Skeptics

• Traditional medical practitioners, researchers and institutions are vastly skeptical when it comes to accepting herbal remedies as a treatment for kidney disorders. Indeed, there is not a mother lode of scientific evidence pointing to its advantage. Worse still, many modern physicians believe that herbal supplements may also be damaging to those suffering from more severe kidney disease.
  
  

Dangerous Herbs

• The National Kidney Foundation cites a long list of herbs it believes to be potentially harmful or toxic to those with chronic kidney disease. These include, among others, dandelion, ginseng, ginger, alfalfa, nettle, senna, buckthorn, aloe, noni juice, rhubarb, horsetail, bayberry, broom, nettle, panax, yohimbe, senna, mandrake, autumn crocus, wormwood and horse chestnut.
  
  Additionally, the foundation points out that herbal supplements are not government-regulated, possibly compromising their purity and safety. Many herbs are also known to produce serious side effects when taken in conjunction with prescription drugs. It is imperative that individuals experiencing severe kidney illness consult with both their doctor and dietitian before introducing themselves to herbal supplements.
  
  

Kidney Stones

• Individuals who wish to utilize herbal extracts as a preventative measure for overall kidney health or to guard against the development of kidney stones have a better variety of options. Goldenrod, cranberry and rose hips are natural herbs used in the prevention and treatment of kidney stones. Since these stones are largely collections of calcium deposits, it is believed that extracts from these herbs may help stop the development of stones by minimizing accumulation of calcium in the urinary tract. Lemon juice is also said to be effective in the treatment of kidney stones, but rather than serving as a barrier to their formation, it acts more as a pain reliever by helping to dissolve the stones as they are passed.
  
  In his book "Herbs for the Urinary Tract," Michael Moore suggests additional treatment options for those who have already developed kidney stones and seek herbal remedies to help them pass. Among those cited are burdock, horsetail, couchgrass, dandelion, chicory root, sheperd's purse, nettles and cleavers. According to the author, all of these should be consumed in liquid form, preferably as a tea.
  
  

Post Pass

• After kidney stones have left their painful mark and passed through the urine, herbal extracts from corn silk, marshmallow, sheperd's purse, yarrow and Canadian fleabane show positive tendency to soothe an irritated kidney and relieve any bleeding.
  
  

Overall

• Cat's claw has been utilized for most of recorded time as a tonic for kidney health. It grows in Central and South America where medicine men dating to the Incas believed in its healing properties. Researchers today study it as a possible treatment for many diseases, including cancer, arthritis, HIV and Alzheimer's disease. Studies indicate that cat's claw stimulates the immune system, an apparent positive for those with kidney problems, yet specialists worry that such stimulation could instead be damaging to those involved in kidney health issues. Appearing as a woody vine, the inner bark of cat's claw is used to make liquid extracts, teas and capsules.
  
  Native American and Arabic medical practitioners have also used dandelion throughout history as a treatment for spleen, liver and kidney disease. Often the entire plant, though more commonly the leaves and roots, are used either fresh or dried in extracts, capsules and teas. Some individuals are allergic to the plant and it will occasionally cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Dandelion is commonly referred to as lion's tooth or blowball.