Kidney Blend

Agropyron Repens - Couch grass

Habitat and Cultivation: Native to Europe and Britain in waste ground and rough pasture. Naturalised and a troublesome weed in many countries.

Parts Used: seeds- Rhizomes harvested in autumn and early spring time.

Phytochemistry: Volatile oils, CHO- mannitol, silicic acid, saponins, phenolic and small amounts of anthraquinones

Nutritional Content: Vitamins- A and some B’s. Mineral- Potassium and Iron.

Actions: soothing diuretic, urinary demulcent

Indications: gout, rheumatism, BPH, calculus, Mucous membrane trophorestorative, kidney and bladder inflammation, UTI’s

Contraindications: no known

Herb/Drug Interactions: No known

Apium Graviolens - Celery seed

Habitat and Cultivation: Native to southern Europe, grows wild in salt rich ground and salt marshes. Love sunny situations with adequate moisture, frost resistant and drought tender.

Parts Used: the seeds are collected when ripe and dry.

Phytochemistry: volatile oils, furanocoumarins, fixed oil, flavonoids, lignin

Nutritional content: L-tryptophan

Actions: carminative, urinary anti-septic, spasmolytic, diuretic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic.

Indications: flatulence, colic, indigestion, urinary inflammation, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, restlessness, insomnia, nervous disorders, oedema, UTI’s.

Contraindications: Kidney disease, avoid high doses in pregnancy.

Herb/Drug Interactions: No known

Crataeva Nurvala - Crataeva

Habitat and Cultivation: Cultivated in central India, a slow growing small tree with pale yellow flowers

Parts Used: Bark

Phytochemistry: flavonoids, glucosinolates, lupeol (plant sterol), saponins, tannin.

Actions: anti-inflammatory, antilithic, antiseptic, bladder tonic

Indications: inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, UTI’s, kidney and bladder calculi, urinary tract support.

Contraindications: Pregnancy and lactation

Herb/Drug Interactions: No known

Arctium Lappa - Burdock

Habitat and Cultivation: Originally from Europe the plant is found roadside and waste places. It likes deep, friable soil and flowers in it second year.

Parts used: The roots, leaves heads and seeds have also been used.

Phytochemistry: inulin, phenolic acids, polyacetylenes, essential oils, bitter glycosides, flavonoids including baicalin

Nutritional Content: Vitamins- A, B2, B3, C, E and P. Minerals- Iron, copper, calcium, iodine, silicon, sulphur and zinc.

Actions: depurative, diuretic, orexigenic, antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, mild laxative.

Indications: skin conditions- psoriasis, eczema, acne, boils, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, urinary tract, constipation, support body’s elimination pathways, considered the best depurative.

Contraindications: No known

Herb/Drug Interactions: No known