Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy With Herbs

What do your Kidneys do?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in your abdomen which form a part of the urinary tract. They are responsible for filtering waste products and useful chemicals from your blood and eliminating the waste products into the urine. Without the kidneys, waste products and toxins would soon build up in the blood to dangerous levels and damage your body.

Your kidneys regulate the body's level of necessary substances like water, sodium and potassium. The correct balance of such substances is vital for your body to function healthily, but excess amounts can be harmful.

As well as removing wastes, the kidneys are also responsible for releasing vital hormones. Renin is a hormone important in regulating salt levels and blood pressure. Erythropoietin is vital in the process of red blood cell formation in the bone marrow.

The kidneys also produce the biologically active form of Vitamin D which is used for absorbing calcium and maintaining the health and strength of your bones.

What can go wrong with your Kidneys?

As with all organs of the body, the kidneys are subject to a range of disorders and diseases. Kidney damage usually takes place gradually and without symptoms and it may only be after years of kidney disease that kidney functioning becomes noticeably decreased. Some people are born with only one kidney or donate one of their kidneys to a family member or friend. These people can live healthy and normal lives as long as their remaining kidney stays healthy. In kidney disease one can lose more than 75% of kidney functioning before the effects become obvious.

The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. If you or your family has a history of these diseases, you may be at risk for kidney problems. Some kidney diseases are inherited, for example Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Infection, direct injury, poisons and drugs (Like prescription or over-the-counter painkillers) can also lead to serious kidney damage or dysfunction.

All of the above disorders and diseases can lead to decreased kidney function or kidney (renal) failure. This may happen suddenly (Acute Renal Failure) or, more commonly, gradually over years of disease (Chronic Renal Failure).

Kidney stones are also a very common problem. These are formed by clumps of crystals which can block the urinary system. Depending on the size of a kidney stone, it may be passed out in the urine unnoticed or cause severe pain- some may even require surgery.

What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

In the early stages of kidney disease, many people experience no symptoms at all. As kidney functioning deteriorates one may develop the following problems:



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