AVOID Alfalfa sprouts are the one sprout I never eat. It produces something in the sprouting that is difficult on the kidneys. Alfalfa sprouts contain l-canavanine, an unusual amino acid that has been known to result in some toxicity and joint stiffness in humans. These sprouts are to be avoided.

Try broccoli sprouts, bean sprouts, or radish sprouts for an added zip to salads.

BENEFICIAL The ancients considered artichokes to have many benefits. Artichokes, including leaves, were thought to be an aphrodisiac, a diuretic, a breath freshener and even a deodorant. Decoctions of artichoke leaves have been used as blood cleansers, cholerics, to improve bile production and secretion and to detoxify the liver and the skin.

The globe artichoke is a member of the Composite family, closely related to the thistle. The part we eat is from the immature flower bud. Artichokes are nutrient dense, so, for the 25 calories in a medium artichoke, you're getting 16 essential nutrients! Artichokes provide the important minerals magnesium, chromium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, iron and calcium. For example, that 25 calorie artichoke provides 6% of the Recommended Daily Value of phosphorus, 10% of magnesium, 8% of manganese, 10% of chromium, 5% of potassium, 4% of iron and 2% of calcium and iron. Artichoke leaf extracts have demonstrated great benefits on the gallbladder with the ability to stimulate the secretion of bile in the liver, to detoxify the liver which in turn helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. In addition other compounds in the leaves have been shown to possess a hypoglycemic effect.In the 1970s, European scientists first documented cynarin's ability to lower cholesterol in humans. Over the years, other researchers have continued to document artichoke's or cynarin's effect in this area. One of the more recent studies, published in 2000, was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study that used an artichoke leaf extract that was standardized to its cynarin content. For six weeks, 143 patients with high cholesterol were given the extract; at the end of the test, results showed a decrease of 10%-15% in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and ratio of LDL to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Scientists now report that the cholesterol-lowering effect of artichoke can be attributed to chemicals other than just cynarin, including several newly discovered ones.
The liver detoxifying and protective properties of artichoke first came to the attention of researchers in 1966 (in a study that supported its effect on liver regeneration in rats). A 1987 study that focused on the effects of rat liver cells subjected to harmful chemical agents found both cynarin to have significant protective effects.

Current research is showing benefits to the liver from cynarin, a compound found in the artichoke's leaves. Silymarin is another compound found in artichokes that has powerful antioxidant properties and may help the liver regenerate healthy tissue. The appearance of the artichoke flower is similar to milk thistle flower. Both herbs contain high amounts of silymarin, a potent liver healing herb. It may potentiate cholesterol lowering drugs.

During asparagus season, I often notice that my urinary pH registers acid, a pH of 5.5.. The reason for this is that asparagus is such a potent alkalizer, eliminating much of the old residual acids, that is the one time I experience acidic pH joyfully because I know it is riding my body of stored acids and converting them to a cleansed alkaline. This will happen even if I take special care to drink extra fluid. A few drops of nettle extract in a cup of hot water will hasten this process converting my urinary pH to alkaline. With the first new growth of spring. I often pluck off a piece of asparagus eating it raw straight from the garden.- deliciously sweet.

The formation of uric acid crystals are linked to the kidneys. A safe kidney flush and spleen booster is to have a bowl of fresh asparagus. Because of the ability of asparagus to provide this flush effect, for many years asparagus was believed to be acid producing. It is now known that this seemingly production of acids is caused from the cleansing properties and that asparagus has indeed a super beneficial alkaline effect.

In Germany when white asparagus is in season it is the star offering on restaurant menus all of the country. Ordering an entire meal of tasty white asparagus, diners happily eat a pound or more at one sitting. An added plus is that asparagus lowers uric acid, known to be high in Polycystic Kidney Disease. Nettles also lowers uric acid.

Black Cohosh is another alternative herbal treatment called remifemin. Effexor is a better alternative. December 18, 2006 Study SEATTLE -- Black cohosh alone or with other botanical therapies was no better than placebo at relieving hot flashes or other vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, found the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT) trial. It has been used for hot flashes in breast cancer patients with estrogen binding tumors. The cancers did not grow and this relieved a small percentage of hot flashes. Black cohosh contains salicylic (a component of aspirin) and it appears to act as a phytoestrogen. (Others have noticed with soy a potent phytoestrogen, an increase in growth of liver cysts). Black Cohosh suppress luteinizing hormone surges associated with hot flashes in menopausal woman. It is specific for headaches in the late luteal phase associated with low estrogen levels. It has been shown in the animal model that it prevents bone loss. With a lessening of hormone replacement therapy there has been a 7% decline in breast cancer.

CAUTION UNKNOWN IF BENEFICIAL
I am avoiding black cohosh as it might cause both kidney and liver cysts to grow. I just do not know. A better drug for hot flashes might effexor.

BENEFICIAL The major American use for bilberry fruit is to treat ocular disorders; it is used to aid night vision, prevent the development and progression of cataracts, treat diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and prevent glaucoma. European herbalists also rely on bilberry to treat mild diarrhea and mild oral irritation. Its constituents include tannins, anthocyanosides and flavonoids.

It also enjoys a long medical history. Hildegard of Bingen, the famous Fifteenth Century nun, musician and herbalist, recommended bilberry to induce menses. It has been used historically as a treatment for fevers, coughs, renal stones and urinary tract infections intestinal and liver disorders, hemorrhoids, and infections of the skin and mucus membranes. It was also used to treat a variety of eye disorders including myopia, eyestrain, impaired night vision and cataracts. It is akin to the blueberry, one of the fruits highest in anti-oxidant properties.

Common names: Bilberry, blaeberry, heidelberry, huckleberry, hurtleberry, whortleberry.

BENEFICIAL Broccoli is another super food. It is really beneficial for the treatment of kidney disease. This could come from the fact it is very high in vitamin K. Individuals who consume Vitamin K vegetables have a lower incidence of difficulties with calcification of their vessels as kidney functioning begins to decline.

