Hey Wesley.

I'm a 28 year old female and I've recently diagnosed myself as having Edema (water retention) after at least 15 years of daily swelling in my lower legs and hands.
I had always noticed it had to do with certain foods, but until I stumbled accross "Edema" on the net and relized the symptoms and causes were almost exact to what I was having. So i did some research and looked for a natural herb to help edema, (I don't trust drugs or diuretics). I wrote down a few names in my memo pad of herbs that are supposed to help and kept it on my mind for a few days. I was at the airport and my flight had been delayed for an hour. I went into the GNC. I Looked at a few of the herbs on my list and asked the guy behind the register if he knew anything about them. He handed me a book they keep of herbs and their effects. So I chose "Horsetail" as it also helped with Osteoperosis (which my mum has) and Urinary tract infections. I took 6 tablets that day (recomended dosage) and I could not belive the difference in the swelling especially whilst flying! I normally swell EVERY DAY and on that day i was normal and my legs didn't hurt.
I peed a number of times that day, but they felt nice and easy (if you can imagine that) i guess because I was releasing all the water I retained.
I also checked if there were any bad effects, and the only thing I came up with is that if you take too many in one day you can feel queezy...the feeling I rekon is comparable to that of nicotine overdose.
So perhaps when you go without peeing take a few "horsetail" and it'll help you a long.
good luck,
laura

Wesley, I wish I had found your post DAYS ago....you
CANNOT go days without your kidneys acting....poisons
build up in your system...and it can literally kill you....
I ALWAYS try alternative therapies FIRST...and usually
have very good luck...but sometimes we MUST see a physician...
Just wondered how you're doing NOW....your kidneys should
act several times a day...EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!

If they're just sluggish...try pineapple juice...lots of it...
also grapefruit juice and orange juice are good...and drink
some good water along with that off and on...horsetail as
mentioned in the other response is very good....if you have
a juicer or live in a big city where you can get "fresh"
juice...a vegetable juice of carrots, apples, Celery and a
little parsley is very good.....also Watermelon is very good...
there are lots of things to help sluggish kidneys...but if
they stop COMPLETELY....don't play games...get to a doctor...
hope you'll let us know how you're doing...kathryn 101

Do you by any chance take licorice? Have you had your adrenal function checked? The moonface could indicate Cushing's Disease. It could also be a side-effect of too much licorice consumption. If you are not urinating I would definitely see a doctor right away instead of messing around trying to figure this out on your own. It's pretty serious business when you aren't elimating waste and your electolytes are out of whack.

You need to undergo some investigations. To rule out any changes in the kidney and liver function.

Dr.Venugopal Gouri.