The kidneys are our body’s built-in cleanser. But what happens when you frequently get UTIs and kidney infections? Learn how to flush your kidneys and bladder naturally at home using safe natural healing remedies.
Want to make sure your body is filtering toxins? Simple. Take care of your kidneys. And the best part is that you don’t need to purchase any conventional kidney cleanses to keep your kidneys and bladder functioning smoothly.
Taking care of your kidneys means fill up on more potassium-rich fruit, drinking enough fluids, managing other diseases like hypertension and diabetes properly and staying away from alcohol, among others.
Below we shall see 7 simple ways on how to flush your kidneys and bladder naturally! Plus we have a refreshing kidney cleanse drink recipe you can enjoy every day!
How to Flush Your Kidneys and Bladder Naturally – 7 Ways
1. Drink Enough Water
The best way to flush your kidneys and bladder? Drink water!
Drinking enough water helps make sure that your kidneys have enough fluid to make urine.
Research shows that drinking 2 to 3 liters of water every day can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Try to consume moderate quantities of water throughout the day to meet your fluid intakes effectively.
Remember to consult with your doctor to find out how much water you should drink each day for better kidney and bladder health.
2. Renal-Friendly Foods
How renal-friendly is your diet?
Choose foods that support kidney and bladder health to reduce inflammation and assist in flushing toxins naturally.
Some of these include:
- Grapes & Berries – Resveratrol is an important plant compounds found in grapes and berries that are beneficial for your renal health. Research shows that treatment with resveratrol was able to lower kidney inflammation in rats with polycystic kidney disease (source).
- Peanuts – These nuts also contain resveratrol that has been shown to be good for fighting kidney inflammation (source).
- Kidney Acid Reducing Foods – The kidneys remove waste including excess amounts of acid from our blood. Some foods have a higher Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) values than other foods. PRAL value refers to the amount of acid produced when the body digests a certain food. Foods with high PRAL values place a burden on the kidneys. Eat in moderation low PRAL foods such as kale and bananas.
- Low Oxalate Fruits – Oxalates can play a role in the formation of some kidney stones. If you suffer from kidney stones, limiting the amount of oxalates you consume in your diet can help you reduce your risk of developing new stones while flushing our your renal system. Low oxalate fruits include: apple, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, mango, pineapple, peach, strawberries, and watermelon among others.
- Low Potassium Foods – If you need to reduce potassium in your diet, consider low potassium foods such as chives, clementines, collards, cranberries, endives, kumquats, lettuce, limes, spaghetti squash and more.
- Kidney-Friendly Sweeteners – These include honey, maple syrup, stevia and coconut sugar.
- Kidney Healthy Drinks – Opt for water, green tea, black tea, herbal tea, lemon water and sparkling water.
There’s a lot of changes you need to make when it comes to eating right for your renal health. Everything should be considered, including your labs, your medical history, what groceries are available to you, etc.
3. Take Barley in your Diet
Barley is a whole grain that has been used by communities all over the world to help cleanse the kidneys as well as prevent and get rid of UTIs. Taking barley may also help prevent damage happening in the kidney brought on by uncontrolled diabetes.
Regular consumption of barley may help in maintaining creatinine levels or bringing them down in case they go high due to diabetes or any illness.
The most effective way to take barley is by making barley water. Just boil a handful of barley grains (where to get it) in 1 liter of water for 5 minutes. Let it cool and consume the water.
This drink helps cleanse and repair buildup of kidney toxins while getting rid of any incoming UTIs. If you feel like you’re getting a UTI, do this remedy ASAP.
Great River Organic Milling, Whole Grain, Rye Grain, Organic
4. Get your Hands On Cranberries
You probably already know this, but cranberries have been praised for their kidney and bladder health benefits.
Cranberry supplements and drinks are on the rise to protect you from UTIs and bladder infections and yup, they work!
Cranberries contain a special nutrient known as quinine. In the body, quinine is converted into hippuric acid through a series of metabolic changes in the liver. Hippuric acid helps clear the excess buildup of urea and uric acid in the kidneys.
Research published in Nutrition Journal shows that women who consumed sweetened, dried cranberries daily for 2 weeks experienced a decrease in the incidence of urinary tract infections (source).
You can consume dried cranberries (where to get it) on top of oatmeal, cereal, baked goods or add them to trail mixes and salads.
Ocean Spray Craisins Dried Cranberries, Original, 48 Ounce
My favorite way though, is by drinking pure unsweetened cranberry juice.
If you’re someone who often gets UTIs or recurring UTIs, get your hands on cranberries or cranberry juice! We have a kidney cleansing drink recipe below that can be drank every single day to prevent UTIs for good!
5. Try Medicinal Herbs
*Always first consult your doctor before taking any medicinal herbs for kidney and bladder health.
Certain herbs consumed in tea form or as supplements have a positive impact on the renal system. Some kidney protective and cleansing herbs to try include:
- Hydrangea (scientific name: Hydrangea paniculate)
This herb is a flowering shrub that produces beautiful lavender, pink, blue and white flowers. But did you know that extracts of hydrangea when drank for 3 days offered a protective effect against kidney damage? This is due to the powerful antioxidant properties of the herb (source).