Broccoli sprouts, contain DIM (Diindolymethane). Dim is an indole phytochemical that is a natural metabolic of compounds found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage. Broccoli sprouts, part of the cruciferous family of vegetables, is rich in sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Broccoli extract naturally contains high amounts of indoles, which are known for their ability to deactivate certain types of estrogen that are linked to cancer. Not surprisingly, people who eat a fair amount of vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale and cauliflower tend to have less cancer than those who don't consume cruciferous vegetables. Researchers have conducted many studies that indicate a strong BENEFICIAL connection between the indoles and cancer. These are rich sources of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which the body converts into 3,3'-diindolylmethane DIM during digestion.

It was found that androgen-dependent cancer cells (such as prostate cancer cells) treated with a solution of DIM grew 70 percent less than untreated cells. However, androgen-independent cells were not affected by the DIM solution. Similar studies were verified the same results with breast cancer cells that were estrogen dependent.

Liver cysts have estrogen receptors. For this reason, daily I eat broccoli, cabbage, or kale. DIM contained in broccoli sprouts are said to increase the metabolism of estrogen through the liver.

CAUTION Do not take if you are taking immunosuppressive medications. Before starting DIMs, I had my thyroid functioning checked. If you have a thyroid condition inform your doctor and ask if you can eat the cruciform family of vegetables.

BENEFICIAL I avoid the whole fruit and drink the juice.The latest news about blueberries, a powerful antioxidant and a food with anti-aging properties, was presented at the American Chemical Society meetings. It was reported that a compound found in blueberries called pterostilbene has the potential to be developed into a nutraceutical for lowering cholesterol, particularly for those who do not respond well to conventional drugs. (8/24/04). Study authors from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service indicate that the compound found in Vaccinium berries could be a potent weapon in the battle against obesity and heart disease through its cholesterol-reducing potential. Some blueberry research.

Blueberry it is a super food and New Jersey's official state fruit. A blueberry enriched antioxidant diet prevented the increase of NF-kappaB (a protein linked to brain ageing). Blueberries have been linked with slowing ageing and improving cognition. Its natural blue color signals a concentration of anthocyanins, a substance that my help prevent heart disease (cranberries have anthocyanins, too, but blueberries boast more.)

Canadian scientists from the Institute of aboriginal peoples' health plan have announced a major project to look to traditional Cree Native Indian medicines, such as blueberries, that fight diabetes, a major health problem among indigenous peoples.

.

BENEFICIAL The proteolytic enzyme bromelain (from pineapple) appears to be effective for people with a UTI, urinary tract infection. In a double-blind study, 28 individuals with a UTI received antibiotics plus either bromelain (400 mg per day for two days) or a placebo. Signs of infection resolved in all of those who received bromelain, compared with only 46% of those given placebo. Bromelain has been reported to increase the absorption of amoxicillin, an antibiotic.

Most enzymes are absorbed poorly, the proteolytic enzymes of pineapple are useful for relieving symptoms of malabsorption. Most doctors are more familiar with pancreatin as being a strong proteolytic digestive aid. It has been found to be helpful with the pain of muscle and sports injuries. I found pineapple juice great when I slipped in the ice and fell on my back. Bromelain found in pineapple, is a natural blood thinner by preventing platelets from sticking together. If you are currently on any blood thinners ask your doctor about the combined effect of eating pineapple.

Probably due to its anti-inflammatory properties it has been used to treat the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis.

I was present when a daily dose of pineapple juice dissolved a bezoar. A bezoar is an indigestible ball of material that is retained in the stomach. At that time, in 1977, surgeons usually operated on such a case. This innovative surgeon wanted to try putting the patient on pineapple juice. A week later the bezoar was gone, documented with imaging studying, without surgery.

I have sampled white pineapple. This is picked fully ripe and is much sweeter and less acidic than the golden variety. I love its overtones of vanilla with its sweetness that does not have much tart. Pineapple is high in Vitamin C, loaded with manganese, anti-inflammatory bromelain, aids digestion, reduces blood clotting, removes plaque, helps digest proteins, is easy to grow and had its origins in Paraguay.

BENEFICIAL (Roasted buckwheat tea or soba cha). lowers blood pressure and helps regulate blood sugar. Buckwheat chapattis are prescribed in India to help control diabetes.

Buckwheat: removes toxins, reduces uterine problems, aids hypertension. Soba (buckwheat) tea contains rutin which is believed to help in lowering blood pressure. Extracts of buckwheat seed lowered blood glucose levels by up to 19% when it was fed to diabetic rats at the University of Manitoba in Canada. Buckwheat is related to rhubarb. Rhubarb has been known to be useful for helping kidneys. It is a tall grass and the seeds are what are roasted. It is not really a grain. Buckwheat does not contain gluten. Individuals with celiac disease can eat it. For this reason, many use buckwheat as the preferred grain for weight loss.
Buckwheat chapattis are traditionally used in India to correct diabetes. Buckwheat crepes are made in the Latin Quarter of Paris, the South of France, and in parts of Canada and they taste delicious. Buckwheat noodles or soba noodles are a wonderful Asian noontime entree. Kasha is a puffed buckwheat cereal.

Just an aside. In the USA I watched a television program as a child called Davy Crocket. This man had a raccoon tail hat and as children we used to sing along to the numerous songs from his televised show. One was called it is your buckwheat cakes and bacon. It was about the love this man felt for the cook at the local eatery who made delicious buckwheat pancakes and it was this that captured his heart.
Buckwheat is alkaline producing, along with millet, sprouted grains, amaranth, quinoa, brown rice, wild rice and spelt. Arrowroot is an alkaline thickening agent. Alkaline bread are Essene bread, manna bread, sprouted grains breads and now buckwheat crepes, noodles, and more. For those who want capsules. here is a product called Argenix

AVOID Chaparral tea is a traditional Native American treatment for cramping pains, joint pains, and allergic problems. Modern research has revealed that Chaparral contains nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) has potent anti-inflammatory activity. This maybe the ingredient which is toxic to kidneys.

J Urol. 1994 Dec: 152(6pt 1):2089-91 . . .acquired renal cystic disease associated with consumption of chaparral tea: a case report.

Chaparral also contains antioxidant flavonoids and has demonstrated anti-amoeba activity in test tubes.

