List of Herbs for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is not curable, but it can be treated. Herbs may ease some symptoms, but consult your doctor before adding any herbs to your treatment plan.

Uva Ursi
Uva ursi, also called bearberry or rockberry, is an herbal remedy that has been used to help treat urinary tract infections. It also acts as a diuretic. Individuals with PKD may have chronic urinary tract infections, and the antibacterial properties of this herb make it an effective remedy for these infections.

Garlic
Garlic contains antioxidants, which help protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals. Garlic has antibacterial properties and has also been shown to help lower high blood pressure. Although PKD does not cause high blood pressure, controlling your blood pressure can help slow the progression of PKD.

Dandelion
Dandelion is an herb that is full of nutrients and medicinal properties. Dandelion has been used traditionally to help treat kidney disease. It acts as a diuretic, promoting the excretion of wastes from the kidneys. This herb can be consumed as a decoction, tincture or powdered extract. For kidney and diuretic purposes, the leaves are used; a common dose is 500 mg of standardized leaf powdered extract, one to three times a day.

Sparganum stoloniferum
PKD is associated with mutations in two key proteins, namely polycystin-1 and polycystin-2, PC2. PC2 creates channels in the membrane of cells to allow the passage of potassium, sodium, and calcium, which is necessary for the formation of PKD. The Chinese herb Sparganum stoloniferum, commonly known as bur-reed. The effects of bur-reed on human PC2 channels and found they were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Their study suggests that Sparganum contains components that are inhibitors of PC2 channels and could be an alternative therapy for PKD.

Orthosiphon stamineus
Orthosiphon stamineus, also know as misai kucing, is an Indonesian medicinal herb used for diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and PKD.

Paeonia lactiflora
PKD may be aggravated by a condition called hyperoxaluria, which is the urinary excretion of a salt, calcium oxalate. Adhesion of the salt crystals to kidney cells may be a key event in the pathogenesis of kidney stones and PKD. The researchers found that a compound isolated from a traditional medicinal herb, Paeonia lactiflora, also called Chinese peony, reduced crystal adhesion to kidney cells by acting on the cells as well as on the crystal surface. The authors claim that this study demonstrates that the purported compound reduces renal crystallization and renal cell injury, and may be a prospective preventive agent for PKD.
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