Kidneys: Early Signs of Hidden Disorders

Dr. Boris Wydoff

The kidneys are one of the quietest organs. I consider mild morning puffiness under the eyes, tiredness, heaviness in the body, and slight evening swelling to be early signs of possible problems. In my system, attention to the kidneys begins with water, simple food, less salt, and warmth. With stones or kidney disease, any changes should be discussed with a doctor.

Why the kidneys may stay unnoticed for a long time

The kidneys work constantly, but we do not feel this work. Every day they clean the blood and remove what the body does not need. According to my books, each kidney contains about 1.3 million nephrons — working units made up of a vascular glomerulus and a renal tubule.

Blood is filtered through the glomeruli, while urine gradually forms in the tubules. It then collects in the renal calyces, passes into the renal pelvis, and travels through the ureter to the bladder. So the kidneys do more than simply remove water. They help regulate the composition of the blood and maintain the body's internal balance.

About 1 500–2 000 liters of blood pass through the kidneys in a day. With healthy kidney function, about 198 liters of fluid are reabsorbed into the blood. I give these figures specifically from books that describe how the kidneys work. They also emphasize that the kidneys remove uric acid, urea, salts, excess calcium, and other metabolic waste products.

All of this explains why I do not advise waiting for pronounced symptoms. In my approach, it is worth paying attention to small, recurring changes in how you feel. This is especially true of swelling, tiredness, and a feeling of heaviness.

Which signs appear first

The earliest sign I focus on is mild puffiness under the eyes in the morning. Sometimes it is barely noticeable. A person sees it in the mirror but quickly stops paying attention to it.

Then tiredness, heaviness in the body, and slight swelling in the evening may appear. Books associate these signs with possible overload of the excretory system. That is why I regard them as a reason to pay closer attention to your condition.

Naturopathy also pays attention to the iris of the eye. Books in this field describe the work of an iridologist who assesses initial changes based on the condition of the iris. I regard this as an additional approach, not as a substitute for medical examination.

There is another important connection. The kidneys do not work separately from the other organs of excretion. In my system, the intestines, liver, kidneys, blood vessels, and lymph are considered in sequence. That is why caring for the kidneys is not reduced to one drink or one procedure.

What can overload the kidneys

I pay a lot of attention to nutrition. According to my approach, too much animal protein creates additional work for the kidneys. After protein is broken down, substances are formed that then have to be eliminated.

I consider the combination of meat and salty food especially heavy. Books emphasize that ordinary table salt retains water in the tissues. That is why reducing salt has an important place in my system for easing the load.

At the same time, I do not advise giving up salt suddenly and completely. Books specifically note that this mistake is particularly undesirable in hot weather or during heavy physical exertion. I also advise paying attention to whether the salt you choose is refined.

During a period of easing the load, I make the diet simpler. Meat dishes are replaced with vegetables, beans, and mushrooms. Books also describe a vegetarian regimen that excludes animal proteins, eggs, sugar, and ordinary table salt.

I regard vegetables as an important part of this kind of diet. Raw and stewed vegetables provide alkaline minerals. Despite its sour taste, lemon is considered in the described approach to have an alkaline effect in metabolism and to help the kidneys eliminate acidic residues.

If you are interested in the broader topic of nutrition and the load on the excretory organs, it is useful to connect it with the article about signs of an overloaded liver and how to ease its load. In my system, the liver and kidneys are considered in sequence rather than in isolation.

Why I pay special attention to water

Water is the first helper of metabolism. Blood carries nutrients, while the kidneys remove what is unnecessary. Without clean water, according to my approach, metabolic processes are disrupted and the body may begin retaining water "in reserve."

This can lead to swelling. Sometimes a person mistakes thirst for hunger. That is why I begin with the simplest rule when it comes to drinking: warm water in the morning, and drink according to thirst during the day.

In my system, drinking is also considered separately from meals. Water is taken before food, not during meals. I do not suggest one universal liter allowance for everyone.

Water is also necessary for the kidneys themselves to function. Blood constantly passes through them, and unnecessary substances are removed from it. That is why I begin easing the load not with complicated procedures, but with the simplest thing — paying proper attention to drinking.

At the same time, drinking should not become a treatment procedure in itself. If a person already has kidney disease, their fluid intake should be discussed with a doctor. Individual restrictions are more important here than any general plan.

How I understand easing the load on the kidneys

Easing the load begins by reducing what the body has to eliminate. Therefore, for a certain period, I remove meat and eggs from the diet. They are replaced with vegetables, beans, and mushrooms.

I suggest reducing ordinary table salt. In my system, lemon juice or Celtic salt is used instead. I advise buying Celtic salt from a health food store and always checking whether the salt you choose is refined.

I do not consider it useful to keep eating meat dishes simply out of habit. Books associate animal protein with the formation of acidic waste that then has to be eliminated. Therefore, within my approach, the simpler the diet, the less additional work the excretory system has to do.

Books also describe separate eating for approximately two months. One of the suggested schedules is eating at 8:00 and 15:00. Another option is at 12:00 and 18:00. During this period, the recommendation is to eat twice a day, without frequent snacks.

In the described system, this schedule is intended to create long intervals between meals. Frequent eating means a constant supply of new metabolic products. That is why I regard simple, separate eating as part of the overall easing process.

I do not give the full cleansing sequence here. In my method, the order of actions matters more than an isolated piece of advice taken out of the overall system. I describe these programs in detail in my books and recommend going through them with a doctor.

How I understand the connection between the kidneys and blood pressure

The kidneys and blood pressure are directly connected. Books describe that when the renal vessels become hardened and blood flow decreases, the body raises overall blood pressure to maintain filtration.