The desert chaparral bush has the Latin name Larrea tridentata or Larrea diver-icata and is also know as the greasewood or creosote bush.

CAUTION Reduces platelet clumping, opens up blood vessels, stimulates blood circulation and warms the body. Eating chilies increases thermogenesis, the body's caloric burn rate. If you eat chilies with your meal, your body will burn calories at an increased rate of about 25 percent.

Capsaicin prevents carcinogens from binding to DNA where they trigger the second hit phenomena which occurs with PKD. This second hit starts cells mutating which triggers cysts to form.

It provides relief of pain especially painful cluster headaches. It opens clogged sinuses. It also stimulates gastric secretions. Defends your body against food-borne bacteria. Vibrio vulnificus bacteria sometimes found in raw shellfish is inhibited by capsaicin. An externally applied cream first produced in Germany (I had the pleasure of meeting the dermatologist who thought to try this) has been used to help with the pain of shingles. By ingesting hot chilies or rubbing the skin with a cream, this causes an outpouring of calcium which numbs the pain receptors in a localized area. At first it really burns. Christopher Columbus noticed hot peppers (chiles) almost immediately after he struck land on this side of the Atlantic. He soon sent a cargo back to Spain, suggesting that they might be a good substitute for black pepper, one of the precious spices that had caused merchant explorers to take to the sea in the first place.

Capsicum cream has been used to treat painful post herpetic neuralgia of herpes zoster. I met the dermatologist in Europe who had first tried this as a treatment. He explained that it is much like eating a hot dish, the more frequently you eat a hot spicy dish, eventually you need more and more chili to add some fire to the meal. Eventually the nerve endings become exhausted and the cream allows some relief from the painful episodes.

AVOID There maybe something in chilies that is not of benefit to the kidneys. It is a member of the nightshade family it contains high amounts of solanine which interferes with calcium absorption. From time to time, I indulge in a hot chili or two to spice up guacamole. I sometimes experience kidney and liver ache following this.

If you have liver cysts, it is a vegetable high in estrogens, as are all the nightshade family of vegetables.

To read more about harm to PKD from coffee/ caffeine
click here

AVOID coffee with cysts, especially with liver cysts. This stimulates cAmp which in turn stimulates cyst growth.The Coffee shrub was introduced into Arabia early in the fifteenth century from Abyssinia, and for two centuries Arabia supplied the world's Coffee; at the end of the seventeenth century the Dutch introduced the plant into Batavia, and from there a plant was presented to Louis XIV in 1714. All the Coffee now imported from Brazil has been imported from that single plant. The European use of Coffee dates from the sixteenth century when it was introduced into Constantinople, and a century later in 1652 the first Coffee shop was opened in London. In 1858 the quantity imported into the United Kingdom was over sixty million pounds. In Turkey the consumption is enormous, and so necessary is it considered that the refusal to supply a reasonable amount to a Turk's wife is considered a legal cause for divorce..AVOID HARMFUL TO ALL CYSTS. To read more about coffee, click here.

Coffee
(Coffea arabica)

Symphytum officinale (common comfrey) a member of the Borage family (Boraginaceae).

This herb is known to block the blood supply to the liver. AVOID with liver cysts. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which have hepatotoxic and carcinogenic effects (may be toxic to the liver and cause cancer when taken internally. The topical application of comfrey-containing preparations to broken skin should be avoided.

Comfrey should not be taken during pregnancy or lactation.This is to be used externally only. If ingested it .AVOID CAN BE HARMFUL TO LIVER CYSTS.

Chamomile

BENEFICIAL Chamomile great for stress, irritability, flagging appetite, reliving nausea and upset stomachs. It is also said to be very good for premenstrual tension. One of the reasons chamomile induces sleep and relaxation is because it is high in calcium. I take my calcium supplements at night to enhance my sleep. A favorite evening beverage is a cup of chamomile tea with tupelo honey. I really enjoy drinking chamomile tea. My body goes ahh ahh with each sip. I bring some along when I travel for those social moments when others might want a cup of coffee, I ask for hot water and drink my chamomile tea. My favorite at the moment is Mighty Leaf (tea brand) Chamomile Citrus. It comes packaged in these cute little silk bags that form pyramids.

Clinical studies have shown that chamomile has mild sedative effects when administered as a tea. Animal studies have shown that Chamomile volatile oil when administered orally to rabbits with impaired kidney function, normalized the uremic condition. This shows that chamomile may be useful in the treatment of impaired kidney functions. The flavonoid apigenin had shown antihistaminic effects in animal studies.
Immune Stimulant: Chamomile stimulates the immune system's infection fighting white blood cells (macrophages and B-lymphocytes).

It is a very popular herbal product in Germany for wound care. The essential oil was found to reduce the time required to heal burns. The herb kills the yeast fungi that causes vaginal infections, as well as certain bacteria. Chamomile impairs the replication of polio virus.

Clover

AVOID This is to be avoided with liver cysts. In the 1940's, the sheep farmers of Perth in western Australia began to experience an epidemic of still births despite three seasons of exceptionally good weather. The handsome merino sheep looked healthy. However, the ewe's failed to go into labor; the lambs died in still birth and often the mothers as well. In a matter of 5 years, the ewes failed to conceive at all even after repeated breeding with fertile rams.
Federal and agricultural specialists found the problem. Clover. Fifteen years earlier, ranchers had imported a clover from the Mediterranean region in Europe. The first scientific paper on this phenomenon appeared in the Australian Veterinary Journal in 1946 and proclaimed this as "clover disease". Three years later three chemicals were identified as suspects. Finally, formononetin only one of the chemicals was determined to be the culprit. Formononetin mimics estrogen.

Cranberry

(Vaccinium macrocarpon)

BENEFICIAL Avoid the whole fruit. The juice from cranberries, loganberries,lingonberries, huckleberries, blueberries are beneficial. Two (2) ounces of pure cranberry juice diluted with one ounce of mineral water is a very effective kidney herb. Avoid cranberry cocktail which contains sugar. If raw fresh cranberries are not available, frozen is a good substitute to juice. Northland brand cranberry juice 100% juice contains 17% cranberry juice. If you enjoy eating animal proteins, drink cranberry juice to convert the ammonia buffer to ammonium. This will also lessen possible resultant urinary tract infections.

