The diuretic remedies are among the top selling pharmaceutical products in the world!
This is because I promise rapid weight loss and the elimination of annoying blemishes, such as swelling , which usually occurs in certain areas of the body (hips, buttocks, legs, ankles, etc.) and the much hated cellulite .
Diuretics act as “drainers”, ie they increase the flow and quantity of urine , thus favoring the elimination of excess fluids.
Consequently, by losing fluids, all those problems associated with water retention are reduced, which are:
- overweight;
- cellulite;
- various swelling;
- hypertension.
Furthermore, a chronic condition of water retention can lead to a malfunction of the kidneys, the accumulation of gravel and kidney stones, as well as serious heart problems.
Are diuretics really effective? Which to choose?
As a nature lover I can only advise you to turn to the use of remedies in their most natural form.
Or as whole plants in the form of herbal tea, or decoctions .
The reason why I recommend them are basically two:
- Effectiveness : even if they may seem like mild remedies, in reality many of these herbs – especially when combined with each other – are extremely effective, so much so that you can notice a difference already after a few days of using them.
- Safety : it is one thing to use herbs in their entirety, another thing is to use pills, or herbal medicines, which contain standardized principles of the same herbs, in super-concentrated form. It is true that immediately these pills can give a better result, but it is equally true that used in the long term, they can bring serious contraindications, which is unlikely to happen using the plants that I will list shortly.
A moderate use of these herbs will help you to treat and prevent the formation of cellulite and swelling, but also the other problems that often accompany these disorders, such as hypertension and excessive accumulation of waste (urea and uric acids in primis).
Like all things, diuretic herbs are not miracle remedies .
They can be useful if used for a limited period and especially if they are associated with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle .
How to use herbs
The procedure is the same for all the plants that I will list you.
It is simply a matter of preparing an herbal tea .
The dosage is 1 teaspoon if the herbs are dried (about 1.5-2 grams) and 2 teaspoons if the herbs are fresh. Pour the herbs into a cup of hot (almost boiling) water and leave to infuse for about 8-10 minutes. Then filter and drink the hot or lukewarm infusion.
If you want, you can prepare more, and then pour it into a thermos. For example, for 1 liter of infusion you will need 4 teaspoons of dry plant and 8 of dried plant.
In order for herbal teas to be effective they must be taken continuously for at least a month. From 2 to 4 herbal teas per day (1 liter).
The diuretic herbs
I could make you an endless list of medicinal herbs with diuretic properties. Nature is full of them ! To carve them, just take a tour in the countryside, or in the garden.
Some of these are considered weeds and are pulled up every day (oh what a waste!).
In the following article I have chosen to cover only five , the ones I consider the best . You can choose to use them individually, or combine them together for a greater effect.
At the end of this list you will also find two herbal preparations , which I personally use to treat water retention problems, cellulite and also for problems with poor peripheral circulation.
Are you ready? Let’s begin..
1. Birch
Birch , botanic name Betula pendula , is a beautiful tree made from light wood that grows in much of central and northern Italy. Both the leaves of this plant are used for the preparation of herbal teas and extracts, and the internal lymph, both with strong diuretic and purifying properties.
Birch is an excellent drainage agent, useful for fighting cellulite formation and swelling .
In addition, birch is an effective natural remedy, widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments, such as:
- gout (elevated uric acids);
- accumulation of gravel in the kidneys;
- high bad cholesterol;
- hypertension;
- urinary infections (cystitis).
Where to buy birch tea:
2. Horsetail
Horsetail , botanical name Equisetum arvense , is a very old plant, the pest characteristics. It grows spontaneously with the arrival of spring, up to 2500 m in humid, siliceous and clayey places, along the banks of streams, in fields, in woods and on slopes.
It is also called ” horsetail “, due to the resemblance to the tail of a horse.
From the horsetail, the sterile green stems are collected and the whole aerial part is used, both the stems and the needle-like leaves. With these, powders, herbal teas, decoctions, sitz baths, baths, wraps and many other preparations are prepared.
It is a plant rich in mineral salts, and in addition to being an excellent diuretic, it has a remineralizing action on the whole organism . For this reason, horsetail tea is considered an excellent drink even for athletes , who sweat a lot and tend to lose a lot of mineral salts.
Furthermore, horsetail is an extremely effective plant for treating a multitude of problems. Just to name a few:
- strengthens the bones;
- strengthens nails and hair;
- facilitates the healing of fractures;
- prevents and fights osteopenia and osteoporosis;
- eliminate the gravel;
- eliminates cellulite;
- eliminates swelling;
- eliminates uric acids (useful against gout);
- stops internal and external bleeding (haemostatic);
- it is anti-anemic;
- reduces blood pressure.
Where to buy horsetail tea:
3. Black currant
Black currant, botanical name “Ribes nigrum” is a small plant of the Sassifragaceae family , which grows in the woods, especially at high altitudes. This plant uses the fruits, rich in vitamin C, the buds and the leaves.
The leaves are the part that interests us most, as if used as an herbal tea, they perform a deep draining action .
The blackcurrant leaf tea is also one of the best remedies to eliminate urea and uric acids and therefore to relieve pain due to rheumatism, gout and arthritis .
It is also useful in the following cases:
- diarrhea;
- hypertension;
- inflammation of the oral cavity (rinses);
- kidney stones and kidney stones.
Where to buy black currant herbal tea:
4. Nettle
Nettle all know for its unpleasant stinging properties. However, it is a very useful herb, both in the kitchen (I love risotto with nettles!) And in herbal medicine.
Since ancient times, nettle leaves were used for their marked diuretic and purifying properties .
Historically it was recommended in the form of herbal tea, or as a vegetable, to be taken after parties and large binges, to purify and detoxify the body from the accumulation of toxins.
