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Doing a Natural Kidney Cleanse at Home

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Eleesha Lockett — Updated on May 2, 2019

Hydration

Foods

Teas

Supplements

Sample cleanse

Overview

The kidneys are two small organs located on either side of the spine, below the ribs. They play an important role in getting rid of excess waste, balancing electrolytes, and creating hormones.

In the absence of disease, a well-rounded diet and adequate water intake are usually enough to keep your kidneys healthy.

However, certain foods, herbs, and supplements can help support strong kidneys.

From your morning glass of water to that extra cup of herbal tea, here are four ways to cleanse your kidneys and keep them functioning strong.

1. Hydration is key

The adult human body is composed of almost 60 percent water. Every single organ, from the brain to the liver, requires water to function.

As the filtration system of the body, the kidneys require water to secrete urine. Urine is the primary waste product that allows the body to get rid of unwanted or unnecessary substances.

When water intake is low, urine volume is low. A low urine output may lead to kidney dysfunction, such as the creation of kidney stones.

It’s crucial to drink enough water so that the kidneys can properly flush out any excess waste materials. This is especially important during a kidney cleanse.

The recommended daily intake of fluids is roughly 3.7 liters and 2.7 liters a day for men and women, respectively, according to the Institute of Medicine.

2. Choose foods that support kidney health

Grapes

Grapes, peanuts, and some berries contain a beneficial plant compound called resveratrol.

In one animal study, researchers found that treatment with resveratrol was able to lower kidney inflammation in rats with polycystic kidney disease.

A handful of red grapes makes a great afternoon snack — and they taste even better frozen!

Cranberries

Cranberries have often been praised for their bladder health benefits.

A clinical trialTrusted Source in Nutrition Journal demonstrated that women who consumed sweetened, dried cranberries daily for two weeks experienced a decrease in the incidence of urinary tract infections.

Dried cranberries are a deliciously sweet addition to trail mix, salads, or even oatmeal.

Fruit juices

Lemon, orange, and melon juice all contain citric acid, or citrate.

Citrate helps prevent kidney stone formation by binding with calcium in urine. This inhibits the growth of calcium crystals, which can lead to kidney stones.

In addition, drinking a cup of fresh juice per day can contribute to your daily recommended fluid intake.

Seaweed

Brown seaweed has been studied for its beneficial effects on the pancreas, kidneys, and liver. In a 2014 animal trialTrusted Source, rats fed edible seaweed for a period of 22 days showed a reduction in both kidney and liver damage from diabetes.

Try a packet of dried, seasoned seaweed the next time you’re craving a crunchy snack.

Calcium-rich foods

Many people believe that avoiding calcium can help to prevent kidney stones. In fact, the opposite is true.

Too much urinary oxalate can lead to kidney stones. Calcium is needed to bind with oxalate to reduce the absorption and excretion of this substance.

You can meet the recommended daily intake of 1.2 grams of calcium by consuming high-calcium foods, such as soy or almond milk, tofu, and fortified cereals.

3. Drink kidney-cleansing teas

Stinging nettle

Stinging nettle is a perennial plant that has long been used in traditional herbal medicine.

Stinging nettle leaf contains beneficial compounds that can help to reduce inflammation. It’s also high in antioxidants, which help to protect the body and organs from oxidative stress.

Try this tea: Traditional Medicinals Organic Nettle Leaf Tea

Hydrangea

Hydrangea is a gorgeous flowering shrub, well-known for its lavender, pink, blue, and white flowers.

A recent animal studyTrusted Source found that extracts of Hydrangea paniculate given for three days offered a protective effect against kidney damage. This is likely due to the antioxidant capabilities of the plant.

Sambong

Sambong is a tropical climate shrub, common to countries such as the Philippines and India.

In one studyTrusted Source, researchers found that a Blumea balsamifera extract added to calcium oxalate crystals decreased the size of the crystals. This could potentially prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Try this tea: Golden Spoon’s Sambong Herbal Tea

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4. Supplement with supportive nutrients

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B-6 is an important cofactor in many metabolic reactions. B-6 is required for the metabolism of glyoxylate, which can become oxalate instead of glycine if B-6 is deficient.

As mentioned above,