A few other plants claim the name "cranberry", including Vaccinium vitis-idaea, known to American botanists as Lingonberry, or mountain cranberry, but to the Swedes, it is cranberry. Cramp-bark, as it is most commonly known in the American market, Viburnum opulus, is sometimes listed as "highbush cranberry", but it is a "cranberry" in name only.

CAUTION Some surgeons have noticed complications when taking this herb near the time of surgery. I noticed no effects from taking it. It neither helped me ward off colds or flu nor did it create any ill feeling. It is said to heighten the immune response, caution if you have had a transplant.

BENEFICIAL very rich in potassium. This means that the status quo of potassium in the body remains balanced which cannot be said of many diuretics. This balanced effect means that although the kidneys are powerfully stimulated there is no exhaustion or depletion involved. This will help to maintain water balance without over-straining and tiring the kidneys (and by maintaining potassium levels). The herbs enable the body to release excessively stored water, encouraging a feeling of well being. Dandelion root helpful for the liver. The leaves are eaten in Virginia lightly sauteed. They are known as mountain greens or forest greens.

The brightly colored flowers are bitter when steeped into a tea, but said to be the best antidote for anger, especially if there is an autoimmune mechanism with a disease.

CAUTION If you are at the stage where you must restrict potassium.

AVOID Often called female ginseng. Six different coumadin compounds have been identified in Dong Quai. Coumadin is a potent blood thinner. For this reason I would AVOID

One study done in Northern California showed there to be no effect in preventing or helping hot flashes. The essential oil in dong quai contains Ligustilide. This is an anti-spasmodic.

Ephedra
(Ma Huang)

AVOID raises blood pressure.

Elderberry

. . .

BENEFICIAL This is wonderful herb for the cold and flu season. First sign of a sniffle I start my husband on elderberry syrup called Sambu©, giving him a tablespoon three times a day. It knocks it out fast. This is alkaline producing. It maybe wise to stop this two weeks before any surgery as it is high in vitamin C and high doses of vitamin C can cause bleeding tendencies. Elderberry was researched by an Israeli herbalist and found to be the one herb that actually exerts an anti-viral influence.

CAUTION PUT ASIDE FOR TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO ANY SURGERY AS THIS MAY AFFECT BLEEDING TIMES. Lowers blood pressure

Garlic while wonderful to assist in lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, it maybe best to stop this two weeks before surgery due to its blood thinning qualities.

I have some garlic daily on spelt non-yeasted toast with almond or sesame butter, known as tahini.

If you are prone to gastritis or stomach ulcers raw garlic maybe too harsh for you. Place an entire head of garlic in the oven. Rub extra virgin olive oil over it; slice the top but do not skin it. Allow the garlic to slow roast in the oven, when prepared this way, garlic bakes into a wonderful sweet nutty flavored spread.

CAUTION raises blood pressure.

GINGER MAY ELEVATE BLOOD PRESSURE & INCREASE ACID STOMACH

Though ginger is recommended for motion sickness, a few susceptible individuals have noticed it increases stomach acids.

I have ginger tea each morning. It is great for keeping the blood thin and circulating; important for some of us with huge organs pressing against vessels. This prevent clots from forming within vessels troubled with a sluggish blood flow. Ginger is to be stopped two weeks before any expected surgery because it does thin the blood.

Raw ginger maybe too harsh if you are prone to stomach ulcers. Sauté´ ginger or braise it in soups or together with a few vegetables. It lends itself nicely to this.

AVOID Ginkgo biloba is contraindicated in patients who are known risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage. It has been reported to cause intracranial hemorrhage. Ginkgo will increase bleeding time so be wary since the anticoagulant heparin is given during dialysis. Ginkgo is a PAF antagonist which by its action decreases blood flow to the kidneys. A decreased blood flow to the kidneys is what causes renin to be released in Polycystic Kidneys. Renin causes the blood pressure to rise.

AVOID raises blood pressure can decrease the blood flow to the kidneys.

CAUTION interferes with immunosuppresive drugs and blood pressure medications. Freshly squeezed helps diminish swelling of legs during travel. One grapefruit a day lowers LDL cholesterol. For more information on grapefruit click here.

Useful for lowering LDL cholesterol, diminishing varicose veins, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), lowering high blood pressure. A recent study shows that a particular polyphenol in red grape skins, resveratrol, inhibits platelet aggregation and is the component responsible for red wine's health benefits. Resveratrol is found in the skin of grapes. To read more about grape seed extract, click here. For more information on grape seed extract click here.
Grape Seed extract and Hypertension
Cardiovascular researchers at UC Davis, School of Medicine, completed the first human clinical trial to study the benefits of grape seed extract on patients with high blood pressure. The one month study was done on 24 male and female patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of factors that add up to high risk for heart disease, including elevated blood pressure, excess abdominal body weight, high blood cholesterol fats, and high blood sugar. The patients were divided into three groups of eight. The first group received a placebo while the second and third groups received 150 mgs and 300 mgs, respectively, of a grape seed extract developed and made by Polyphenolics, a division of Constellation Wine US. All participants' blood pressure was automatically measured and recorded for 12 hours after grape see extract ingestion. Participants in the two groups receiving grape seed extract experienced an average drop in systolic pressure or 12 mm and diastolic pressure 8 mm compared to placebo. To read more of the complete article, click here.

AVOID raises blood pressure. According to the PDR for herbal medicines (something like the PDR for prescription medicines) hawthorne can cause blood pressure to go up especially if used in combination with beta blockers. (Murray & Pizzorno 1996).
It has been noted in animal studies with a guinea pig's heart to increase cardiac output. (Muller 1999).

