Prevention is a basic tenet of holistic health, and a necessity
for the maintenance of optimal kidney health. In its role as
blood filter and detoxifier (fluid and waste manager) the kidney
is open to significant abuse, from within and without. Balance
is another key wellness principal, and the physical
manifestation of balance is the kidney. They are two symmetrical
bean-shaped organs, about the size of a fist, located in the
lower back and below the ribs. Through their vital function of
filtration they keep the body in fluid and chemical balance.
Countless tiny blood vessels remove potentially toxic waste
derived from drugs, and the breakdown of food and the tissues of
the body, while retrieving and recycling substances that the
body requires for homeostasis. They play a significant role in
acid-base balance, and the control of blood pressure. They also
secrete three essential hormones: renin–assists in the
regulation of blood pressure; erythropoietin–stimulates the
production of red blood cells; and calcit