In fact, the nettle acts by promoting the elimination of waste and uric acids , thus also lightening the work of the kidneys and liver.
Moreover, thanks to its ability to favor the elimination of uric acids, it is a very suitable plant for people suffering from gout and rheumatic pains , especially when combined with other plants with similar properties, such as horsetail and black currant .
In addition to the properties just mentioned, the nettle is useful in case of:
- prostatic hypertrophy (in association with epilobium parviflorum);
- anemia (rich in iron and chlorophyll);
- diabetes and hyperglycemia (hypoglycemic);
- diarrhea (it is a strong astringent);
- internal bleeding (haemostatic action);
- deficiency of breast milk (lactating)
Where to buy Nettle herbal tea:
5. Dandelion
Dandelion , botanical name Taraxacum officinale , is the classical weed weed that grows everywhere! You can easily find it in the woods, in the countryside, in parks, gardens, uncultivated fields and even on terraces!
Just a small lump of earth is enough to pop out.
Like horsetail, most people consider it just a nuisance weed to root out as soon as possible. It is actually a very good herb to eat and is also very good for your health.
It is commonly called ” Piscialletto ” and as you have surely guessed, the reason is that it is a powerful draining agent that stimulates diuresis .
Both the leaves and the roots of the dandelion are used, with which it is possible to prepare herbal teas, decoctions or dry or liquid extracts.
For drainage properties are more suitable leaves , while the roots are more suitable for liver disorders.
In addition to improving diuresis, dandelion leaves are indicated for:
- purify the liver;
- reduce blood pressure;
- improve intestinal transit (they are slightly laxative);
- reduce blood sugar.
Where to buy Dandelion herbal tea:
Recommended associations
1. To purify, deflate and promote the elimination of uric acids
This herbal blend is very effective in promoting diuresis and purification of the body, especially the kidneys .
In addition to fighting water retention and the disorders associated with it and of which we have already spoken ( swelling, edema, hypertension, cellulite ), the plants contained in this mix are very useful to avoid the accumulation of grains and to favor the elimination of uric acids .
The herbal tea, which I have renamed ” Super Dyuretix ” must be prepared with the following herbs:
- Lavender angustifolia flowers,
- Pendulous birch leaves,
- Horsetail arvensis stems and leaves,
- Verbena leaves,
- Black currant leaves,
- Dandelion leaves.
Preparation of the herbal tea
Take a teaspoon of herbal tea and a cup of water (250 ml). Bring the water to a boil, then turn off and pour the herbal tea, letting it rest for 10 minutes. Then it is filtered and drunk hot or lukewarm.
Where to buy the herbal tea:
2. In case of Cellulite and poor blood circulation
The herbs contained in this blend are not limited to acting only on water stagnation, but also stimulate blood circulation, improving blood fluidity and strengthening veins, arteries and capillaries .
It is a mixture that I recommend to those suffering from swollen and tired legs, venous insufficiency and obviously also cellulite.
The herbal tea, which I called ” Circulation and cellulite ” (since it is extremely effective in treating both problems), must be prepared with the following herbs:
- Hawthorn flowers;
- sweet clover flowers;
- birch leaves;
- Ginkgo Biloba leaves;
- Horsetail leaves;
- red vine leaves.
Preparation of the herbal tea
Take a teaspoon of herbal tea and a cup of water (250 ml). Bring the water to a boil, then turn off and pour the herbal tea, letting it rest for 10 minutes. Then it is filtered and drunk hot or lukewarm.
Where to buy the herbal tea:
Contraindications
A sporadic consumption of the herbal teas and herbs that I have described in this article is not contraindicated in any case, but if you want to use it for long periods, it is better to avoid them in the following cases:
- pregnant or breastfeeding;
- in case of diabetes (herbal teas can reduce blood sugar);
- severe heart and / or kidney failure;
- in the presence of kidney stones;
- if you are taking high blood pressure medications;
- if you are taking diuretic medications.
Furthermore, in the case of the “Circulation and Cellulite” herbal tea, where there are herbs that affect the density and blood flow, such as ginkgo biloba and sweet clover, the use is contraindicated in cases where you are already taking:
- cardioaspirin;
- anticoagulant drugs.
Foods recommended and not recommended
ce In addition to herbs, there are numerous foods that we can eat to promote diuresis. Just to name a few:
- Drinks : Green tea in particular, but also rooibos, black tea and coffee.
- Vegetables : pineapple, asparagus, garlic, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, onions, fennel, leek, celery, shallot;
- Spices : parsley and chives;
- Fruits : pineapples, watermelons, lemons, apples, melons and grapefruits.
Generally speaking, vegetables are preferable to fruit, as they do not contain sugars.
In fact, sugars are among the main causes of the accumulation of liquids together with excessive consumption of salt.
Foods to avoid / reduce
Far be it from me to want to impose a diet, but know that you can drink all the herbal teas you want, without a change in diet or lifestyle, it is very difficult to achieve lasting results.
That said, here are the foods that most of all negatively affect fluid accumulation:
- Salt and foods rich in salt (everyone knows this, I also think stones);
- Complex carbohydrates : in particular cereals and refined flours, such as bread, pasta, bread sticks, crackers, pizza, but also white rice and potatoes.
- Dairy products : therefore cow’s milk, yogurt, cheeses, butter, ice cream, cream, milk chocolate, milk-based desserts, etc.
- Alcoholic .
These are the main “defendants”.
In addition to this it should be considered that lifestyle and physical exercise count a lot .
Physical activity helps a lot to fight water retention. The movement, as long as it is performed regularly and rationally, contributes, in fact, to reactivate and strengthen the microcirculation and favoring sweating, favors the loss of excess fluids.
NB : All information published on this site is informative and should not be considered as advice, or medical prescriptions, or other.