There was a short term study (8 weeks) where it improved cardiac output with coronary insufficiency of 30 test subjects. (Leuchtgens 1993) There are a multitude of interactions with hawthorne and other medications especially those taken for the heart, heart disease and blood pressure.
I have experienced that by taking hawthorne in Celestial Seasonings Caffeine Free Tea - blood pressure spikes. About once every two weeks my pressure would spike up to 140/90 from its usual of 115/80. Since I stopped both teas : Celestial Seasonings Caffeine Free Tea and Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile - no more spikes in blood pressure. Celestial seasonings web site, check out the ingredients of their teas. Many contain licorice and hawthorne. AVOID

(Aesculus hippocastanum)

as a cream it is said to be useful for lessening spider veins. I tried it for matted telangectasias. It did not do anything to diminish these. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) Studies done in Europe found that horse chestnut helped to increase blood flow up and out of the legs, strengthen connective tissue, tighten up veins, decrease redness and swelling, and relieve painful leg conditions caused by poor circulation. One of its compounds, Aescin, has been found to close the small pores in the walls of the veins, making them less permeable. This strengthens the vein walls and reduces leakage of fluid into the surrounding tissues. Take horse chestnut capsules containing 50-300 mg of aescin 2-3 times a day, or 1-5 drops of horse chestnut tincture three times a day. Improvement should be within six weeks. Avoid horse chestnut if you have liver or kidney disease or if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Unlike diuretics, horse chestnut is unlikely to cause potassium deficiency or raise blood pressure. AVOID

AVOID may be harmful to liver when taken internally

Huang Guay

AVOID raises blood pressure.

AVOID Kava kava is toxic to the liver. Two (2) cases of hepatitis with elevated liver enzymes have been reported.

The enzymes normalized after stopping the herb; kava interferes with blood clotting. This maybe a problem with those on dialysis. It can cause an increase in bleeding time. Contraindicated in individuals with depression ; it increases the risk of suicide. Contraindicated during pregnancy and in nursing mothers.

Kola Nut

AVOID raises blood pressure. Contains caffeine which increases cyclic AMP which causes kidney cysts to increase.

AVOID raises blood pressure. Licorice gives wild fluctuations to blood pressure and raises blood pressure causing spikes. Licorice root can be chewed to aide in stopping cigarette smoking. Consumption of licorice is believed to aid in healing stomach ulcers. Tea made from licorice and other anti-spasmodic herbs is often taken for menstrual cramps.

AVOID Excessive amounts may raise blood pressure and cause fluid retention. Should be avoided during pregnancy and by anyone with high blood pressure, heart or kidney ailments. Many Celestial Seasonings herbal teas contain licorice. It wasn't until a friend pointed this out, that I discovered the reason for blood pressure spikes.

AVOID It contains large amounts of calcium and potassium, as well as iron, silica, and many trace minerals. For this reason it is used in Peru and elsewhere to treat and to prevent osteoporosis.

It maybe useful for hot flashes. I have not experienced these so I am not sure about this.

Maca is said to be the herbal equivalent of viagra, increasing libido in both men and women. It is said to balance hormones. It is alkaline producing and useful for individuals taking a raw food diet.

I no longer use MaCafe, a caffeine free coffee substitute. I have read on the internet that CAUTION is to be taken if one has liver disease.This contains estrogen like substances which may trigger liver cyst growth.

AVOID This was one of the famous Chinese herbs which can lead to bladder cancer. It is not the herb itself. It is when a substitution is made from this herb to an Arstolochia type herb and then the person takes Aristolochia along with a vasoconstrictor such as Fenformin. Aristolochia when combined with vasoconstrictive agents (such as Fenformin) causes a rapid, progressive tubulointerstitial atrophic nephritis and urothelial cancer. Bladder cancer can develop following an acute drop in kidney function. It has been recommended that if there is any chance of this being the source of a rapid sudden onset of declining in kidney functioning that it would be prudent for the surgeon to removed and replace the ureters as well to prevent the formation of a cancer in the new transplanted kidney.From Nephrology meetings April 2001 Dr. Marc E. De Broe, MD, Ph.D

BENEFICIAL I use organic milk thistle plus (milk thistle, turmeric, and artichoke). I take one tablet 3 times a day. I have found milk thistle to be of great benefit for my liver cysts. It seems to relieve pain and decrease my girth and eases any aches surrounding the liver area. Researchers studied the effects of St. John's wort, ginger, echinacea, green tea and milk thistle on the white blood cells and nerve cells of mice. Milk thistle was the only herb that boosted both the immune and nervous systems, helping nerve cells produce more neurites and keeping cells alive longer.

Milk thistle (Sylmarin) has been used since Greco-Roman times as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver problems. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries physicians in the United States used milk thistle seeds to relieve congestion of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Today, several scientific studies suggest that active substances in milk thistle (particularly sylmarin) protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins, alcohol, and certain drugs such as acetaminophen (a common over the counter medication used for headaches and pain; acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or by people who drink alcohol regularly.)
A comprehensive review by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently identified 16 scientific studies on the use of milk thistle for the treatment of various forms of liver disease. A European standardized extract of milk thistle was used in most of the trials.
CANCER
Preliminary laboratory studies also suggest that active substances in milk thistle may have anti-cancer effects. One active substance known as Sylmarin has strong antioxidant properties and has been shown to inhibit the growth of human prostate, breast, and cervical cancer cells in test tubes. More testing is needed. Milk Thistle is a liver healing herb. There are no known drug interactions. Further research is needed to see if it potentiates aspirin intake and if milk thistle has anti-cancer effects.

Milk thistle most impressed the medical world when G. Vogel, M.D., used it to save lives in the 1970s. A leading milk thistle researcher, Dr. Vogel brought to his clinic 60 people suffering from severe mushroom poisoning. He gave them a compound called Sylmarin that was extracted from milk thistle and found that "results ranged from amazing to spectacular," even though most of the people were not treated until a full day after eating the bad mushrooms.
Dr. Vogel and other well-known plant researchers, including Hildebert Wagner, Ph.D., have found that the antioxidants in milk thistle called flavonoids are some of the most potent liver-protecting substances known.
One important function of antioxidants is to protect the liver against damage from heavy metals and other toxic substances in the air and the food we eat. In case you think that heavy metal exposure is nothing to worry about, consider that more than 600,000 tons of lead are put into the atmosphere every year in the United States alone. Heavy metals are all around us—lead solder in tin cans, lead and cadmium in cigarette smoke, mercury in dental fillings and some cosmetics, and aluminum in antacids. Research conducted in Germany has shown that milk thistle helps protect the liver from drug and heavy metal poisoning. As a result, milk thistle is the basis for a number of German drugs used to treat liver problems. I photographed milk thistle growing in the wild in surrounding my home in the Blueridge Mountains while recuperating from liver resection surgery. For the liver this is BENEFICIAL

CAUTION it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. CAUTION if you have acid reflux esophagitis. Otherwise fresh mint flavors water refreshingly on a hot summer day. I add a few leaves to soups and sauces. One of my favorite drinks is 2 cucumbers, 2 apples, 8 mint leaves all juiced together - a light refreshing liquid to quench the thirst that is also high in nutrients, low in potassium and phosphorus.

