Chamomile tea

[Highgfr]

Hi Everyone... has anyone ever tried drinking Chamomile tea to try to boost kidney function. I don't know much abut what teas, spices, etc., help kidney function. My GFR is in the 11-13 range and trying to find natural ways to help. Have a solitary kidney so really trying to learn. Does anyone know about it? Thank you so much.

[Sarah_402]

Here is a list to herbs to avoid from the National Kidney Foundation.

kidneyhi.org/use-of-herbal-...

I didn’t see chamomile on the list, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe either. I would ask your nephrologist at your next appointment because you don’t want to accidentally hurt your kidneys. Also some herbs can interact with medications. If you have time read the link cause it has some useful information on herbs in general.

[Highgfr in reply to Sarah_402]

Thank you so much for your response. I will do just that. Great advice.

[citruskayaker in reply to Sarah_402]

Good answer. However, I caution everyone that unregulated supplements, including herbs may contain toxic ingredients. In fact, such supplements intended to help me, were the primary cause of my CKD and I met others here who had the same experience.

[Bond-007 in reply to citruskayaker]

Which ones caused your ckd? I think there should be more research on this but it hard to do and I guess would be a retrospective study.

[citruskayaker in reply to Bond-007]

Unknown, I stopped them all at once, perhaps 12 of them including CoQ10, resveratrol, vitamin d, krill oil, turmeric, etc. including many anti-oxidants.

[chicablue in reply to citruskayaker]

I think stopping Vitamin D3 is a mistake. My nephrologist told me to take it and said they found it to lengthen the lives of CKD patients, even those on dialysis.

[citruskayaker in reply to chicablue]

I agree totally. In fact this is the only OTC item I currently take.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Chamomile tea has blood thinning properties. Just a heads up. Not sure how much is too much and that is the issue with herbs and supplements that are not regulated. Another thought..... if there was a cure for CKD, it would be known by now. So drinking or taking some supplement or tea is not going to fix CKD, especially at stage 5. The best thing is a whole food, plant based diet that has been designed for you, individually. Always talk with your nephrologist or pharmacist before taking, drinking or adding something OTC.

[Highgfr in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you. Yes, plant based is what I'm doing. Just was praying that the diet and exercise would have made a diff but not as of yet. Just checking others things out, but I'll be sure to run everything by my nephrologist. Take care and thank you again!

[Bond-007 in reply to Highgfr]

You’re smart to run it by your nephrologist.

[WildIris]

I don't think chamomile is very potent except for the enjoyment factor. If you don't love it, why bother. Can you get Farxiga? That's the only drug I've heard of that actually improves kidney function a little. Or Albutrix, the nitrogen-free protein supplement that is expensive, but if used to replace half the protein in your (low protein) diet can stabilize kidney function? It sounds like you're doing a lot of things right. Wishing you all the best.

[Highgfr in reply to WildIris]

Thank you...great suggestions. I'll talk with nephrology. Would love to stabilize kidney function and improve if at all possible. Take care!

[citruskayaker in reply to Highgfr]

Sometimes a nephrologist is the wrong source for an answer. A renal dietician may have greater knowledge of appropriate food intake but try to verify whatever you are told by more than one source. Your diet is critical, but is must address total health concerns avoiding salt, sugar, alcohol and excessive protein. Dietary restrictions also vary depending on your stage of CKD.

[Highgfr in reply to citruskayaker]

Thank you so much!! Great info!!

[Bond-007 in reply to WildIris]

Yes, i see that farxiga commercial on tv. I wonder how it works & if it is safe & effective.

[Skeptix in reply to Bond-007]

Have just started on it myself. It works in a similar way to ACE and can be used in addition to ACE. What these drugs do is affect the blood vessels into and out of the kidney. Combined, their effect is to:

a) narrow the blood vessels leading into the kidney. Restricting the flow of blood into the kidney lowers blood pressure within the kidney.

b) dilate (or open up) the blood vessels leading out of the kidney. This again lowers the blood pressure in the kidney - pressure can't build up as high in the kidney if the blood isn't being withheld by narrowed vessels.

It follows that (e)GFR will go down as a result. But that's not a reason to panic. The kidneys will filter more if they are operated at high pressure (just as a car will go faster is you keep the revs in the redline area). But this high pressure is ultimately damaging. By lowering pressure, you also lower filtering performance (eGFR drops) but you are doing less damage to your kidneys in the long run.

Can't say I've had side effects yet (and dunno whether I will) but am only on it a few weeks. Dunno if there's been an eGFR drop / raise / BP alteration either. I take 10mg ACE daily also

[alexask]

There have been a couple of promising studies albeit in rodents. A simple Google will show, but here is a link pgi.net.au/is-chamomile-tea... . The thing is that there may well be many supplements that benefit your kidneys but there would be no money for big pharma to investigate it and so your doctor will never prescribe. I would try it and report back in a couple of months time.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to alexask]

This is the stuff that makes me crazy: This is from your link" In a study, Animals with nephrotoxicity (kidney toxicity that inhibits function) took chamomile, which improved kidney function.

