All herbs in ____ form are good diuretics.
tea
Increases the production and elimination of urine, helps eliminate waste and excessive fluid:
diuretic
Binds to mucus membranes, skin and tissue, causes tissues to shrink and dry up secretions. Commonly tannins:
astringent
Helps destroy / resist pathogenic microorganisms:
[Not abx]
antimicrobial
Soothes and protects irritated tissue, high in mucilage, works in GU tract by reflex action:
demulcent
Anti-inflammatory urinary herbs:
cranberry achillea zingiber eupatorium purp. solidago
Antimicrobial urinary herbs:
uva-ursi cranberry achillea juniperus solidago
Astringent urinary herbs:
uva-ursi
chimaphilla
agrimonia
Diuretic urinary herbs:
achillea apium uva-ursi equisetum galium juniperus petroselinum taraxacum zea solidago
3 main actions of diuretics:
- Stimulation - circulation
- Osmotic - dec reabsorption
- Irritation - often by essential oils
T/F: Herbs with irritating essential oils or resins may aggravate kidney conditions long term.
true
Many tannin-rich herbs don’t combine well with:
Why?
alkaloid herbs
tannins precipitate alkaloids - they will fall out of solution, forming sludge at the bottom
All kidney herbs work on a (reflex/diuretic) effect.
reflex
T/F: Herbal diuretics will increase their action over time.
false
diminish - esp mineral diuretics
Uva-ursi - constituents:
- hydroquinone glycosides (arbutin)
- tannins
- flavonoids
- resins
- acids
Uva-ursi - indications:
- UTI
- cystitis
- chronic irritation of the bladder, with pain, tenesmus, catarrhal DC
Uva-ursi - cautions:
- avoid during pregnancy
- not for long term use (tannins)
- toxicity in high dose hydroquinone
Pipsi - constituents:
- arbutin
- chimaphillin
- caffeic acid
- tannins
- ferulic acid (leaf)
- methyl salicylate
- P-coumaric acid
Pipsi - actions:
- astringent
- alterative
- tonic
- diuretic
- antiseptic
- lymphatic
Pipsi - indications:
- flushing of cheeks
- liver inflammation
- ascites
- abd/renal edema
- constipation
- hemorrhoids
- mucopurulent DC
- cystitis
- chronic prostatitis
- BPH
Cranberry - actions:
- urinary antibacterial
* antioxidant
Cranberry - constituents:
- anthocyanadins
- proanthocyanadins
- flavonols
- organic acids (citric, malic, guinic)
- phenolic acids
- glycoside or organic acid
- sugars
Cranberry - indications:
- prevent UTIs
- decrease stone formation
- acidify urine
- dec sx of pyelonephritis
- dec dental plaque
Cranberry - cautions:
- may enhance warfarin
- high in oxalates
- sugar content in most products
