Diuretic

Increases urine flow

Increases urine flow to clear excess fluid and support the kidneys and urinary tract. Used for fluid retention and urinary complaints; keep fluids up, and take care alongside prescription diuretics or in kidney disease.

How it works

Diuretic is not one mechanism but several overlapping ones. Each of these is its own herbal action — follow a link for the herbs strongest in that mechanism.

Urinary Antiseptic Disinfects the urinary tract. Urinary Demulcent Soothes irritated urinary-tract lining. Urinary Antispasmodic Relieves spasm in the urinary tract. Antilithic Helps prevent or dissolve urinary stones and gravel. Nephroprotective Protects the kidneys from damage.

Key constituents

The compound classes most often behind a diuretic action.

Flavonoids
Volatile oils
Saponins
Potassium salts

Indications

What typically calls for a diuretic herb.

Fluid retention and puffiness
Urinary-tract complaints
Support for the kidneys and bladder
Raised blood pressure with fluid overload
Gout and uric-acid build-up

⚠ Cautions

Keep fluids up, and take care alongside prescription diuretics or in kidney disease — monitor electrolytes with prolonged use.

Energetics

Taste: Bland, sweet or slightly salty
Temperature: Cooling
Tradition: Clears damp and heat by way of the water pathways.

Diuretic Depuratives

Substances that enhance the excretion of metabolic waste from the kidneys.

Aqueretics

Substances that act on the glomerulus to increase water exretion from the body. Aqueretics do not affect electrolytes.

Aqueretics are used to treat obesity, hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney stones, and PMS.

Indications:

Using Diuretics Long Term:

Long term treatment with non-irritating diuretics is acceptable.

Taraxacum officinalis folia
Agropyron repens
Zea mays
Apium graveolens
Eupatorium purpureum (Gravel root)
Juniperus communis
Eryngium maritimum (sea holly)
Aphanes arvensis (parsley piert)
Daucus carota (wild carrot)
Parietaria diffusa (pellitory)
Apium graveolens (celery)

Herbs with a diuretic action (40)

Key herbs

Herbs for which diuretic is a headline action.

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Urinary AntisepticAstringentAnti-inflammatoryDiuretic

Buchu

Agathosma betulina

Urinary AntisepticDiuretic

Chanca Piedra

Phyllanthus niruri

DiureticHepaticAntiviralAntioxidant

Cleavers

Galium aparine

LymphaticDiureticAlterativeAstringent

Couchgrass

Elytrigia repens

AntimicrobialDemulcentDiureticUrinary Demulcent

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

BitterCholagogueCholereticDiuretic

Goldenrod

Solidago virgaurea

DiureticAnti-inflammatoryAstringentAntimicrobial

Horsetail

Equisetum arvense

DiureticUrinary AntisepticUrinary AntispasmodicAstringent

Refine ›

Abuta

Cissampelos pareira

AnalgesicAnti-AbortiveAntifertilityAntibacterial

Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna

AdaptogenDiureticAntihypertensive

Astragalus

Astragalus membranaceus

AdaptogenAntioxidantAntiviralCardiotonic

Bay Bean

Canavalia rosea

Anti-inflammatoryAntimicrobialDiureticVulnerary

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Urinary AntisepticAstringentAnti-inflammatoryDiuretic

Buchu

Agathosma betulina

Urinary AntisepticDiuretic

Bupleurum

Bupleurum falcatum

Anti-inflammatoryBitterHepatoprotectiveNephroprotective

Burdock

Arctium lappa

AlterativeBitterDiureticLymphatic

Camu-camu

Myrciaria dubia

NutritiveAntioxidantDiureticMucolytic

Chanca Piedra

Phyllanthus niruri

DiureticHepaticAntiviralAntioxidant

Cleavers

Galium aparine

LymphaticDiureticAlterativeAstringent

Coffee

Coffea arabica

AntioxidantBronchodilatorCardiotonicDiuretic

Couchgrass

Elytrigia repens

AntimicrobialDemulcentDiureticUrinary Demulcent

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

BitterCholagogueCholereticDiuretic

Epazote

Dysphania ambrosioides

AntiamoebicAntibacterialAnticancerAntiparasitic

Ephedra

Ephedra sinica

StimulantBronchodilatorDiaphoreticDecongestant

Erva Tostao

Boerhavia diffusa

DiureticHepaticAnti-inflammatoryAntispasmodic

Fish Mint

Houttuynia cordata

AntiviralDiureticAntibacterialAntianaphylactic

Globe Artichoke

Cynara scolymus

AntioxidantBitterCholereticCholagogue

Goat's Rue

Galega officinalis

GalactagogueAntidiabeticHypolipidemicDiuretic

Goldenrod

Solidago virgaurea

DiureticAnti-inflammatoryAstringentAntimicrobial

Graviola

Annona muricata

AnticancerAnti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAntispasmodic

Greater Celandine

Chelidonium majus

DiureticAnalgesicAntispasmodicAlterative

Gymnema

Gymnema sylvestre

AntidiabeticHypolipidemicDiureticAntipyretic

Hawthorn

Crataegus oxyacantha

CardiotonicDiureticAstringentAntihypertensive

Horsetail

Equisetum arvense

DiureticUrinary AntisepticUrinary AntispasmodicAstringent

Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

DiureticAntilithicAnti-inflammatoryAntispasmodic

Iris

Iris versicolor

BitterAlterativeAnti-inflammatoryAstringent

Juniper

Juniperus communis

Urinary AntisepticDiureticAlterativeAntirheumatic

Kava

Piper methysticum

AnxiolyticSedativeNervineAnalgesic

Manuka

Leptospermum scoparium

Anti-inflammatoryAntibacterialAntifungalAntispasmodic

Marshmallow

Althaea officinalis

DemulcentEmollientDiureticExpectorant

Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

HepatoprotectiveAntioxidantCholereticCholagogue

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

AnalgesicAntibacterialAntifungalAntidepressant

Rhubarb

Rheum palmatum

BitterCholagogueAntimicrobialAnticancer

Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

HypoglycemicAntihypertensiveAnti-inflammatoryVasodilator

Stinging Nettle

Urtica dioica

AlterativeAnti-inflammatoryAntilithicAntimicrobial

Tea

Camellia sinensis

AntioxidantDiureticNeuroprotectiveStimulant

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantCholereticCholagogue

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

BitterAntioxidantEmmenagogueDiaphoretic