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Naturopathic doctors have long believed in the importance of organ cleansing. It’s a process that dates back thousands of years, and it remains a favored tactic among naturopaths. Organ cleansing removes built-up toxins in the tissues, improves overall health, and reduces the wear and tear on your vital organs.

The concept is so well-established that naturopaths have a pattern of organ cleansing that they recommend to patients. During the winter, it’s kidney cleansing season. And your kidneys need the occasional cleansing because they’re the body’s filters.

Your kidneys are responsible for cleaning the blood of any waste, extra fluid, and other unnecessary substances. By maintaining this balance, your kidneys support your overall health and bodily function.

Chronic Kidney Disease: A Debilitating Medical Issue That Will Restrict Your Life

Like any filter, if they aren’t occasionally cleaned out, the results can be severe. In the case of your kidneys, toxin buildup can expose you to greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).

CKD is a debilitating, lifelong disorder that places major restrictions on the patient’s life. Patients with CKD experience a prolonged, gradual loss of kidney function that eventually leads to total organ failure. This is fatal if not addressed, and the only reliable means of addressing CKD is to receive regular dialysis.

While dialysis can keep the blood clean, even in the presence of CKD, it’s far from a panacea. That’s because dialysis imposes the kind of restrictions that make normal life difficult for most.

Dialysis can be handled at home in some cases, but most patients have it done at a specialized clinic. Typically, dialysis is required three times a week, and each appointment lasts nearly four hours. During dialysis, a tube is inserted into the patient’s arm, their blood is run through the tube into the dialysis machine, and then returned to the patient. It can be an uncomfortable process for people who have issues with needles or with anything being inserted into their skin.

And, of course, dedicating 10-12 hours every week to sitting in a clinic is extremely restrictive. Travel is nearly impossible, it’s extremely difficult to accommodate a work schedule, and your social life will probably suffer as well.

Preventing CKD is a worthy health-related goal.

What’s Behind Chronic Kidney Disease? Diet, Lifestyle and Genetic Factors

What risk factors are involved in CKD? There are plenty, including:

• A family history of kidney disease or reduced function
• Kidney abnormalities or deformities, like polycystic kidney disease
• Extended obstruction of the urinary tract
• Recurring kidney infections
• Age (advanced age, in particular)
• Obesity and diet-related factors
• Lifestyle factors, including smoking or alcohol use
• High blood pressure or cardiovascular issues
• Diabetes
• Certain demographics are at elevated risk, including Asian American, black and Native American people

Diet-related factors are becoming more of a problem for Americans and people subsisting on a western diet. Overconsumption of sugar, for instance, can stress the kidneys and leech important minerals, like calcium, out of your system.

The Signs and Symptoms of Emerging Kidney Disease

The effects of CKD are far-reaching and affect many of the body’s systems. These effects tend to set in over time and progress in severity as kidney function worsens. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Noticeably increased or decreased urination
• Muscle cramps
• Brain fog and trouble concentrating
• Feet and ankle swelling
• Cramping
• Chest pain and shortness of breath

If you’re suffering from any of the above, schedule an appointment with your Greensboro doctor and have your blood tested. Physicians can confirm the presence of CKD with a simple blood test.

How to Cleanse the Kidneys and Boost Their Health

Whether you’re experiencing kidney issues or not, there are options available to keep those issues from emerging or from worsening.

Annual kidney cleansing is one such preventative measure and is done with the use of herbal supplements. Several herbs have a noted positive effect on kidney function, and Greensboro naturopathic doctors can prescribe these herbs in the right combinations and dosages.

Some commonly prescribed herbs for kidney function include:

• Dandelion root
• Hydrangea
• Stinging nettle
• Marshmallow root
• Juniper
• Parsley
• Sambong
• Basil
• Garlic
• Goldenrod
• Ginger
• Burdock
• Turmeric
• Clover

And there are several more. Again, it’s recommended that you work with a Greensboro naturopath to determine which herbs, and in what dosages, would be the best option for you.

Your Kidneys Work Hard – So it’s Important to Keep Them Clean

Your kidneys do the dirty work in filtering out your blood. And with toxins, fluids, and other substances to remove, that’s a lot of dirty work.

Who cleans the filters, though? That’s up to you. Maintaining strong kidney health is foundational to the rest of your health, which is why many choose to take every winter to cleanse them.

You can do this with a variety of beneficial botanicals, including herbal mixtures that have been in use for thousands of years. Everything eventually goes back to nature, including what you need to clean out your kidneys.