This article is all about Kidney Cleansing. Below you will find:
- The Best Method for Cleansing the Kidneys
- Modified Master Cleanse Recipe As A Kidney Cleanse
- What to Avoid while Cleansing the Kidneys
- What To Expect On The Kidney Cleanse
- How To Support Your Body While Kidney Cleansing
- How Long Is The Kidney Cleanse?
- An Alternate Method for Cleansing the Kidneys
- A Warning About Pre-Made Kidney Cleanses
- Deciding When To Do a Kidney Cleanse
The Best Kidney Cleanse is a Modified Master Cleanse
The fastest and easiest method for cleansing the kidneys is to do a modified master cleanse. There is no fasting with this and you are able to use raw wild or organic honey instead of the now highly overpriced organic maple syrup.
Modified Master Cleanse Recipe As A Kidney Cleanse
- organic cayenne
- organic lemon - freshly squeezed lemon juice is ideal
- stevia
Cayenne lemonade is generally known as "the master cleanse". For the "modified master cleanse", I do not advocate the fasting that accompanies the complete master cleanse program, as it tends to disrupt normal metabolism and prompt rapid weight gain upon its completion.
The parts of the master cleanse that work on the kidneys are the cayenne, lemon and water. Cayenne can stimulate circulation and freshly squeezed lemon juice can alkalize the body. This combination with lots of water is great for quickly flushing toxins out of the kidneys. You can sweeten the mixture with stevia. Drink as much of the cayenne lemonade as is comfortable throughout the day and gradually increase the amount of cayenne as you are able. Also feel free to add some cayenne to your food during this time of cleansing the kidneys.
If you can do some walking, light hiking or yoga, you will enhance your body's ability to flush toxins out of the kidneys. Poses like camel pose (ustrasana) are perfect for this. Try to rest more often as you are able.
If you can do some walking, light hiking or yoga, you will enhance your body's ability to flush toxins out of the kidneys. Poses like camel pose (ustrasana) are perfect for this. Try to rest more often as you are able.
When cleansing the kidneys, it is important to make some dietary observations or modifications. These modifications are very important to ensure that the kidneys are less likely to be damaged while they are at their most vulnerable state. The most important thing to remember is not to ingest items that are toxic to the kidneys while attempting to cleanse them.
Avoid The Following While Cleansing The Kidneys:
- animal products, especially meat
- caffeine, including green or white tea and yerba mate
- alcoholic beverages and alcohol-based supplements, including kombucha
- chocolate, especially dark chocolate
- pain-killers and non-essential medications
- energy drinks or energy/metabolic supplements
- beverages or supplements containing B12 (cyanocobalamin), theobromine or theophylline
- if you use salt, ensure that it is ONLY pure sea salt with no additives
- anything with artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- carbonated beverages and sodas, including sparkling water
- artificial sweeteners (stevia, honey and maple syrup are fine)
If you cannot comfortably avoid any of these items and still function on a daily basis, then your kidneys and the connected adrenal glands are probably already taxed, overworked and toxic and you will need to formulate a long-term plan to wean yourself off of these items to avoid future health problems that stem from kidneys that are weak and unable to function optimally.
What To Expect On The Kidney Cleanse
There are certainly some side effects of cleansing the kidneys. If you know what to expect, they can be easily managed.
Kidney Cleanse Side Effects
There are certainly some side effects of cleansing the kidneys. If you know what to expect, they can be easily managed.
Kidney Cleanse Side Effects
- acidic body smell
- irritability, anxiety
- tiredness, sluggishness or depression
When you are doing the kidney cleanse, one side effect is that by the second or third day you will notice a peculiar smell under your arms and possibly also in your urine. It smells like a city alley on a hot day. That lovely fragrance is uric acid. Your kidneys are purging their excess acid along with toxins. When the smell begins to fade, your kidney cleanse is working! Depending on your level of toxicity, this could take anywhere from 4 days to 3 weeks. Using a natural deodorant, like the crystal deodorant or crystal deodorant spray is helpful for neutralizing these smelly kidney acids.
During this cleanse, you may feel irritable or anxious as your kidneys release. This is normal. If your mood becomes a hindrance to daily functions, you may supplement with natural magnesium or Nutritional Yeast (as long as it has not been artificially fortified with B-12) from your health food store to ease your temperament until you are finished cleansing.
Your kidneys are the energy and power centers of your body. While they are being cleansed and rehabilitated, you may find yourself more tired or down than usual. Just realize that this is part of the process and rest as much as you can.