Therefore, with persistent high blood pressure, I pay attention not only to the heart. In my system, it is also important to consider the condition of the kidneys. This does not mean that a person should change prescribed treatment on their own.

Dietary load reduction is considered part of the overall approach here. Water, reducing salt, and avoiding excess animal protein are part of the system for reducing additional strain. But persistent high blood pressure should be addressed together with a doctor.

Another part of my approach is connected with the blood vessels. Warmth, water, and movement are considered elements of general work with circulation. This connection is discussed in more detail in the article about capillaries, warmth, and movement.

Why the kidneys need warmth

I pay special attention to warmth. The kidneys like warmth, so I advise not sitting on cold surfaces and keeping the lower back covered. This is especially important in cool weather.

Books describe the use of warm baths in the Zalmanov system. A temperature of 36–37 degrees and a duration of 10–15 minutes in the evening are specified. After the bath, it is important to move into warmth immediately and avoid drafts.

I do not regard a bath as an independent treatment for kidney disease. It is one element of general work with warmth. With an already diagnosed disease, any procedures should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.

Books also describe longer baths combined with body massage using a coarse brush. They specify 20–25 minutes and particular attention to the abdomen, kidneys, and neck. I do not give the full sequence of these procedures here because it belongs to a comprehensive method.

Why I look at the body as a whole

The kidneys cannot be considered separately from the other organs of excretion. The liver participates in many metabolic processes and is connected with the gallbladder, intestines, kidneys, and blood vessels. That is why I try to build the work in sequence.

In my system, attention is first given to the large intestine and liver. Then the kidneys, blood vessels, and lymph are considered. Books separately emphasize the importance of the correct order of cleansing.

The condition of the intestines also matters to the overall excretory system. If the large intestine has not been cleansed, further work with stagnation, according to this approach, gives a weaker result. That is why caring for the kidneys is not limited to drinking or a warm bath.

After the liver and gallbladder, attention in the system moves to the kidneys. Every day they clean the blood and remove what the body does not need. Then the described sequence moves on to the blood vessels and lymph.

I discuss the connection with acid-base balance in more detail in the article about body acidity and its causes. Here, the main point is simple: I emphasize simple food, vegetables, water, and reducing unnecessary strain.

What to do if you already have stones or kidney disease

If a person has sand, stones, or a diagnosed kidney disease, I do not advise doing a cleansing program on your own. Any changes in diet or procedures should be discussed with a doctor. This is especially important when an individual regimen is required.

Books emphasize that the presence of sand or stones requires particular caution with food. Therefore, a general plan cannot simply be applied mechanically to someone with an established disease.

The same applies when a person takes medication or has other chronic diseases. A natural approach is not a reason to stop prescribed treatment. First, you need to understand the condition of the body and only then choose additional measures.

I also do not recommend using juices indiscriminately or changing their composition on your own. With diabetes, gallbladder or kidney stones, or an ulcer flare-up, introducing juices should be discussed with a doctor. Doses and compositions should be selected individually in such cases.

My task here is simpler: to show the early signals and explain the logic behind easing the load. If swelling keeps recurring or becomes worse, it is better not to rely only on observations at home.

How I structure care for the kidneys

I start with simple things. In the morning — warm water. During the day — drink according to thirst. In the diet — less ordinary table salt, no meat or eggs during the period of easing the load, and more vegetables, beans, and mushrooms.

The next element is warmth. I advise keeping the lower back covered and not sitting on cold surfaces. In the evening, the described system uses warm baths at a temperature of 36–37 degrees for 10–15 minutes.

Then the sequence of eating becomes important. Books describe a separate eating regimen for approximately two months. Two options are suggested: eating at 8:00 and 15:00, or at 12:00 and 18:00.

But individual actions do not replace a consistent program. Zalmanov recommended cleansing the kidneys two or three times a year. I describe the full method in my books because it should be carried out calmly, consistently, and with a doctor.

The main thing is not to wait until a quiet organ begins to make itself known sharply. Recurring morning swelling, heaviness, and tiredness already deserve attention. I prefer to begin with reasonable easing of the load and, with any diagnosed disorders, to act together with a doctor.

Contraindications and precautions

With sand, stones, or a diagnosed kidney disease, discuss any changes in diet and procedures with a doctor. Do not carry out complex cleansing programs on your own, especially if your condition requires medical supervision.

I do not advise suddenly and completely eliminating salt, especially in hot weather or during heavy physical exertion. When it comes to juices, with diabetes, kidney or gallbladder stones, or an ulcer flare-up, their introduction should be discussed with a doctor. Doses and compositions should be selected individually in such cases.

You should not stop prescribed medications on your own in favor of natural methods. Dietary load reduction and warmth may be part of an overall approach, but they do not replace diagnosis and medical care.

I pay particular attention to complex cleansing programs. They should not be reduced to one recipe or one procedure. In my system, the sequence is important, so I do not break the full method down into random individual actions.

When you need a doctor

Recurring swelling is already enough reason to pay closer attention to your health. This is especially important if tiredness, heaviness in the body, or high blood pressure also persists. With stones, sand, or a diagnosed kidney disease, I recommend seeing a doctor first. The same rule applies to chronic diseases and when taking medication.

If you need to change your drinking or eating routine, it is also better to discuss this beforehand. This is especially important when it comes to juices or other significant changes to your usual diet.

My approach should not turn into self-treatment. Its purpose is to pay closer attention to water, nutrition, warmth, and the overall load on the excretory system.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

Read next

All articles by Dr. Boris Wydoff’s method →