An overview with Ayurveda treatment in kidney Diseases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 About Kidney Disease

• The kidneys are positioned on the upper-back side of the abdominal region, on either side of the spine. They are protected by the lower ribs.
• The kidneys are placed deep inside the abdomen, so it is not possible for anyone to feel them.
• The kidneys are bean-shaped organs about 10 cm long, 6 cm wide, and 4 cm thick in adults. Each kidney weighs around 150-170 grams. The two kidneys filter 200 liters of fluid every 24 hours with an output of 1-2 quartz urine per day.
• Urine is formed in the kidneys and flows down to the urinary bladder through the ureters. Each ureter is about 25 cm long hollow tube- like structure.
• The adult urinary bladder can hold up to 400-500 ml of urine (filled near capacity).

The continuous process of converting food into energy produces harmful toxic chemicals that need to be removed from the body. Kidneys are the filtering organs that remove these chemicals out in urine.

Functions of Kidney:-

•  Remove excess fluid from the blood and helps in maintaining electrolyte balance.
• Balance important minerals (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium) in your blood.
• Remove the waste materials formed from the breakdown of foods you eat and from normal muscle activity.
•  Remove toxins and drug by-products from your body.
• Release hormones that regulate blood pressure
• Active form of vitamin D production
• Red blood cells production

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease:-

Most people do not observe severe symptoms until the disease turns worse. However, you may keep a few commonly observed overlapping symptoms:

•  Low energy levels
•  Jumbled thinking (usually observed in the elderly)
•  Poor appetite, nausea, vomiting.
•  Insomnia
• Dry and itchy skin
• Muscles twitches and cramps usually observed at night
• Puffed eyes, edema in feet and ankles

Risk factors for kidney disease:-

Your doctor must check your underlying risk factors for KD. These include:

•  CHD or CVD
•  Diabetes mellitus
• Family history of kidney failure
•  Hypertension
• Old age

Kidney Diseases- Specialized Ayurvedic Treatment: Nephrotic Syndrome  

It is a disease seen more in both children and adults. It is characterized by high levels of protein in the urine but low levels of protein and high cholesterol levels in the blood. This occurs due to damage in the blood vessels of the kidneys. It usually occurs due to some disease, infection, some cancers, medicines, or some unknown causes. It has been observed that an ayurvedic medicine for kidney disease has been seen as immensely beneficial.

Nephritic Syndrome

This syndrome is also known as Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis. It has been observed more predominantly in adults. It is typically characterized by

•  reduced urine output,
•  blood and protein in the urine,
• swelling/edema in the body

Also read : Is Your kidney leaking protein? - Nephrotic Syndrome

This disease is also due to damage to the filtering mechanism of the kidneys. It is important to note that symptoms for the above syndromes may overlap with each other and with other diseases related to or affecting the kidneys.

The commonest physical manifestation of kidney-related disease is edema. This is known as "Kaphaj Shoth" in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic kidney disease treatment for such disorders needs long-term medications. It occurs because the disturbed kapha dosha responds slowly to treatment. 

Kidney Stones:

A stone in your kidney, ureter or urinary bladder is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are also called renal calculi. Kidney stones have been found as the common cause of blood in the urine. These stones often cause severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin region.

The most commonly observed causes for kidney stones are fewer intakes of fluids causing dehydration, diuretics or over-vitamin D therapy. Certain diseases like gout and bowel disorders also lead to stone formation. In Ayurveda, Mutrashmari is considered as a stone-like structure anywhere in the Urinary System. The stone related Kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda includes:

•  Nidana Parivarjanam means avoiding the causative factors;
• Specific Ahara & Vihara-describing the food habits & lifestyles to be followed

Samshodhana Chikitsa is a Panchakarma Procedures that includes

• Snehanam (Oleation),
• Swedanam (Suddation),
•  Virecana Karma (Purgation),
•  Vasthi Karma (Enemas)
• Uttara Vasthi

Chronic Renal Failure

Ayurvedic kidney disease treatment comprises an approach that aims to eradicate the root cause of the disease and rejuvenation of the damaged body organ.

Chronic kidney disease is caused due to damage or a decreased kidney glomerular filtration rate. This condition results in a progressive decline in kidney function, consequently leading to accumulation of toxic waste products, excess water, and salts in the body.

 The kidney treatment in ayurveda for chronic renal failure is based on three principles:

• Treating the damaged kidneys
• Treating the body tissues (dhatu) [As per Ayurveda, kidneys are made up of]
• Treating the known cause.

 The advantage of using ayurvedic medicine for kidney disease is that it helps the damaged kidney by

• Reversing the functioning of kidneys partly or fully,
• Reducing the frequency of dialysis
• Decreasing the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases

 Thus, kidney disease treatment in ayurveda has the potential for an important therapeutic contribution in all the stages of this condition.