4 Common Plants Offer Relief for Urinary Diseases

For those with urinary conditions, a number of medicinal plants that are easy to find and inexpensive can offer relief.

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Researchers from the University of Lodz in Poland reviewed the healing actions of wild and cultivated plants used in Polish folk medicine, specifically to treat urinary diseases. The review studied plants from 53 species belonging to 30 families.

The findings appeared in the journal Pharmaceuticals in March.

Of the numerous plants evaluated by the study, we'll spotlight four—yarrow, celery, parsley, and dandelion—that are easy to find, inexpensive, and effective in providing natural relief for urinary issues.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow (Achillea) blooms in the wild among grasses. Orest lyzhechka/Shutterstock

A medicinal plant with multiple uses, yarrow is perhaps best known for its ability to treat fevers because it helps the body sweat. Native to Europe and West Asia, it has long stems with an upper crown of small white flowers that are occasionally slightly pink.

Yarrow has astringent, diaphoretic (perspiration-inducing), diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antipyretic (fever-reducing), and anti-hemorrhagic properties. It also is a peripheral vasodilator, regulates the menstrual cycle, and is a digestive stimulant.

It is used externally to treat wounds and is a common remedy for colds and urinary disorders. A nosebleed can be stopped quickly by inserting a single leaf into the nostril.

The Polish study states that oral administration of yarrow extract in rats increased diuresis (urine production), noting that a dose of 300 milligrams per kilogram increased urine production by 30 percent to 60 percent four and eight hours after it was given.

A review published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research details yarrow’s pharmacological actions and wide range of healing benefits. The authors conclude, “The vast survey of literature showed that A.millifolium has an esteemed status in herbs with diverse pharmacological activity spectrum.”

Yarrow can be used as a tincture, ointment, massage oil, or steam inhalation, but it is most often taken as a tea. According to the study, teas are often used when treating urinary disorders, but tinctures are also used therapeutically.

Tinctures are preparations that use alcohol (although other liquids, such as vinegar and glycerin, can be used) to extract the herb’s active ingredients and preserve them. Alcohol-based tinctures can last many years and should be stored in a cool, dark place. Tinctures can be made at home or purchased and can be taken directly, mixed with water, or added to hot water or tea.

Yarrow Tea

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb (all parts of the herb that grow above ground are used medicinally). Leave to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink three times daily.

Yarrow Tincture

Take 20 drops to 40 drops (1 milliliter (ml) to 2 ml) three times daily.

Contraindications: Yarrow is not recommended for pregnant women because of its mild stimulating effect on the uterus.

Celery (Apium graveolens)

Celery seeds, stalks, and essential oil are used medicinally. Ulada/Shutterstock

Celery is a common vegetable that is easily incorporated into a variety of dishes. The seeds, stalks, and essential oil are also used in many traditional medicines. According to the study, Chinese medicine uses celery to treat high blood pressure, and it is used in Arabian medicine for renal pain (the renal system includes the kidneys, ureters, and urethra).

Celery is also a common remedy for arthritis and gout because it clears uric acid from the joints.

According to the Polish study, a dose of 8 grams per kilogram a day increased urinary calcium ion excretions in an experimental model of nephrocalcinosis, a condition in which calcium is deposited in the kidneys. It also significantly reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, which are waste products that the kidneys remove.

Celery has anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antispasmodic, sedative, carminative (flatulence-relieving), and antirheumatic actions. Its diuretic and urinary antiseptic properties make it especially helpful in treating urinary system conditions. These actions are primarily caused by the volatile oil apiol.

A 2018 study published in Fitoterapia found that celery extract prevented bladder and kidney infection against E. coli in animal models. The study states that the celery extract “significantly reduced the bacterial load in bladder tissue” of the animals and notes that it had no cytotoxic effect on bladder cells.

Celery can be used medicinally in a variety of ways, depending on the condition. It can be taken as a tea for rheumatic conditions, gout, and urinary disorders, used as a massage oil for rheumatic conditions or on the abdomen for digestive issues, gas, and congestion of the liver, used as a footbath for rheumatism and gout, or juiced for high blood pressure and nervous exhaustion. The best way to take celery for urinary conditions is as a tea or tincture. Here are instructions for taking each.

Celery Tea

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of freshly crushed celery seeds. Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink three times daily.

Celery Tincture

Take 2 ml to 4 ml of tincture three times daily.

Contraindications: Avoid using celery seeds during pregnancy. Do not take essential oils internally unless under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Parsley is an abundant source of vitamin C. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Parsley is another herb commonly used in everyday dishes and one of the most abundant sources of vitamin C. According to the Polish study, parsley leaves, seeds, and roots have diuretic properties. Diuretics increase the production of urine, helping to flush microorganisms out of the bladder and urinary tract.

Like celery, parsley contains the volatile oil apiol, which prevents infection in the urinary system.