BENEFICIAL Drum Stick Plant, the Mulungai leaves. Known to be high in potassium and high in iron, and protein. Folk medicine has this vegetable to be helpful for kidney disease, especially the long pods of the tree. In India the pods (30-60 cm long) are cooked in a sauce known as Sambar.

In the Philippines the leaves are cooked in a chicken broth (perhaps a little wild chicken if you can catch one!) it is mixed with onion, garlic and young green papaya (tastes a bit like chayote squash).

The seeds due to the presence of mustard oil, have an antimicrobial effect. Indian medicine has this used for rheumatism. Efficacy for rheumatism seems plausible because of the stimulating effect of the isothiocyanates. It is also known as an aphrodisiac probably due to the relaxation of the pelvic musculature.

This is said to be high in iron, high in protein and maybe useful in helping to alleviate some of the world's hunger.

BENEFICIAL Organic nonalcoholic nettle extract. It eliminates uric acid (high in gout and PKD) and is an effective alkalizer. CAUTION It is very high in potassium and said to have diuretic properties. Studies in Europe have shown increased urine flow and reduction in residual urine (residual urine can lead to chronic urinary tract infections). I use non - alcoholic nettle extract from time to time to give a boost of alkalinity as it is high in potassium, lowers uric acid, and a very effective alkalizing agent.

Nettle root affects hormones and proteins that carry sex hormones (such as testosterone or estrogen) in the human body; this may explain why it helps benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Nettle leaf (1000 mg daily) suppresses the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and in this way might be useful for kidney health. CAUTION It is high in potassium. Here is an article sent by Marie about stinging nettle extract lowering creatinine. I suspect the chief reason it does this is because stinging nettle is an affective alkalizer, a potassium rich alkalizer. If any decide to take stinging nettle non-alcoholic extract be sure to get frequent checks of your serum potassium. High potassium can cause the heart to stop beating.

Noni Juice

(Morinda citrifolia

)

AVOID Noni has had some cases of harm to kidneys according to the growers of noni juice. They suggested with my history of both kidney and liver  disease, I avoid noni. Noni is very high in potassium and has been a cause of dangerously high potassium levels. Lemon juice is a great flush, low in potassium, cheaper to obtain, and makes one alkaline. There are several cases in the literature that  link noni to inflamed livers (hepatitis). It is considered a liver toxin.

BENEFICIAL Oregano oil is great if you have an uncontrollable sweet tooth and it has been determined that you probably have a systemic yeast infection called candidiasis. By eating sugars this causes an overgrowth of yeast with a hindrance in the normal bacteria which line the intestines. The overgrowth suppresses normal flora. This flora of the intestines helps to digest foods we eat. It may be prudent to take an additional capsule of acidophilus and mix it in a half cup of plain yogurt while on antibiotics.

Yeast thrives on sugars. When you get a craving for a sugar laden sweet it is your body's yeast saying," feed me, feed me. If you don't feed some sugar soon, I will die."

Oregano oil just one drop daily travels through the intestines laying a track where the yeast cannot grow. Then the beneficial bacteria move in and repopulate the gut. I take extra B during this time period. Sugars wash away the body's Vitamin B reserves and more and more sugar washes it away and away....

There was a study done at Johns Hopkins where Oregano oil was used in children who were immunosuppressed and had developed a yeast infection. They tried the usual treatment for yeast vs. oregano oil. Oregano oil won hands down. It burns a little within your mouth so I pop a dried cherry in my mouth to counteract the taste. Within three days my sweet tooth is gone.

BENEFICIAL Lowers blood pressure. Wonderful blood pressure regulator. Loaded with Chlorophyll which aids the body to detoxify. It is a mild diuretic but gentle in its effect on kidneys. It does not cause potassium depletion. I pull this up from my garden each morning and munch away. Parsley is also a source of alpha-linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid. It is an adequate source of beta carotene, which the body needs for the correct use of protein. This nutrient will benefit the liver and also protect the lungs and colon. When tested in laboratory research, chlorophyll from parsley showed slight anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity. Parsley contains traces of B12 producing compounds. Fluorine abundantly found in parsley. Fluorine has an entirely different molecular structure from chemically-produced fluoride. Tooth decay results from a shortage of fluorine, not fluoride. It is the combination of calcium and fluorine which creates a very hard protective surface on teeth and bones. Fluorine also protects the body from infectious invasion, germs and viruses .Parsley is the best herb source of vitamin C and iron. These two work in conjunction to eliminate waste from the body.

CAUTION if you must restrict potassium. A few sprigs of potassium will not push you over into potassium excess, but if you were to drink a whole glassful of parsley juice, this might.

Parsley is effective for nearly all kidney and urinary complaints. It improves kidney activity. Parsley is not a treatment for severe kidney inflammation, but it can help eliminate wastes from the blood and tissues of the kidneys. It prevents salt from being reabsorbed into the body tissues; thus parsley literally forces debris out of the kidneys, liver and bladder. It helps improve edema and general water retention, fatigue and scanty or painful urination. It is an eliminant that has been used in conjunction to aid the dissolving of gall stones and in cases of gout. My friend CJ adds it daily to her salads for an interesting mix of flavors.

