Liver & Kidney : Detox

As the organ that plays a very important part in the normal and everyday detoxification of your body, kidneys have to function properly in order to keep your body healthy. Yet not a lot is mentioned about the importance of them in connection with detox programs apart from the usual advice to drink a lot of water to help flush them out.

The Chinese believe that kidneys are the center of a person’s hereditary energy which is passed on at birth and that good kidney function is linked with vitality and longevity. So kidney detoxification is very important.  If the kidney system does not function properly to excrete salt and other toxins, toxic waste may accumulate in the bloodstream this can result in a kidney infection or kidney problem.

Most people are born with 2, fist sized, bean shaped kidneys located in the back, one either side of the spine just above the waist protected by the lower ribcage. In humans, the kidneys are located in the posterior part of the abdomen. There is one on each side of the spine; the right kidney sits just below the liver. They contain a complicated network of tiny tubes which act like a water purification plant.

They have the job of processing nearly 180 litres (48 gallons) of blood every day. They filter, cleanse, reabsorb nutrients and water vital to the body, and excrete substances the body cannot use in the 1 - 2 litres of urine they produce every day. Your kidneys play an important part in getting rid of toxic waste, controlling blood pressure and the manufacture of the active form of vitamin D.

An overload of toxins can cause irritation and the whole of the urinary tract becomes more prone to infection. Normal kidney function may be interfered with resulting in water retention, kidney stones and mineral deficiencies.  You may have acute lower back pain, clear symptom of Kidney stones (sharp glass like crystals, made of phosphoric acid, or sometimes may include other acids). In special occasions, you can get a kidney stone crystallized in less then a few days!

There are many herbs that help support kidney function and some detoxification programs include herbal kidney cleanses. For example:
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is a common flowering bush.
- Gravel root (Eupatorium pupureum) is a wild flower.
- Marshmallow root (Althea officinallis) is mucilaginous and kills pain.
- Fresh Parsley can be bought at a grocery store. Parsley flakes and dried parsley herb do not work.
- Goldenrod herb works as well as the tincture but you may get an allergic reaction from smelling the herb. If you know you are allergic to this, leave this one out of your recipe.
- Ginger from the grocery store works fine, you may put it into capsules for yourself (size 0, 1 or 00).

When you get your herbs, be careful! Herb companies are not the same! These roots should have a strong fragrance. If the ones you buy are barely fragrant they have lost their active ingredients: switch to a different supplier. Fresh roots can be used. Do not use powder.

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