.

answered by M W on 27 Feb 2008, 5:21:50

Advice on using diuretic

What herbs can be used as a diuretic? (24 Oct 2007)

What herbs can be used as a diuretic?
(24 Oct 2007)