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Hydrangea is an outstanding herb for those concerned with kidney, bladder, prostate and general urinary tract health.
Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens) is related to the garden variety of hydrangea, though a distant North American relative. Hydrangea macrophylla is of Asian origin and is also used medicinally.
History; Source
The Cherokee Indians used hydrangea for kidney and bladder stones and introduced it to the early settlers. It became very popular with the eclectic American herbalists of the 19th century, entering the medical world in the 1850s as a treatment for any irritable condition of the urinary tract. In fact, it was used to treat one of the most uncomfortable conditions on the medical books, urinary stones.
The bark was used by the American Indians externally for wounds, burns, sore muscles and sprains.
Most of hydrangea's health benefits come from the root, which is usually collected in the fall. Hydrangea is found in herbal combinations and tinctures and is a welcome addition to any herbal program that addresses cleansing, elimination or general conditioning.
Function; Reasons For Use
Hydrangea contains compounds that are antibacterial. The most common use for hydrangea is for the kidneys and bladder because of its effective diuretic quality which helps increase the flow of urine. This takes impurities out of the system and lessens the likelihood of infection along the entire urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, prostate (in men) and urethra.
Wild hydrangea is very specifically active in reducing unpleasant sensations issuing from the urinary tract, whether due to a stone or prostatitis. Dr. Ellingwood wrote in 1905, "Frequent urination with heat, burning, accompanied with quick, sharp, acute pains in the urethra, partial suppression of urine with general irritation and aching or pain in the back, pain from the passage of renal sand, are direct indications for this agent."
Diuretic herbs like hydrangea are a helpful addition to cleansing programs to assist in the elimination of toxins. Hydrangea is also known to be a tonic, as it produces a healthy reaction from the kidneys and bladder so that they can function better. When an organ works more efficiently, there is less strain on the entire system so that the rest of the body is rejuvenated.
Other uses for hydrangea include its diaphoretic properties (promoting perspiration and cooling the body) and its influence on the circulatory system.
Directions
Use as a tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): 2.5ml, 3 times daily.
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Hydrangea can help with the following: | | | | | Organ Health |  Kidney Disease | Hydrangea is best known for its solvent properties that help break down and prevent further formation of stones and deposits in the urinary system. Hydrangea has been used for hundreds of years in folk medicine to contribute to the elimination of deposits in the bladder and kidneys. |
 Gallbladder Disease| | Hydrangea is considered an anti-lithic herb, which prevents stones or gravel from forming in the kidneys and bladder. Anti-lithic herbs can also assist the body in removing stones and gravel from these organs. |
Kidney Stones (Urolithiasis)| | A Dr. Scudder, writing in 1874, wrote: "[Hydrangea] is a valuable remedy in diseases of urinary apparatus. It gives tone to the kidneys, improving their functional activity, and thus tends to arrest the formation of urinary deposits and calculi. It relieves irritation of the bladder and urethra and hence proves serviceable in cases of gravel."
A Dr. Ellingwood wrote, in 1905: "About the year 1830 experiments were conducted to prove [Hydrangea's] influence in relieving pain caused by the presence and passage of urinary calculi, and favourable reports were made of its direct usefulness. Its influence controlled the pain in a satisfactory manner, relieved general distress, and soothed irritation." |
 Prostatitis| | Wild hydrangea is very specifically active in reducing unpleasant sensations issuing from the urinary tract, whether due to a stone or prostatitis. Like most diuretic herbs, hydrangea is an excellent choice for treating inflamed or enlarged prostate glands. It is commonly combined with horsetail for this purpose. Maintaining healthy urine flow keeps the prostate less likely to constrict around the urethra, which prevents stagnant urine from causing more infection. This can also reduce inflammation by eliminating impurities from the prostate. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Acute
An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Diaphoretic
Sudorific, an agent promoting sweating.
Diuretic (Diuretics)
An agent increasing urine flow, causing the kidneys to excrete more than the usual amount of sodium, potassium and water.
Gland (Glands)
The glandular system is one of the most important and complicated systems of the body. Gland tissue can be either an organ or general tissue that secretes chemicals and there are two types of gland: exocrine and endocrine. Those glands which secrete chemicals through tubules or ducts are called exocrine and include sweat, tear and salivary glands. Ductless glands - part of the endocrine system - secrete special chemicals (hormones) directly into the blood.
Herbs (Herb, Herbal)
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be made with one teaspoon herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Tinctures may be used singly or in combination as noted. The high doses of single herbs suggested may be best taken as dried extracts (in capsules), although tinctures (60 drops four times per day) and teas (4 to 6 cups per day) may also be used.
Kidneys (Kidney, Renal)
Bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines, each day handling about 50 gallons of blood to sift out about half a gallon of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The actual filtering occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a million nephrons. In a nephron, a glomerulus -- which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary -- intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system. The kidneys recycle chemicals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and thus regulate their levels. Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.
Milliliter (mL)
0.001 or one thousandth of a liter.
Prostate
The prostate gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra and produces a secretion that liquefies coagulated semen.
Prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate. The causes may be varied, ranging from infection to portal congestion to cancer to increased adipose estradiol release in the middle-aged male... to over-use.
Tincture
An alcohol or water-alcohol solution, usually referring to a preparation from herbal materials.
Urinary Calculi
Concretions in the urethra.
Urinary Tract (UT)
The kidneys and the lower urinary tract, which includes the ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Last updated: Sep 28, 2008
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