Urinary & Diuretics Flashcards
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
Juniper - constituents:
- volatile oil
- flavonoids
- tannins
- sugars
Juniper - actions:
- diuretic
- urinary antimicrobial
- carminative
- antispasmodic
- tussive
Juniper - indications:
- renal insufficiency w/o inflammation
- urinary stasis
- GI anti-inflammatory
- anorexia
Corn silk - constituents:
- saponins
- flavonoids
- allantoin
- phytosterols
- alkaloid
- vit. C, K
- potassium
- sugars
- tannins
- cryptoxanthin
- anthocyanins
- plant acids
- fixed oil (2%)
- essential oil (0.1%): carvacrol
- terpenes
- bitter compounds
- polyphenols (12%),
- potassium salts
Corn silk - actions:
- demulcent
- diuretic
- anodyne
- vulnerary
Corn silk - indications:
- UTI / inflammation
- urinary stones
- edema
- enuresis
- prostatitis
- gentle diuretic for children
Corn silk - cautions:
- hypoglycemic effect
- prothrombopenic anticoagulant antagonist
- dicoumarol, coumadin
- corn allergy
Horsetail - constituents:
- phenolic acids
- 10% organic compounds
- silicic acid
- Ca, K, Mn, Al
- flavonoids
- quercitins
- alkaloids
- nicotine
- phytosterols
- sugars
- FAs
Horsetail - actions:
- hemostatic
- diuretic
- astringent
- anti-inflammatory
Horsetail - indications:
- cystic irritation
- nocturnal enuresis
- renal calculi
Horsetail - cautions:
- dont confuse w/marsh spp - toxic alkaloids
- concentrates environmental toxins - harvest consciously
- mb irritating to kidneys >6wks
Goldenrod - constituents:
- saponins
- diterpenes
- phenolic glucosides
- flavonoids: quercitin
Goldenrod - actions:
- anti-catarrhal
- anti-inflammatory
- antimicrobial
- astringent
- diaphoretic
- carminative
- aquaphoretic
- urinary antiseptic
Goldenrod - indications:
- UTI
- “irrigation of the urinary tract”
- cystitis
- irritated bladder
Goldenrod - cautions:
- allergy to Asteraceae family
* impaired kidney function
