The kidneys are two very important organs, and their efficient functioning is paramount to your overall health and wellbeing.
One of the major filters of the body, the kidneys help to filter the blood and prevent accumulation of waste products in the system. Besides this, they also contribute to maintaining a stable balance of essential electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and phosphate, help to keep the blood pressure regulated and assist in the production of red blood cells.
In Chinese medicine, the kidneys are also a crucial organ and are seen as an interrelated set of functions rather than an individual organ. Therefore, the Chinese medical system associates them with various other functions.
Here are three home remedies that you can do to help nourish and protect your kidneys.
Parsley Tea
As the kidneys are a filter, it is important to keep them nourished and flushed through. Drinking parsley tea is a good tonic for the kidneys and can assist in helping them to eliminate any build up of debris and also contributes to limiting salt from being reabsorbed back into body tissues.
How to make:
Take a handful of dark, green curly parsley. Dice well and add to a cup or mug, which should render about one-third to half full. Add hot (not boiling) water, cover and allow to steep for five minutes. Strain and drink.
Parsley tea is great to help nourish the kidneys, but it also acts as a diuretic, so you may not want to do this every day. Three to four times a week can be a good practice.
Adzuki Beans
These little red beans are packed with goodness and highly nutritious. They contain protein, iron, phosphorus, calcium and B vitamins.
Adzuki beans are warming for the body and therefore, help to tonify the yang of the kidneys.
How to cook:
Submerge the raw beans in water and leave them to soak for four hours. Place into a saucepan, bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for around forty minutes.
After cooking, drink around a 50ml measure of the stock, which is a good tonic for the kidneys. As for the rest of the beans, they have a mild taste and can go with a wide variety of foods. You can add them to soups, salads or pasta for example.
If you would also like to make adzuki bean tea, here is a simple recipe.
Barley Water
Drinking barley water regularly is good for helping with urinary tract infections and is also recommended for people trying to flush kidney stones.
Barley is high in magnesium, which may also help to prevent the kidney stones from building up so it can be a good preventative measure.
How to make:
Cover the bottom of a saucepan with either pearl or pot barley, add water, bring to the boil and simmer for two minutes. Strain and then transfer the barley to a jug. Add fresh boiling water and lemon. Cover and allow to steep for around fifteen minutes. Sip throughout the day.