According to the study, rats given an extract from parsley seeds had an increase in the volume of their urine and sodium excretion. The effect was comparable to that of furosemide, a diuretic medication used to treat fluid retention from various conditions.

In another instance reported in the study, aqueous parsley extracts had a beneficial effect on calcium oxalate stones (the most common type of kidney stones) in rats, reducing the amount of calcium oxalate deposits.

In addition to its diuretic actions, parsley is an emmenagogue, used to stimulate and regulate menstruation, and a carminative, used to ease flatulence.

The leaves, stems, roots, and seeds are used medicinally.

A tea or tincture can be used therapeutically for urinary conditions. Here are instructions for using parsley.

Parsley Tea

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb. Let steep for 5 to 10 minutes in a covered container or teapot. Drink three times daily.

Parsley Tincture

Take 2 ml to 4 ml of the tincture three times daily.

Contraindications: Avoid taking parsley during pregnancy because of its stimulating (abortifacient) action.

Dandelion (Taraxacum campylodes)

Dandelion has multiple medicinal benefits, which include antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anticancer properties. Madeleine Steinbach/Shutterstock

To many, dandelions are persistent weeds, but to herbalists and holistic health practitioners, they are powerful medicine.

According to the study, dandelion contains a wide range of compounds with healing properties, including phenols and terpenes, and vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. The study also notes its use as a natural treatment for gout, diarrhea, and problems of the spleen, liver, and bladder.

A comprehensive review of the health benefits of dandelion published in 2021 evaluated 54 studies that described several therapeutic properties attributed to dandelion:

1. Diuretic
2. Hepatoprotective
3. Immunoprotective
4. Antiviral
5. Antifungal
6. Antibacterial
7. Anti-arthritic
8. Antidiabetic
9. Anti-obesity
10. Antioxidant
11. Anti-cancer

The researchers noted that the most common health benefits reported in the literature were dandelion’s antioxidant, hepatoprotective (liver-protecting), and anti-cancer properties.

Dandelion is native to North America, Europe, and Asia and is known as a powerful diuretic for treating liver and gallbladder problems. The roots and leaves are used medicinally.

Dandelion can be used in various ways. The young leaves are a common ingredient in salads, sandwiches, and soups. The leaves can be fermented into an herbal beer, the flowers can be made into wine, and the roasted roots are used to make dandelion coffee.

If you want to try dandelion for urinary or other listed conditions, here are instructions for making tea or using a dandelion tincture.

Dandelion Tea

Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of dandelion root in 1 cup of water and boil, then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink tea three times daily to alleviate urinary conditions, fluid retention, and high blood pressure by stimulating urination.

Dandelion Tincture

Take 2 ml to 5 ml of tincture three times daily. Tincture made of dandelion root and leaves helps dissolve small gallstones and stimulates bile flow, and it has a mild laxative effect.

Contraindications: If you have gallstones, use dandelion root only under the supervision of a qualified herbalist or health professional.

4 Categories of Plants to Treat Urological Diseases

The study states that plants used to treat urological diseases belong to four categories:

• Botanical diuretics
• Urinary antiseptic and anti-adhesion agents
• Anti-nephrotoxic botanicals
• Herbs used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Botanical diuretics are plants that help the body to remove excess fluids. Some examples are dandelion, ginger, and parsley.

Urinary antiseptic and anti-adhesion agents prevent and treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). These plants possess antimicrobial compounds that eliminate microbes or interfere with their ability to stick to epithelial cells, which helps protect against chronic and urinary tract infections. Examples of plants with these antiseptic and anti-adhesion properties are uva ursi, juniper, and cranberry, which explains, at least in part, why unsweetened cranberry juice is a common natural remedy for urinary tract infections.

Anti-nephrotoxic botanicals protect the kidneys from damage because of toxicity that can result from a variety of factors and is a side effect of some medications. In a 2019 study in rats, the herb Eurycoma longifolia, or tongkat ali, was used to protect the kidneys against toxicity from paracetamol (acetaminophen)—a common medication for treating pain and fevers.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is age-related enlargement of the prostate sometimes causing difficulty urinating or fully emptying the bladder. Risks include being older than 50, being overweight or obese, and engaging in insufficient physical activity. Erectile dysfunction also puts some men at an increased risk of developing an enlarged prostate.

Final Thoughts

Many common urinary disorders, such as UTIs, stones, and incontinence, can be alleviated using herbal medicines. The Polish research review found that in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed the beneficial properties of many of the plant species they studied.

Yarrow, celery, parsley, and dandelion are easy for most people to find, are inexpensive, and can be incorporated into the diet or taken therapeutically as teas and tinctures to help resolve urinary issues.

Herbs are medicines, and anyone diagnosed with a severe illness or on medications should consult with a qualified herbalist or other health practitioner before using herbs to ensure that they are used safely.