Do you want to drain your body, combat water retention or support your urinary health? Discover our selection of the 5 best natural diuretics.
A diuretic is a substance that increases urine production by encouraging the excretion of water and certain minerals (particularly sodium) by the kidneys.
Diuretics generally work by:
Diuretics are often used:
Diuretic plants have been appreciated for centuries for their natural benefits (2). In more problematic cases, diuretic drugs are generally used, under the supervision of health professionals.
Now let's discover the best diuretic plants. A scientific study has identified no fewer than 85 different plants with proven diuretic effects (3).
Commission E, a scientific council that provides expert advice on the approval of natural substances used in traditional medicine, has approved 12 of them. Here is a shortlist of the 5 best, with practical advice on how to benefit from their effects on a daily basis.
More than 3.5 billion people drink tea (Camellia sinensis) every day, 20% of whom drink green tea.
Most of them are aware of its diuretic effect, linked to the caffeine and other methylxanthines (theobromine and theophylline) it contains. These stimulate the body's elimination function and help to drain the body (4).
In the kidneys, caffeine may hinder sodium reabsorption, increasing its excretion in urine and drawing more water along with it.
How can I benefit from the diuretic effects of green tea?
Warning: Green tea may reduce the absorption of iron and may increase the risk of liver damage if taken in combination with plants that may have harmful effects on the liver (such as borage). One cup of green tea provides just 30 mg of caffeine, compared with 60 mg for black tea: this is not a lot, but be sure to avoid excess (do not exceed 500 mg a day).
Possible alternatives: other varieties of tea (white tea, oolong tea, black tea, etc.), coffee, yerba maté or guarana, because they all contain caffeine (guarana is found in particular in the synergistic water-retention food supplement Water Retention Formula).
Used for more than 2,000 years in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, dandelion (with its very evocative French name pissenlit) or Taraxacum helps to facilitate renal elimination of fluids and maintain urinary functions (5).
One study (6) showed that the diuretic activity of its leaves could be compared to that of certain diuretic drugs (the "loop diuretic" family), which have a powerful and rapid action. In contrast, dandelion leaves act more gently.
The mechanism is still unclear, but their high potassium content compensates for the renal loss of potassium caused by most diuretics (7).
How can you benefit from the diuretic effects of dandelion?
In food supplement form: some food supplements contain dandelion extracts (such as U-Tract Forte for urinary comfort, Kidney Detox Formula for kidney health and detox, or Water Retention Formula for water retention).
Warning: dandelion is contraindicated in cases of allergy and hypersensitivity, peptic ulcers and reflux (due to its bitterness) and renal colic.
Possible alternatives: horsetail, pilosella (which looks a lot like dandelion).
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has long been known to relieve micturition difficulties by helping the kidneys to eliminate water (8).
The roots are used to help reduce urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (difficulty in urinating, frequent urges, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, etc.) and the aerial parts for their diuretic properties.
How to benefit from the diuretic effects of nettle?
In food supplement form: there are some particularly practical and safe nettle root food supplements, ideal for men suffering from an enlarged prostate (Nettle Root Extract is one example).
Warning: nettle is contraindicated in cases of renal insufficiency and heart failure, and it is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Possible alternatives: White Dead Nettle is also often used to promote renal elimination of water. Consume between 10 and 20 g of fresh plants per 250 ml of water, 3 cups a day.
Native to the Mediterranean basin, juniper (Juniperus) is traditionally used to help the kidneys eliminate fluids and support the body's detoxification process (9).
Its diuretic properties come from its berries, which are harvested ripe in autumn (when they are at their best) on the edges of forests and in mountainous regions.
The autumn juniper cure is in some ways the equivalent of the spring dandelion cure.
How can I benefit from the diuretic effects of juniper berries?
Warning: juniper is contraindicated in cases of nephropathy, renal colitis and cardiac and/or renal insufficiency, and may run the risk of renal toxicity. It should also be avoided during pregnancy. Finally, juniper berries interact with a number of medicines: consult a health professional before considering a natural juniper berry treatment.
Last in our selection of natural diuretics, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) has a notable similarity to white willow: both plants contain salicylates, precursors of salicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin).
Like the others, meadowsweet helps to increase renal elimination of water, mainly thanks to its high potassium content, which helps to regulate water balance. It is traditionally recommended for gout attacks, as it is thought to facilitate the elimination of uric acid by the kidneys (10).
How can you benefit from the diuretic effects of meadowsweet?
Caution: Meadowsweet is contraindicated for people with an allergy to aspirin, asthma, renal insufficiency and gastritis, as well as pregnant women.
Possible alternatives: borage leaves (20 g per litre of infusion), which contain potassium nitrates. Use sparingly, as they also contain a small amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be harmful to the liver in large doses or over the long term.
Are you primarily looking for natural diuretics to combat water retention?
There are synergistic food supplements that combine several of the diuretic plants mentioned: dandelion extract, meadowsweet, caffeine-rich guarana, etc. (this is the case with the Water Retention Formula mentioned above, which also contains a patented prickly pear extract, tested for its diuretic effects).
Before starting any natural herbal treatment, make sure there are no contraindications. You should also follow the dosage instructions for the food supplements.
It is important, for example, to avoid any electrolyte imbalance or dehydration caused by an excessive increase in the frequency of urination. If in doubt, consult a health professional.
Pregnant women and children are advised to get the approval of such a professional before taking medicinal plants, even in infusion form.
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