How To Support Your Body While Kidney Cleansing
- rest as much as possible
- shower using natural soap and a washcloth or brush to exfoliate
- soak in very warm baths to help the kidneys release toxins (add sea salt or epsom salt to your bath for more help)
- drink lots of spring water or reverse osmosis filtered water
- if you feel dizzy, lightheaded or angry, have a toxin absorbing drink (the same as the colon cleanse drink recipe) to absorb the toxins that your kidneys have released into your body
How Long Is The Kidney Cleanse?
People often ask how long the kidney cleanse lasts. The answer is that your body will let you know when it is finished. As you continue to cleanse, all of the cleanse side effects begin to subside. When you are still using the kidney cleanse lemonade or tea and your smell returns to normal and you have no more tiredness, dizziness or irritability, then you are probably done. If you do the Modified Master Cleanse as your Kidney Cleanse, that may be 3-15 days. If you use the Kidney Cleanse Tea, this process can take up to three months because it works much more slowly.
People often ask how long the kidney cleanse lasts. The answer is that your body will let you know when it is finished. As you continue to cleanse, all of the cleanse side effects begin to subside. When you are still using the kidney cleanse lemonade or tea and your smell returns to normal and you have no more tiredness, dizziness or irritability, then you are probably done. If you do the Modified Master Cleanse as your Kidney Cleanse, that may be 3-15 days. If you use the Kidney Cleanse Tea, this process can take up to three months because it works much more slowly.
Kidney Cleanse Tea Recipe
- An Alternate Method for Cleansing The Kidneys
- An Alternate Method for Cleansing The Kidneys
Many sources sell kidney cleanse teas* (see below for an important note about this), but you can easily make your own by obtaining the following organic herbs. Many health food stores have a section with bulk herbs where you can find these, or you can purchase bulk quantities yourself and do kidney cleansing with a group of friends!
- 2 ounces Comfrey Root (not leaf)
- 2 ounces Holy Basil (a.k.a. Tulsi)
- 2 ounces Marjoram
- 3 ounces Burdock Root
- 4 ounces Chicory Root
- 4 ounces Fennel Seed
- 4 ounces Golden Rod
- 4 ounces Gravel Root (a.k.a. Queen of the Meadow Root)
- 4 ounces Hydrangea Root
- 4 ounces Juniper Berries (crushed)
- 4 ounces Marshmallow Root
- 4 ounces Red Clover
If you are unable to find any of these ingredients, please look in stores or online to find them in capsule form. One bottle of about 60 capsules should yield approximately 1.4 oz but you will need to open each capsule and add them to the dry kidney cleanse tea mixture.
- Put all ingredients into a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid that holds at least 2 quarts. You may use any container, such as a pitcher or even an unused gallon-size Ziploc freezer bag.
- Put the top on and turn & shake the container to make an even blend of all ingredients.
- Each evening, put 2 heaping tablespoons of the tea mixture into a pot and add 3 cups of filtered water.
- Cover the pot, put it over the lowest heat and allow it to gradually come to a simmer. When it has simmered, turn off the heat and keep it covered as it cools naturally on the stove.
- In the morning, you can strain the tea into any glass container and leave it at room temperature.
- Do not refrigerate the tea and do not add anything to the tea.
- The tea is very effective when sipped first thing in the morning, followed by a large glass of water about 15 minutes later.
- First thing in the morning, begin to sip the tea (about 4 to 6 oz at a time).
- After drinking the tea, wait at least an hour before your next meal and wait at least an hour after eating before sipping more tea. Drink the tea as often as possible between meals, but only take small sips at a time.
*A Warning About Buying Pre-Made Kidney Cleanse Formulas
If you do prefer to purchase a pre-made brand of kidney cleanse tea, there are some ingredients to avoid: Green Tea and Uva Ursi. Green Tea is erroneously used by companies who know that it is a potent antioxidant but these companies are unaware of the damage that the caffeine and polyphenols in green tea can cause to the kidneys! Uva Ursi is a diuretic and its only function is to prompt urination. It tends to cause a sense of constant urgency (need to urinate) if the kidneys are unhealthy which is neither comfortable nor necessary. If you are drinking enough water with your kidney cleanse, you will have no need for this ingredient which only makes you urinate more. Avoiding green tea and uva ursi can ensure that you only help your body and will help you to have a comfortable kidney cleanse.
Deciding When To Do a Kidney Cleanse
For more information on kidney cleansing and to find out whether you need one, read the article and take the quiz "Do I Need A Kidney Cleanse?" and refer to the Cleanse Order List on "What Should I Cleanse First?"
