The Urinary Tract the Kidneys and the Bladder
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n Chinese medicine, the kidneys are the seat of longevity and health. This is not surprising, considering the kidneys' responsibility. The urinary tract is an elaborate filtration system—the kidneys alone contain about a million tiny filters that remove waste products from the blood. When your kidneys are working well, this refuse is diluted in a watery bath to make it less toxic to the body, then sent to the bladder, which serves as a holding tank, keeping this waste until the body discards it as urine. Filtering wastes from the body is an essential job, but your kidneys perform an amazing assortment of other tasks as well. For example, they recycle important nutrients like glucose and amino acids out of the urine and back into the blood. They also control your blood pressure and the balance of electrolytes—important minerals such as potassium and sodium—in your body. Your kidneys are also responsible for telling the body when more red blood cells need to be produced.
Because the kidneys have so many jobs to do, many seemingly unrelated disorders and symptoms can be traced back to these organs. These include water retention, poor circulation, anemia, electrolyte imbalance and high blood pressure. Even a puffy face, dark circles under the eyes, a pale complexion, dizziness or tension can indicate kidney problems.
What causes your kidney problems in the first place? The urinary tract is the unfortunate victim of modern civilization—while the liver pulls toxins out of the blood, the kidneys eliminate toxins through the bladder. So the kidneys are responsible for eliminating the toxins we inhale and ingest. Solvents, gasoline, paint, synthetic fragrances and colors, preservatives and even the nitrogen waste that results from a high-protein diet put stress on the kidneys. In addition, infections anywhere in your body—even tooth decay—contribute to kidney problems. If diagnosing urinary tract problems sounds confusing, that's because it is—and it is a job best left to your doctor.
If you want to introduce herbs alongside a conventional remedy for kidney problems, you should seek the advice of someone knowledgeable about the relationship between herbs and your particular condition before embarking on an herbal program. If, however, you are already on the road to recovery after a bout with kidney stones or a kidney infection and you want to strengthen your kidneys, or if you have a simple bladder infection, there are herbal remedies that you can turn to without professional guidance. In fact, if urinary infections are a recurring theme in your life, do not wait until the next infection to start a maintenance program.
Herbs that serve as general urinary tract tonics for long-range health include rose hips, fennel, dandelion, marshmallow, oat straw and nettles. These herbs rarely conflict with other kidney treatments, but you should take into consideration that they are all diuretics—they will flush water from your body.
In addition to taking beneficial herbs, to maintain the best kidney health I suggest that you eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet based on unprocessed foods. I also recommend avoiding coffee, black tea and alcohol, especially if you have had urinary tract problems in the past. These substances are all strong kidney and bladder irritants. If incontinence and frequent urination are a problem for you, see "Bedwetting" in chapter 83.
General Urinary Tonic
½ teaspoon each dandelion root, oat straw, nettle leaves and rose hips
¼ teaspoon each fennel seeds and marshmallow root
1 quart water
Put herbs in water and bring to a simmer. Turn off heat and steep for about 30 minutes. Strain, then store in the refrigerator. Drink 1 or 2 cups daily, as desired. These herbs can also be taken as a tincture or pills, but a tea is the preferred way to take this tonic because water helps flush the urinary tract.
