Researchers reviewed studies on 29 herbs that are both food and medicine to see if they could help people with diabetic kidney disease—a serious condition where high blood sugar damages the kidneys. These herbs appear to work by reducing inflammation, fighting harmful molecules called free radicals, and stopping scarring in the kidneys. The study suggests these herbs could be a helpful addition to regular diabetes treatment, though more research in humans is still needed to confirm how well they work.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether 29 herbs that people eat as both food and medicine could help treat kidney damage caused by diabetes
  • Who participated: This was a review of existing research studies, not a new experiment with people. Researchers looked at studies published up to March 2025 about these herbs and how they affect diabetic kidney disease
  • Key finding: All 29 herbs studied appeared safe and showed promise in reducing kidney damage through multiple different mechanisms—fighting inflammation, reducing harmful molecules, and preventing scarring
  • What it means for you: These herbs may offer an additional tool to help protect kidneys in people with diabetes, but they should not replace standard diabetes medications. Talk to your doctor before adding any herbs to your treatment plan

The Research Details

This was a review study, meaning researchers didn’t do their own experiment. Instead, they carefully searched through medical databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase) to find all published studies about food-medicine herbs and diabetic kidney disease. They looked at studies published from the beginning of medical records through March 2025.

The researchers collected information about 29 different herbs, looking at what active compounds they contain, what kind of experiments tested them (mostly lab and animal studies), what benefits they showed, and how they worked at the molecular level. They organized all this information to understand the common ways these herbs protect kidneys.

This type of review is useful for seeing the big picture of what research exists and identifying patterns across many studies, but it doesn’t provide the strongest proof that something works in real people.

Review studies are important because they help doctors and patients understand what the overall evidence shows about a treatment. By looking at many studies together, researchers can see if there’s a consistent pattern of benefits. This review is particularly valuable because it identifies multiple herbs and explains the different ways they might protect kidneys, which could help guide future research and clinical decisions.

This review has some strengths: it searched multiple major medical databases thoroughly, focused on herbs with a long history of safe use, and identified specific molecular mechanisms. However, readers should know that most studies reviewed were laboratory or animal studies, not human trials. The review doesn’t provide a quality rating of individual studies or discuss how many human studies were included. More high-quality human research is needed before these herbs can be recommended as primary treatments.

What the Results Show

The review identified 29 herbs that appear to help protect kidneys in diabetic kidney disease. These herbs work through several different pathways in the body. First, they reduce inflammation by controlling molecules called NF-κB, interleukins, TNF-α, and adhesion molecules—basically, they calm down the immune system’s overactive response to high blood sugar.

Second, these herbs fight harmful molecules called free radicals (oxidative stress) through multiple pathways including Keap1/Nrf2/ARE and AMPK/SIRT. Think of free radicals like rust forming in the kidneys; these herbs help prevent that damage.

Third, the herbs prevent scarring (fibrosis) of kidney tissue by blocking TGF-β/Smad and Notch signaling pathways. Scarring is a major problem in diabetic kidney disease because it permanently damages kidney function.

Fourth, these herbs block the AGEs/RAGE axis—a process where high blood sugar creates harmful compounds that damage kidney cells. The herbs also help restore healthy gut bacteria, reduce cell death, activate cellular cleaning processes, and adjust microRNAs (tiny molecules that control genes).

Beyond the main protective mechanisms, the review noted that these herbs align well with medical nutrition therapy principles—meaning they work like food-based medicine rather than synthetic drugs. This is important because it suggests they may have fewer side effects and could be integrated into a person’s diet. The herbs appear to work through multiple different mechanisms simultaneously, which means they might be more effective than single-target drugs. The review also emphasizes that all 29 herbs studied have a long history of safe use in food and traditional medicine.

This review builds on growing evidence that traditional herbal approaches may offer benefits for modern diseases like diabetic kidney disease. Previous research has shown that inflammation and oxidative stress are major drivers of kidney damage in diabetes. This review confirms that multiple herbs can address these problems, which aligns with what we know about how kidney disease develops. However, most previous research on these herbs has been in laboratory and animal models, so this review highlights the need for more human studies to confirm these benefits.

This review has several important limitations. First, most of the studies reviewed were done in laboratories or animals, not in people with actual diabetic kidney disease. Second, the review doesn’t provide detailed quality assessments of the individual studies it examined, so we don’t know how rigorous each study was. Third, there’s no information about how many human clinical trials were included versus animal studies. Fourth, the review doesn’t discuss potential interactions between these herbs and diabetes medications. Finally, the review was published very recently (January 2025), so some of the research it cites may not have been peer-reviewed yet.

The Bottom Line

Based on this review, these 29 herbs show promise as a potential addition to standard diabetes treatment for protecting kidneys. However, confidence level is moderate because most evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies. Recommendations: (1) Talk to your doctor before adding any herbs to your diabetes treatment; (2) Don’t replace your prescribed diabetes medications with herbs; (3) Consider these herbs as a complementary approach alongside standard care; (4) Look for future human clinical trials to confirm benefits.

This research is most relevant to people with diabetes who have or are at risk for kidney disease. It may also interest healthcare providers looking for additional treatment options. People taking blood thinners, certain diabetes medications, or with kidney disease should be especially careful to consult their doctor before using these herbs. This research is NOT a substitute for standard medical care and should not be used to delay or replace proven diabetes treatments.

Based on the studies reviewed, benefits in kidney protection would likely take weeks to months to develop, not days. In animal studies, improvements in inflammation and oxidative stress markers were typically seen after 4-12 weeks of treatment. However, human studies would be needed to confirm realistic timelines for people with diabetic kidney disease. Don’t expect immediate results; think of these herbs as long-term kidney protection tools.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily herb consumption and kidney health markers: log which herbs you consume daily, monitor blood sugar levels (as instructed by your doctor), and record any changes in kidney function tests (creatinine, eGFR) at your regular doctor visits. Create a simple daily checklist of herbs consumed.
  • Start by incorporating one or two of these herbs into your regular diet in food form (like ginger in tea, turmeric in meals, or garlic in cooking) rather than supplements. Use the app to set daily reminders to include these herbs in meals and track consistency over time. Gradually add more herbs as tolerated while monitoring how you feel.
  • Create a long-term tracking dashboard that shows: (1) herbs consumed weekly, (2) blood sugar readings, (3) kidney function test results from doctor visits (every 3-6 months), (4) general wellness notes, and (5) any side effects or interactions noticed. Set quarterly check-in reminders to review progress with your healthcare provider and adjust your herb intake accordingly.

This review summarizes research on herbs that may help with diabetic kidney disease, but it is not medical advice. These herbs should never replace your prescribed diabetes medications or kidney disease treatments. Before starting any herbs or supplements, especially if you have kidney disease, take blood thinners, or use diabetes medications, consult your doctor or pharmacist to check for interactions and safety. Some herbs can affect kidney function or interact with medications. This information is for educational purposes only. Always work with your healthcare team to manage your diabetes and kidney health.