Scientific Insights
Water retention is not just the body's tendency to retain excess fluids. More precisely, it can be defined as the tendency of cells to retain fluids, toxins and salts [4].
When cells fail to get rid of the waste they produce - i.e. toxins, salts, and uric acids - waste concentration increases.
The stagnation of toxins causes interstitial fluids (fluids surrounding cells) to increase which in turn leads to the onset of water retention or swelling of the connective tissue - which in medical terms is called oedema [5].
Unlike cellulite, water retention is not just a women’s issue. Men can suffer from it too. But even if—for once—this condition, which also has aesthetic implications, can affect men, it’s still women who tend to experience it more frequently [6].
There are several possible causes behind water retention, such as5:
- a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, standing for too long,
- a diet high in sugar, salt, and alcohol,
- dehydration,
- hormone imbalances or specific phases in a woman's life, such as pregnancy and menopause,
- high blood pressure,
- use of certain medications.
Over the years, herbal medicine has increasingly studied these conditions, and several studies highlight the importance of a natural approach.
In the next section, we will go through some of them to understand how and why plant-based active ingredients can help promote diuresis and support the elimination of excess fluids and toxins.
Experimental Phytotherapy
The formulation of Diuresan Formula Potenziata includes Pilosella, Birch, Orthosiphon, Ash and Hibiscus.
Here follow some in-depth studies carried out on these ingredients.
Pilosella
- Stanojević L, Stanković M, Nikolić V, Nikolić L, Ristić D, Canadanovic-Brunet J, Tumbas V. Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Hieracium pilosella L. Extracts. Sensors (Basel). 2009;9(7):5702-14. doi: 10.3390/s90705702. Epub 2009 Jul 16. PMID: 22346723; PMCID: PMC3274148.
In this study, researchers confirm that Pilosella is a powerful antioxidant with a remarkable diuretic effect.
Birch
- Raudonė L, Raudonis R, Janulis V, Viškelis P. Quality evaluation of different preparations of dry extracts of birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves. Nat Prod Res. 2014;28(19):1645-8. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2014.925893. Epub 2014 Jun 17. PMID: 24934103.
This study investigated the effects of Birch in different types of preparations and proved that it is in the form of dry extracts that Pilosella is the most effective.
Orthosiphon
- Ameer OZ, Salman IM, Asmawi MZ, Ibraheem ZO, Yam MF. Orthosiphon stamineus: traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. J Med Food. 2012 Aug;15(8):678-90. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2011.1973. Epub 2012 Jun 25. PMID: 22846075.
This analysis provides a comprehensive summary of the current chemical, pharmacological, and toxicological research available on Orthosiphon.
Specifically, researchers have found that this plant possesses diuretic, hypouricemic, nephroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, and antimicrobial properties.
The authors conclude that Orthosiphon has broad traditional and functional uses in various pathophysiological conditions.
Ash tree
- Younis T, Khan MR, Sajid M, Majid M, Zahra Z, Shah NA. Fraxinus xanthoxyloides leaves reduced the level of inflammatory mediators during in vitro and in vivo studies. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Jul 19;16:230. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1189-7. PMID: 27430329; PMCID: PMC4949749.
This study highlights the therapeutic potential of Algerian or Afghan Ash leaves against inflammatory disorders thanks to the presence of a chloroform fraction.
- Casadebaig J, Jacob M, Cassanas G, Gaudy D, Baylac G, Puech A. Physicochemical and pharmacological properties of spray-dried powders from Fraxinus excelsior leaf extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 Sep;26(2):211-6. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(89)90069-x. PMID: 2601362.
This study confirms that Ash excelsior leaf extracts are effective against body fluid retention and are supportive of the urinary tract function.
- Younis T, Khan MR, Sajid M, Majid M, Zahra Z, Shah NA. Fraxinus xanthoxyloides leaves reduced the level of inflammatory mediators during in vitro and in vivo studies. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Jul 19;16:230. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1189-7. PMID: 27430329; PMCID: PMC4949749.
In this research, another property of Ash tree leaves was investigated and confirmed, which is the activity against inflammatory disorders.
Hibiscus
- Da-Costa-Rocha I, Bonnlaender B, Sievers H, Pischel I, Heinrich M. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. - a phytochemical and pharmacological review. Food Chem. 2014 Dec 15;165:424-43. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.05.002. Epub 2014 May 27. PMID: 25038696.
This research is a summary of studies that have documented how Hibiscus, in addition to its draining effect, also exhibits antibacterial, antioxidant, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic (cholesterol-lowering), and antihypertensive properties.
- Alarcón-Alonso J, Zamilpa A, Aguilar FA, Herrera-Ruiz M, Tortoriello J, Jimenez-Ferrer E. Pharmacological characterization of the diuretic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (Malvaceae) extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Feb 15;139(3):751-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.005. Epub 2011 Dec 13. PMID: 22178178.
This study highlighted that a compound, quercetin, found in Hibiscus sabdariffa (also known as karkadè) acts on the vascular endothelium by triggering the release of nitric oxide, which increases the kidney vasodilation and thereby promotes kidney filtration. Therefore, the diuretic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa may be mediated by nitric oxide release.
[1] July 1, 2014 EMA/HMPC/680373/2013 Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) Assessment report on Hieracium pilosella L., herba (PDF).
[2] Nat Prod Res. 2014;28(19):1645-8. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2014.925893. Epub 2014 Jun 17. Quality evaluation of different preparations of dry extracts of birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves. Raudonė L, Raudonis R, Janulis V, Viškelis P.
[3] Ameer OZ, Salman IM, Asmawi MZ, Ibraheem ZO, Yam MF. Orthosiphon stamineus: traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. J Med Food. 2012 Aug;15(8):678-90. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2011.1973. Epub 2012 Jun 25. PMID: 22846075.
[4] Humanitas San Pio X - Leg water retention, how to counteract it? - Dr. Massimo Callegari - 04/07/2017.
[5] Humanitas Gavazzeni - Medical encyclopedia: Water retention.
[6] Humanitas Research hospital - Symptoms: Water retention.
I nostri testi hanno scopo divulgativo, non vanno intesi come indicazione di diagnosi e cura di stati patologici e non vogliono sostituirsi in alcun modo al parere del Medico.