Diuretics (Herbal)

[Guest guest]

Diuretics (Herbal) http://www.planetherbs.com/ Diuretics are chemicals that increase urine flow. Some act on tubular flow in the kidneys while others such as coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages affect ADH by inhibiting its release. It is important that the rate of sodium loss in the urine also be increased with the loss of water. Weiss points out that "it is useful to make a distinction between diuretics in the narrower sense, which are used to treat diseases of the urinary system, and diuretics in the wider sense, perhaps better referred to as anti-dyscratic drugs with diuretic properties, their actual indications being metabolic diseases, rheumatism and gout." (Weiss, pg. 234) Weiss then goes on to define the difference between diuretics in the narrower sense which include diuretics containing volatile oils and those where the diuretic property is due to their saponin content. Diuretics containing volatile oils It is well understood that in general a warm or hot infusion of herbs with volatile oils will have a diaphoretic effect and a cool infusion will exert a diuretic effect. The following herbs are used in either of these ways: Parsley (petroselinum sativum) Celery fruits (apium graveolens) Wild carrot (Daucus carota) Lovage (Levisticum off.) Cinnamon bark (cinnamomum cassia) fresh Ginger (Zingiberis off.) Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Oregano Burdock (arctium lappa) Buchu (Barosma betulina) Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Water Plantain (Alisma plantago) Watercress (Nasturtium off.) Gravel root (Eupatorium purpureum) Diuretics containing saponins and sterols spiny restharrow (ononis spinosa) Horsetail (equisetum arvense) Dandelion (Taraxacum off.) Dianthus superbus Rehmannia glutinosa Goldenrod (solidago virgaurea) (directly increases renal function) Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (California lilac) Azuki beans (Phaseolus calcaratus) which are diuretic because they tend to filter sodium. Corn silk (Zea mays) Guiacum off. Hydrangea arborescens A diuretic subcategory are herbs that have urinary antiseptic properties and would include Pipsissewa (Chimaphila spp.) also very useful for frequent urination. Uva ursi (Arctostapholos uva ursi) Plantain (Plantago spp.) Cleavers (Galium aparine) Many herbal diuretics exert their action by directly effecting electrolyte balance of minerals. Thus, those that are high in potassium tend to have a cooler energy and include dandelion (taraxacum Off.), the various mushrooms including Poria cocos, couchgrass (Agropynum repens), probably Atractylodes alba, Some diuretics such as Dianthus superbus promote diuretic action by stimulating more the secretion of potassium rather than sodium. Certain herbs of a demulcent or mucilaginous character such as marshmallow root (Althea off.), Slippery elm (Ulmus Fulva), Knotweed, (Polygonum aviculare), talcum, and Rehmannia glutinosa inhibit the osmotic reabsorption of fluid by the tubules. The single most important diuretic that inhibits antidiuretic hormone is water. When large amounts of water are ingested, ADH is no longer secreted from the supraoptico-posterior pituitary system. As a result large amounts of urine are discharged. In addition to the above, emotions can influence the volume of urine. Nervousness and stress can increase blood pressure which in turn will increase glomerular filtration.