Herbs to Help Water Retention

Water retention occurs when water is trapped between the cells of body tissue. Diuretic herbs help the body to excrete this fluid. Dr. David B. Young, professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Mississippi, says that water retention or edema occurs when blood pressure is too high in the veins and forces fluids out of the capillaries in the blood system and into the tissues, during pregnancy or during an allergic reaction.

Dandelion

• Naturopathic Dr. Michael DiPalma, director of natural medicine at the Village Newtown Medical Center, recommends dandelion leaves for reducing water retention. DiPalma says animal studies demonstrate that dandelion works as well as the medication Lasix and provides potassium that other diuretics often excrete.

  DiPalma recommends 2 to 4 cups of dandelion per day over other diuretics for premenstrual bloating. He says that teas and capsules work better than alcohol tinctures. He warns against the use of dandelion if you have gall bladder disease.

  Add 4 cups of boiling water to 2 tbsp. of dandelion leaves. Let the leaves soak five to seven minutes and then strain. Drink 1 cup of the infusion in the morning and allow the rest to cool before pouring into a glass bottle and storing in the refrigerator. You may add honey and lemon to the infusion to improve the taste.

Corn Silk

• The silk from the unpollinated cob is an effective diuretic.

  Corn silk is an effective diuretic according to the Applied Health website. It may help bladder complaints and cystitis. It may also reduce kidney stone formation according to the Ageless website. Harvest the corn silk prior to pollination and use it either fresh or dried.

  Steep 1/4 cup of fresh or dried corn silk in 2 quarts boiling water for five to seven minutes. Strain and drink or allow to cool and store.

Queen of the Meadow

• The root and leaves of Eupatorium Purpureum, also known as Joe Pye weed and queen of the meadow, make an effective diuretic according to the book "Today's Herbal Health." This herb is useful in treating water retention, chronic urinary problems, joint pains caused by uric acid, gout and cystitis and eliminating kidney and gallstones.

  Henrietta's Herbal website states this herb got its name because an Indian named Joe Pye used the herb to treat fevers in colonial New England. It increases both the liquid and solid constituents in urine through its action on the renal tract.

  Make queen of the meadow infusion by pouring 2 cups of boiling water on 2 tbsp. of queen of the meadow root and leaves and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and store the infusion. A standard dose of infusion is 1 to 2 oz. every four hours.