They say it that animals improved nephrotoxicity by consuming chamomile... really...how many pounds did they consume, what form, and what was the cause of their nephrotoxicity?

Wow, really evidence-based research there..... and how much are they SELLING tea for?

Folks: snake oil is just that.

[19Willow62 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Well said Bassetmommer, i had this same argument with Fatbuddy regarding ayurvedic claims to cure a whole militude of conditions. I get rattled on behalf of some of the frightened /worried sometimes desperate people who are looking for so called cures being offered at best placebos and at worst harmfull advice. I dont deny the efficacy of placebo on some illnesses, the mind is a mysterious thing, but not for stage 4/5 CKD. There is no cure only control to a degree and at best the acceptance of the advice of your neph team. All medications otc or prescribed must be run through them. I am personally at the near end of my journey and am coming to terms with that. Not an easy thing to do but is in the best interests of my mental wellbeing. Fight the good fight but dont use fake weapons.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to 19Willow62]

19 Willow, Well said.

[Highgfr in reply to 19Willow62]

Thank you so much.

[Highgfr in reply to Bassetmommer]

It is so confusing. Thanks for your input!!

[alexask in reply to Bassetmommer]

Sorry, I didn't do enough research. I cannot find any decent studies showing significant benefit of camomile tea. A better hope may be melatonin.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to alexask]

Melatonin does have some research demonstrating that it can "help" with renal function by improving sleep. But read carefully.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/252...

I took melatonin for over two years and started actually having more problems in the middle of the night, waking up and not falling back asleep. So I stopped it and now, so much better. Melatonin is reported as not good for long term usage.

mayoclinic.org/healthy-life...

[alexask in reply to Bassetmommer]

I have taken up to 20 mg of melatonin for four years nightly for a different issue with no side effects. It is a powerful antioxidant and is good for the heart and also has anti cancer properties. Different people will have different sensitivities to it with regards to how groggy they feel in the morning. The thing is that doctors are largely limited to what they encouraged to prescribe to standard (often expensive) medicines. Yet there are many studies showing benefits of particular supplements for many chronic conditions and specifically curcumin, Vitamin D3 (take with K2) and Vitamin B1. A brief glance has shown each of these may benefit kidney function. For those curious enough to do their own research they may find something that helps them.

[jodaer in reply to alexask]

I've taken about 10mg, sometimes more, of melatonin every night for more years than I can count. No side effects.

[Highgfr in reply to alexask]

Good to know. Thank you!!

[Marvin8]

When it comes to supplements/herbs/teas, you're basically on your own because as was stated above, the research isn't profitable. A typical nephrologist's response to the question will be; "I sorta doubt it'll help, and I'd be a bit careful about taking it. Personally, I'd take a pass." This is the result of Western medicine's allopathic perspective....and possibly why diseases haven't been cured.

[Highgfr in reply to Marvin8]

I hear you.. thank you so much for your input!!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to Marvin8]

I agree that there is a lot out there that Western medicine does not incorporate. And I also agree that there are great things out there that are incorporated in Eastern medicine that we should and do not incorporate in USA medicine. This is the issue. The supplements and products sold over the Internet promise the world, are backed by science and show a doctor is providing the product. These supplements are not regulated, or even checked and most patients do not look at the content closely. They see the Cure and think, oh boy this will work. Sometimes there is such a minute amount of the "drug/herb" in the product, but it meets the requirements to say it is in there. And also, they put in fillers that can be harmful. I wanted to look into ayurvedic medicine, and I had an Indian doctor who studied in Inda and then came here and got his license. He told me years ago that the products that even are in India are not always what they say they are and to be very careful with supplements. I had a friend who was seeing an Asian "doctor" who created a prescription tea for her. It eventually blew out her colon and now she is on a bag. Buyer beware.

[Marvin8 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Very sad, but true. Both the supplement and pharmaceutical industries are profit-driven, not disease driven.

[Jamok]

Not sure about chamomile but I have heard things about Chitosan lowering creatinine and I did talk to my nephrologist and he said it wouldn’t hurt to try it.

[Skeptix in reply to Jamok]

Bloody hell, this stuff works many times better than Statins apparently. Further investigation warranted indeed

"The effects of chitosan have been investigated on eighty patients with renal failure undergoing long-term stable haemodialysis treatment. The patients were tested after a control treatment period of 1 week. Half were fed 30 chitosan tablets (45 mg chitosan/tablet) three times a day. Ingestion of chitosan effectively reduced total serum cholesterol levels (from 10.14 +/- 4.40 to 5.82 +/- 2.19 mM) and increased serum haemoglobin levels (from 58.2 +/- 12.1 to 68 +/- 9.0 g L-1). Significant reductions in urea and creatinine levels in serum were observed after 4 weeks of chitosan ingestion. The feeling of physical strength, the appetite and the sleep of patients in the treatment group had improved significantly after 12 weeks of ingestion, compared with those of patients in the control group. During the treatment period, no clinically problematic symptoms were observed. These data suggest that chitosan might be effective treatment for renal failure patients, although the mechanism of the effect should be investigated further."

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/925...

[alexask in reply to Skeptix]

Wow. To be fair pretty much anything is better than statins though.