Abstract

ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL DIURETICS OVER SYNTHETIC DIURETICS AS A PART OF TREATMENT

Sameer A. Hedaoo* and Dr. Mitali M. Bodhankar

ABSTRACT

Diuretics, in one form or another, have been around for centuries and this review sets out to chart their development and clinical use. Starting with the physiology of the kidney, it progresses to explain how diuretics actually work, via symports on the inside of the renal tubules. The different classes of diuretics are characterized, along with their mode of action. The clinical use of diuretics in conditions like congestive cardiac failure and hypertension. An account of the adverse effects of synthetic diuretics is given along with benefits of natural diuretics over synthetic. Common adverse effects like hypokalaemia and hyponatraemia are prevalent. Medicinal herbs are the significant source as Diuretics. There exist a large number of studies which supports the diuretic effects of traditional herbal medicines. This article reviews the various herbal plants used traditionally as diuretics and chemical constituent of the plant promoting diuresis. This work may mark an important milestone for the researchers in the selection of medicinal plant for carrying their work on diuretics.

Keywords: Natural Diuretics, Herbal Diuretics, Benefits of Natural Diuretics.