Am I taking too many supplements?

Question
I am taking the following supplements and I was wondering if I am taking too many: vit. d, imminublend consisting of echinacea and goldenseal, ginkgo, licorice root, neem, pau d'arco, spirulina, and a kidney and bladder supplement with juniper berry, parsley leaf, ginger root, una ursi, marshmallow, cramp bark, and golenseal.  And, if I am taking too many supplements then what should I lower or eliminate?  Defending my body against being sick and building up my immune system, as well as trying to strengthen my bladder and kidney are the most important goals I have.


Answer
Hello,



Sorry it took me so long to respond.  I was on vacation with my family for my son's birthday and I forgot to set my vacation reminder :)



You have a very good question.   I see a lot of people in my clinic who are supplement confused.  There are some good things on the market, but it is hard to make sense of it all sometimes.



As for your health goals, balancing Kidney energy is essential for greater vitality and longer life according to Chinese Medicine.  There can be different conditions that can develop from Kidney imbalances. Kidney energy can stagnate causing kidney stones.  Heat can occur in the Kidney's causing kidney infections.  And cold can develop in the Kidneys causing weakness in the lower back, knees, and prostate issues. I am not sure of what issue you are experiencing, because you didn't say.  



The Kidney and bladder supplement are containing a few herbs that help with all of those things.  Here is what I see in a nutshell:



Juniper Berry is a diuretic and is an anti-inflammatory.  for 'Hot' conditions.

Ginger is warming and doesn't really effect the Kidneys, but is an overall tonic for "cold" conditions.

Parsley is also a diuretic and neutral in its energy.

Uva Ursi is heating, has anti-bacterial properties and is a diuretic.

Marshmallow is soothing and a demulcent.

Cramp Bark moves energy and is great for the Blood and Liver.

Goldenseal is heating and is astringent in taste, which helps the Kidneys.  It also is a strong antibacterial agent.



You have to be cautious when taking too many diuretics.  You can be loosing potassium in your urine. Potassium is an essential mineral that helps to regulate heart function.  Take diuretics until oil, dark-colored urine becomes more normal or clear, and puffiness under the eyes is reduced.  The area of skin under the eyes is related to the Kidneys.  Puffiness means retention of water where diuretics are appropriate.  Any dark circles, could mean a Kidney deficiency, where diuretics are not appropriate.



As for your immune-blend, how often are you taking it?  Echinacea should not be taken more than 10 days at a time.  With 10 days off before starting it again.  It will loose its effectiveness at increasing your immune response if taken long term or over many days.  It can actually put your immune system on too high of alert, which can possibly cause immune burnout.  Goldenseal is also an herb that should not be taken long term.  It is very irradiating to the digestive system and if taken too long can cause digestive upset as well as dry out the lungs, because of its heating nature. Neem and pau d'arco also land in this category with digestive upsets and should not be taken but for acute bacterial infections. Ginko B. is an herb that is an adaptogen.  It is good for over all tonic, but it can have a similar effect like caffeine. Spirolina is a chelating agent.  Meaning it attaches to free radicals and other heavy substances in the body and passes them through the Liver and Colon to be released by the body.  It is safe to take long term.  But is more effective taken by itself.  So as for your immune system,there are more effective ways to build it up without having side effects of the goldenseal, neem, and pau'darco, and echinasea herbs.  I wrote a great article on the benefits of apple cidar vinegar (or pickle juice) for strengthening the Lungs and immune system.  Vinegar is also very good at balancing the overall Kidney energy.  You can find this article on my website here,

http://www.phxherbs4kids.com/health-faq/16-pickle-juice-for-asthma.html



Only you can decide if you are taking too many supplements.  I don't really recommend supplements to my clients, because usually it ends up as expensive urine--meaning they are digesting any of it.  Please let me know if you have any other questions and good luck with your journey to optimum well being.



Cheers,

Dr. C