TerraVita Hydrangea Root Tea (25 Tea Bags)
Herb Pharm Hydrangea Liquid Extract for Urinary System Support, 1 Fl Oz
- Sambong (scientific name: Blumea balsamifera)
A shrub that grows in the tropical climates of the Philippines and India, sambong is another kidney support herb. Research found that a sambong extract added to calcium oxalate crystals decreased the size of the crystals. This is promising when it comes to preventing the formation of kidney stones (source).
2 Packs ABS Herbs Sambong Tea with 12 Tea Bags Each
- Dandelion (scientific name: Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion is an herb rich in potassium and powerful diuretic-like action, meaning it helps clear away excess water from the body through increased urination. You can take dandelion tea as a way to flush our your kidneys and bladder naturally. Alternatively, try mixing 10-15 drops of dandelion mother tincture 3 times a day to detox your kidneys. This tincture can be continued for up to 6 months (source).
- Uva Ursi (scientific name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Also known as bearberry, Uva ursi is an excellent herb for kidney support and detox. It contains a glycoside called arbutin that has powerful antimicrobial properties which help in fighting UTIs and bringing symptom relief (source).
Taking uva ursi may also help repair inflammation and injury caused to kidney tissue caused by infections and stones.
The muscle-relaxant properties of uva ursi help bring down inflammation and swelling in the urinary tract. This herb also neutralises the acidic content of the urine which helps alleviate the burning sensation faced during urinary tract, kidney or bladder infections.
When paired with dandelion with its diuretic properties, uva ursi is a potent remedy for naturally treating and preventing urinary tract infections.
Caution: Since uva ursi can interfere with the way the body eliminates lithium, do not take this herb if you are on antipsychotic drugs such as lithium, to prevent high and toxic levels of lithium buildup in the body.
Uva Ursi 4500mg 200 Vegetarian caps (Non-GMO & Gluten Free) Bearberry
- Gokshura (scientific name: Tribulus terrestris)
This is an Ayurvedic herb which strengthens kidney health. It is very useful for people who suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections as well as recurrent renal stones (source).
Taking gokshura helps in maintaining the flow of urine. It also cools and soothes the urinary membranes, which relieves pain. This potent herb also has strong antibiotic properties that may assist in fighting bladder infections.
The dosage is one capsule of gokshura 1-2 times a day to maintain healthy renal function. Consult your doctor before taking this herb to find the right dosage for you.
- European barberry (scientific name: Berberis vulgaris)
Since ancient times, barberry has been used traditionally to flush out kidney stones. A mother tincture prepared from this herb may help soothe renal colic in patients, especially with small kidney stones as larger ones may damage urethral tissue as it tries to get flushed out.
Research shows that in an animal study, use of B. vulgaris root extract alongside drinking water inhibited the deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney tubules and improved oxidative stress in kidney (source).
Take 10-15 drops of Berberis vulgaris mother tincture mixed with a little water 3 times a day to help flush out kidney stones within a few weeks.
6. Say No to Alcohol
Alcohol can have both short-term and long-term impacts on your kidneys. Short-term effects include changes in blood pressure and fluid balances causing dehydration while long term effects mean physical changes inside your kidneys.
Though some people may be okay with alcoholic drinks here and there with their doctor’s permission, of course, the best thing to do is to stay clear from alcohol.
Try non-alcoholic mocktails and sparkling water with a splash of juice or slice of fruit as an alternative to alcoholic drinks during parties and celebrations.
Alcohol may be a part of your diet from time to time but make sure to first check with your doctor and as always, if you’re celebrating with alcohol, remember to stay hydrated.
7. Stop Smoking
Last but not least in this post on how to flush your kidneys and bladder naturally is, stop smoking.
If you are a smoker, it’s best to quit to help improve the health of your kidneys.
Smoking increases blood pressure which causes a series of health issues including kidney problems.
Help your body cleanse and detoxify efficiently by discarding cigarette smoking for good.
Homemade Kidney Cleanse Drink
This homemade kidney cleanse drink is something good you want to do for your kidneys and bladder. It contains natural easy-to-find ingredients that help you stay hydrates and clear your kidneys and bladder.
What you Need
- ¼ cup pure cranberry juice (where to get it)
- ¾ cup filtered water
- ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (where to get it)
- Ice cubes
- Mason jar (where to get it)
- Glass straw (where to get it)
Directions
- Place ice cubes into a glass cup.
- Pour cranberry juice.
- Add apple cider vinegar.
- Squeeze in half of a lemon.
- Top up with filtered water.
- Add more ice cubes.
- Enjoy every morning!
Take Care
- See your doctor if you have symptoms of kidney or bladder pain or problems. It is important to get medical attention, diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms that indicate something may be wrong include: difficulty & pain when urinating, nausea/vomiting, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, muscle twitches or cramps, edema, itchy skin, chest pain, fatigue and more.
- If you suspect you have a UTI, go to your doctor immediately. Untreated UTIs can lead to bladder or kidney infections that can turn into serious complications.
Thank you for reading this article, ‘How to Flush your Kidneys and Bladder Naturally.’ Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Leave a Reply