Kidneys are rightly called the “purifiers” of the body, as they filter out the waste products from the blood and detoxify the entire body.
It is only natural that any discrepancies in the working of kidneys could be life-threatening.
From kidney stones to cancer to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a number of ailments threaten to disrupt the normal functioning of kidneys.
There are, however, a few effective home remedies for kidney damage that could improve the functioning of kidneys.
What is Kidney Damage?
In simple terms, kidney damage means your kidneys are not working properly, i.e. kidneys are not filtering out your body wastes effectively.
This could be a life-threatening scenario for anyone, as weakening kidneys could mean that the waste build-up in your body is rising which could lead to further complications sometimes resulting in fatal consequences.
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Causes of Kidney Damage
Diabetes ( type 1 and 2) and high-blood pressure are two of the biggest causes of kidney damage in patients.
A consistently high-blood pressure causes your blood vessels to wear and tear rapidly, which includes blood vessels that travel through your kidneys.
In addition to this, high blood sugar levels also leads to kidney damage in the long-term.
Alcohol is also shown to be having a damaging impact, as your kidneys have to work overtime to filter out alcohol from your blood.
Studies have shown that having even two drinks per day increases the risk of having damaged kidneys significantly.
Additionally, some patients can also experience acute kidney damage or acute renal failure because of a direct damage to kidneys or an inadequate blood flow to kidneys.
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Home Remedies For Kidney Damage
While home remedies for kidney damage are not a wholesome treatment for kidney damage, they can certainly complement your recovery process and reduce the likelihood of future infections.
Some of the most effective natural remedies for kidney damage or support the recovery of your damaged kidneys are:
- Keep yourself well-hydrated. Drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water per day ensures that your kidneys flush out the unwanted toxins off your body with relative ease. It is one of the most economical home remedies for kidney damage. However, if your kidney damage is severe, make sure you consult with your doctor beforehand.
- Cranberry juice has shown a promising result in reducing the bacterial count in the kidneys. A 2018 Frontiers in Microbiology journal study on the lab mice found out that mice suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) had a reduced count of bacteria in their urinary tract, if they were given cranberry juice. The research hypothesized that the presence of acids such as malic, citric, and quinic had a positive impact on the urinary tract of the mice. However, further studies are required to substantiate this claim.
- If you have pain emanating from infected kidneys, using a heating pad or a pet bottle with lukewarm water can alleviate the flank pain. This is not as effective as the other home remedies for kidney damage discussed here in terms of addressing the root cause of the disease, yet it surely alleviates the pain that accompanies a patient suffering from renal issues.
- Practice abstinence from alcohol. It has been medically proven that regular use of alcohol weakens the kidney functions overtime. Alcohol forces the kidney to work harder to flush out the toxins out of the body that results in a greater wear and tear. This is one of the most effective home remedies for kidney damage.
- In the 2018 study of the Frontiers of Microbiology journal, it was stated that having green tea may reduce the bacterial counts in the kidneys. Extracts of green tea were found to be having an inhibiting impact on the bacterial culture in the laboratory. However, a similar experiment with humans has not been conducted so far and further substation of this claim via empirical evidence is needed to prove the efficacy of this method.
- Foods with a high Vitamin C content have also shown promising results w.r.t. improving kidney functions. Lemon juice, Broccoli, Cucumbers, green leafy vegetables etc. have a positive impact on the overall functioning of kidneys.
- Some economical home remedies for kidney damage also include avoiding foods with a high potassium content like Bananas, Oranges, Potatoes, Spinach, and Tomatoes, if you already suffer from any renal issues. Replace them with Apples, Cabbages, Carrots, Green Beans, Grapes, and Strawberries as they are low-on potassium.
- Celery juice has certain mineral salts that aids and boosts the functioning of kidneys. In addition to this, including Dandelion root in your diet could also be helpful. Dandelion flowers are a high-on antioxidant which strengthens the overall immune system. In fact, dandelion root is often used by herbalists for cleansing kidneys, gallbladder and liver.
- Refrain from high-protein foods. Meat, eggs, fish etc. should always be taken in moderation, that too after consulting your doctor.
- Some other home remedies for kidney damage like taking probiotics, trying parsley juice etc. can also strengthen your kidney functions.
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Conclusion
To conclude, kidney diseases are often an outcome of various factors.
However, practicing a few “easy-to-follow” home remedies for kidney damage like keeping your blood pressure and blood sugar level in check, avoiding alcohol, drinking plenty of water, avoiding foods with a high-protein content etc. can surely help in aiding the functioning of your kidneys.
Nevertheless, it is always recommended that you complement these home remedies for kidney damage with a doctor’s treatment to get the optimum result.
