People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have high levels of potassium and phosphorus. These levels must typically be monitored closely, especially in those who are on dialysis. Having too-high levels of potassium and phosphorus can affect your kidney health and damage them further. Because these same nutrients appear in common herbal supplements, it is important to consult your doctor before taking them.*

How can herbal supplements be harmful to kidney disease?

Herbal supplements have the potential to interact with your kidney disease medications. Certain herbs—like St. John’s Wort, echinacea, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, ginger, and blue cohosh—can interact with some kidney medications and should be discussed with your healthcare provider before taking them.

Furthermore, some supplements contain aristolochic acid, which is harmful to the kidneys. In some countries, herbal supplements have heavy metals that can be detrimental to overall health. 

Those with a history of a bleeding disorder, who are pregnant, or are lactating should also proceed with caution and discuss any potential interactions with their doctor, healthcare provider, or renal dietitian before taking a supplement.

What supplements contain potassium or phosphorus?

Some of the herbal supplements that contain potassium include:

• Alfalfa
• American Ginseng
• Bai Zhi (root)
• Bitter Melon (fruit, leaf)
• Black Mustard (leaf)
• Blessed Thistle
• Chervil (leaf)
• Chicory (leaf)
• Chinese Boxthorn (leaf)
• Coriander (leaf)
• Dandelion (root, leaf)
• Dulse
• Evening Primrose
• Feverfew
• Garlic (leaf)
• Genipap (fruit)
• Goto Kola
• Japanese Honeysuckle (flower)
• Kelp
• Kudzu (shoot)
• Lemongrass
• Mugwort
• Noni
• Papaya (leaf, fruit)
• Purslane Sage (leaf)
• Safflower (flower)
• Sassafras
• Scullcap
• Shepherd’s Purse
• Stinging Nettle (leaf)
• Turmeric (rhizome)
• Water Lotus

Some herbal supplements that contain phosphorus include:

• American Ginseng
• Bitter Melon
• Borage (leaf)
• Buchu (leaf)
• Coriander (leaf)
• Evening Primrose
• Feverfew
• Flaxseed (seed)
• Horseradish (root)
• Indian Sorrel (seed)
• Milk Thistle
• Onion (leaf)
• Pokeweed (shoot)
• Purslane
• Shepherd’s Purse
• Silk Cotton Tree (seed)
• Stinging Nettle (leaf)
• Sunflower (seed)
• Turmeric (rhizome)
• Water Lotus
• Yellow Dock

Are there other supplements that could be harmful?

In addition to supplements that contain potassium and phosphorus, there are some other herbal supplements that people with any stage of kidney disease should avoid for various reasons. Diuretics, for example, like buchu leaves, juniper berries, uva ursi (bearberry), and parsley capsules, can lead to kidney irritation or damage. 

Other such supplements to avoid include:

• Astragalus
• Barberry
• Cat’s Claw
• Apium Graveolens
• Creatine
• Goldenrod
• Horsetail
• Huperzine A
• Java Tea Leaf
• Licorice Root
• Nettle or Stinging Nettle
• Oregon Grape Root
• Parsley Root
• Pennyroyal
• Ruta Graveolens
• Uva Ursi
• Yohimbe

*National Kidney Foundation. (2019, June 17). Herbal Supplements and Kidney Disease. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/herbalsupp