AVOID In the vegetable garden, tomato, potato, eggplant and pepper belong to the deadly nightshade family. Tobacco is the fifth member, and all contain the toxic substance solanine. Tomato leaves and stems contain the poison found in potato. Sensitive people have skin eruptions if the leaves touch them. Potato and tobacco are the most dangerous. Skins of potato will turn green when stored in the light. This green part, and any sprouted eyes, must be removed before eaten. Farm animals have died when fed potato plants and spoiled potatoes. Humans experience grave illness and sometimes death from the green part of the potato. The world health organization has called an emergency meeting to look at an urgent health concern with potato chips, french fries, and other fried and baked goods which contain high amounts of acrylamide, especially present in the potato when it is heated to a high temperature.

Leaf and raspberries causes a softening in the pelvic muscles. Improves uterine tone and blood supply. It prevents postpartum hemorrhage. It is said to be useful the last trimester to facilitate an easier birth and shorter labor. CAUTION if you are pregnant and prone to miscarriage avoid raspberries. Its mode of action is through relaxation of the pelvic muscles. I found this very useful for pudendal nerve entrapment and vestibulitis.

AVOID Rosemary raises my blood pressure.

During World War II, juniper berries and rosemary leaves were burned in hospitals of France to kill germs. It is used as a hair rinse to darken and retain the original color of hair. It helps to control premature baldness. When placed in a pillow it is said to alleviate insomnia and restless sleep. Bees are particularly fond of Rosemary.

It is an antioxidant herb with a strong memory and brain stimulant. I think part of this is due to its beautiful fragrance. I love the smell of rosemary wafting from the oven. I use it freely to flavor meat dishes I prepare for my husband. If you wish to imprint a memory upon your brain, choose at least three of your senses. Take and feel and touch the texture of piece of cloth, smell the aromas throughout the room, and listen to what is being said. This will imprint as a memory. Choose any three of your 5 senses. Except for ladies who are known to have a sixth sense about things...

Hair loss caused by oil and acid attacking the hair follicles can be prevented by a rosemary rinse. Rosemary raises my blood pressure. For this reason I AVOID taking it internally. The rosemary will help break up toxins that are surrounding the area of the pancreas, around the adrenals and outside the liver. Animal tests have demonstrated spasmolytic effects on the gallbladder ducts and on the upper intestine.

BENEFICIAL Rose hips are round seed filled purses from rose bushes. Rose hips are very rich in Vitamin C and are suppose to have blood-purifying and infection- fighting properties. This tea is often combined with hibiscus flowers to make a vitamin C rich tea that is pleasant to drink.

Saffron

(Crocus sativus)

BENEFICIAL I have found this to be of great benefit to the liver. It is useful for many types of liver diseases, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and of course polycystic liver disease. It is especially useful when the blood vessels become compromised and stretched and squished by ever expanding organs. The body is stimulated to lay down new vessels to by pass the obstruction. I experienced this effect.

It diminishes micro-hemmorhages and clots. It helps to heal the liver by decreasing scar tissue formation. It stimulates the natural endorphins which exist in the brain and is a useful aid for alleviating pain in the liver. It is also an , ahem, aphrodisiac. It is to be used with CAUTION in pregnancy for it may cause a relaxation of the pelvic musculature and possibly lead to a miscarriage. A recipe for an aphrodisiac desert is saffron spelt lemon cake drizzled with red raspberries. Saffron rates as one of my favorite herbs. I found it to be very BENEFICIAL

Saffron contains a chemical called crocetin that lowers the blood pressure. Other uses for saffron which date back to the Greek as well as Egypt - are as an anti-spasmodic, helps to expel gases accumulated in the digestive tract, eases digestive disorders, it is rich in Vitamin B2, B12, and riboflavin, it soothes the membranes of the stomach and colon, helps reduce cholesterol, neutralizes uric acid build up, enlargement of the liver and gallbladder - Saffron's medical properties are mentioned in 500 B.C. in one of the oldest Ayurvedic treatises.
Crocus sativus is a small bulbous perennial herb. It is valued for its famed condiment, saffron, constituted by the stigma and style of the flower.
It contains crocin and picocrocin together with lycopene, b-carotene, g-carotene and zeaxanthin. It is rich in riboflavine and also contains thiamine. Saffron is used as a nervine sedative and emmenogogue and in fevers, melancholia and enlargement of the liver.

It has an essential oil, the active ingredient of which is aphrodisiac in nature. The mechanism of its sex-stimulating activity is effected by a slight stimulation of the central nervous system. More on saffron.

BENEFICIAL Useful for benign prostatic hypertrophy. My husband who does not have PKD notices when he takes this, he can take the chips out of the porcelain toilet bowl from the strength of his stream. I do not know its kidney affects. Check with your own doctor. American Urological Associations annual meeting published in Urology found a 32% decrease in dihydrotestosterone, a hormone associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate in men who took 318 grams of saw palmetto daily for 6 months. The study did not rely on patient observations but needle-biopsied prostate tissue taken from subjects before and after surgery. 1994 study by Blaeckman of 305 men revealed 88% improved urinary flow, residual urine flow and reduced prostate size after 90 days.

Saw palmetto extract has also been combined with a nettle root extract to successfully treat BPH. One study using a combination of saw palmetto extract (320 mg per day) and nettle root extract (240 mg per day) showed positive actions on symptoms of BPH over a one-year time.

There are no proven uses of saw palmetto for women. No significant side effects have been noted in clinical studies with saw palmetto extracts. However, in rare cases, saw palmetto can cause stomach problems. My husband says it makes him a little sleepy, so he takes it at night.

AVOID Soy increases liver cyst growth.This is empirical knowledge. Soy milk given to babies causes females to menstruate and the testicles of male babies do not descend. Banned from New Zealand Baby formulas.

I tried eating tofuttie cuties, a soy ice cream sandwich, really delicious, but my liver grew from the phytoestrogens in soy. I do not use soy due to my liver cysts. There is also the story of Monsanto genetically modify soy beans so that could withstand a ton of herbicide weed killer called round up. The European Community became enraged by this act as they use lecithin in many infant formulas, baked goods and more. Now a label appears in Europe that this product may contain some GM soy.

Monsanto gave away for free these soy beans to commercial farmers which assured them of a ready captured market for large quantities of their herbicide.

If you can manufacture a chemical so it is useful as a cough syrup there is a limited market. If you can manufacture a product to be sprayed on acres and acres of land this is a very big sale. More on soy

Star Fruit

(Averrhoa carambola)

AVOID I enjoyed star fruit and mango, a traditional combination. Then I discovered that starfruit is a known kidney toxin. Star fruit originated in Southeast Asia and is readily available in Taiwan. Star fruit causes several symptoms in patients with chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease. The symptoms vary and include insomnia, intractable hiccups, agitation, muscle weakness, confusion, consciousness disturbances of various degrees, seizures, and cardiorespiratory arrest. The various star fruit subspecies contain different toxins, including a powerful neurotoxin that is suspected to accumulate in blood, cross the blood-brain barrier in chronic renal failure patients, and eventually cause irreversible damage.

AVOID affects metabolism of many drugs: immunosuppressive, warfarin, digoxin, cyclosporin. This has a similar interaction with medications as Grapefruit AVOID Grapefruit - taking it requires adjustments in medications.

Stephania Terandra
 Chinese Herb

AVOID This contains Aristolochia acid in some Chinese herbal mixtures. Aristolochia when combined with vasoconstrictive agents (such as Fenformin) causes a rapid, progressive tubulointerstitial atrophic nephritis and urothelial cancer. Some substitutions are made for Magnolia. When the substitution is made and this is coupled with a vasoconstrictive drug, bladder cancer can develop following an acute drop in kidney function Nephrology meetings April 2001 Dr. Marc E. De Broe, MD

Stevia

CAUTION If used very sparingly, 4-5 grains it is an effective sweeten agent. If used in great quantities, it is harmful to the kidneys. May induce kidney toxicity specifically at the proximal convoluted tubules. This herb to be used with great CAUTION in kidney disease and only very very small amounts.

AVOID This is a member of the nightshade family - potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, belladonna, tobacco. - I have experienced pain after indulging in a freshly picked ripe and in season tomato. Plants in this family are estrogen producing plants. Nightshade plants contain high amounts of solanine which interferes with calcium absorption and these vegetables are high in potassium and limited as potassium restriction becomes an issue. I have heard that peeling these veggies and soaking them in ice water for an extended time, diminishes their potassium content. When heated to high heats, potato starch produces a large amount of the chemical acrylamide. This appears to be a byproduct of cooking starch at high temperatures. Many countries including Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, England, Germany, and the United States are conducting independent studies on acrylamide as a toxin. Among the foods to contain acrylamide are french fries, potato chips, tostitos, honey nut cheerios, regular cheerios, corn chips. Children are sometimes given high amounts of these foods. This elevates uric acids.

BENEFICIAL Has antiseptic properties. Thymol is made From this. Useful fresh for flavoring soups, dishes. I also make a thyme tea just before a dental appointment to be assured that I will not seed any bacteria into my blood stream.

Amazingly enough, a "partnership" of flavors—soothing Lavender with pungent Thyme creates a truly enticing flavor, that works as an excellent condiment for beef stocks, lamb, venison, and whole-grain spelt breads and spelt bagels (without yeast).

BENEFICIAL wonderful for the liver. The Hawaiians call this herb, Olena. I freely use the organic variety to flavor dishes. Organic turmeric does many beneficial things for the liver. When I have taken this herb daily it reduces pain around my liver and when I took it the organic capsules three times a day for several months, it decreased my abdominal girth from an enlarged cystic liver. Eventually I needed the liver resection to stabilize my liver cyst growth. A UCLA study supports turmeric`s traditional and current uses. As written in BODY & SOUL Holistic Health 2002, "Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, may reduce the brain-tissue inflammation that is linked to Alzheimer`s disease".

I continue to take organic turmeric. It was once used as a cure for jaundice. It is an anti-hepatotoxin. It has anti-inflammatory properties. I have found this to be very BENEFICIAL.

CAUTION contains tannins that are helpful for preventing urinary tract infections. This herb has diuretic qualities and for that reason should be used with CAUTION I do not know of anyone who has tried this herb. Uva ursi should not be taken longer than 2 weeks because of high levels of hydroquininone. Contraindicated in pregnant women may cause miscarriage. Its mode of action is through quinine, a known agent which will cause miscarriages to occur. Quinine is an aspirin like compound.

Very acid forming. Do not drink cranberry juice or take vitamin C with this herb. Many medications interact with uva ursi. CAUTION

Increases barbiturate induced sleep in animals, CAUTION is suggested with anesthetics for surgery. A single case report of a person treated for coronary artery disease and they experienced cardiac and mental disturbances which may have been linked to an interaction with digoxin. Avoid this two weeks before any surgery. Tell your doctor if taking this and tell your surgeon you have taken it and tell the anesthesiologist.

BENEFICIAL Veronica is an herb that I found useful for quieting my liver cysts and kidney cysts. It is called speedwell or veronica officinalis. Veronica is named not for a legendary beauty, but for an 18th century botanist. An herb with bright blue or lilac flowers, the plant is found throughout Europe, parts of Asia, and North America. Veronica's above-ground parts are considered medicinal, but the only physical effect researchers have found to date is a tendency to prevent ulcers and speed their healing.
I poured boiling water over 2 teaspoons of crushed herb. Allowed it to steep, strained and I would sip it. During wartimes Veronica has been used as a substitute for black tea. The taste is pleasant. There are no known drug interactions.
Veronica is sometimes recommended for indigestion, urinary tract infections, and rheumatism, but evidence of its effectiveness for these problems is lacking.
Other uses--also unsubstantiated--include treatment of cough and other respiratory ailments, liver disorders, kidney problems, nervous agitation, and "tired blood." As a gargle, it's used for sore throat. Applied to the skin, it's thought to speed wound healing and relieve itching, chronic skin conditions, and "sweating of the feet." In Asian medicine, it's prescribed for hepatitis, diarrhea, fever, and boils.

I like a cup of this tea at the end of a meal.

AVOID has caused increase in liver cysts growth

Willow Bark

AVOID an aspirin like herb. Can decrease kidney functioning.