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What do kidneys do?
Most of us know that the kidney’s main function is the removal of excess fluids and waste products from the body. These things are excreted in the urine. The production of urine in kidneys is a highly complex process involving various steps of excretion and re-absorption. To maintain a stable balance of the chemicals in the body, these processes are of utmost importance. We can summarise a few major functions of kidneys as:
- B - control BLOOD PRESSURE.
- E - maintain ELECTROLYTE balance.
- A - maintain ACID-base balance.
- T - remove TOXINS and waste products.
- D - activate vitamin D.
- E - produce the hormone ERYTHROPOIETIN.
- W - control WATER balance.
What is kidney failure?
Anything associated with the term “failure” always leaves a horrifying impression. Kidney failure is a state where 85-90% of your kidney function may have been lost. Since a major percentage of your kidneys are lost, the remaining percentage is not enough to keep you alive. There is no absolute cure for kidney failure in allopathy, but it is possible to prolong life with ayurvedic treatment. Having kidney failure does not mean the end of life. People with kidney failure, if provided with appropriate treatment, can have an active life and continue to do the things they love. Acute kidney failure treatment in Ayurveda has always been helpful for renal patients.
What causes kidney failure?
There are various reasons contributing to the state of kidney failure. Kidney failure would not happen overnight. When the diseases affecting kidney health are left untreated for a long time, it could lead to a state of kidney failure.
In cases where kidneys lose their function suddenly (within hours or days), the state is called Acute Kidney Failure. This type of kidney failure is found in fewer numbers. A few common causes of acute kidney failure are:
- Autoimmune kidney diseases
- Certain medications or injury
- Severe dehydration
- A urinary tract obstruction
- Uncontrolled systemic diseases like heart disease or liver disease
The biggest causes of kidney failure in the present world are:
- Diabetes: Unmanaged diabetes leads to raised blood sugar levels. Consistent high blood sugar damages the body organs, including the kidneys.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension), if not treated, damages the kidneys’ tissue.
Other probable causes of chronic kidney disease include:
- Polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition where fluid-filled cysts grow inside your kidneys.
- Glomerulonephritis, an inflammatory condition which affects the kidney’s filtering ability.
- Lupus and other autoimmune diseases affecting multiple body systems.
Also Read : Ayurvedic medicine for kidney cyst – kidneyandayurveda.com
What happens when kidneys fail?
As we all know, kidney failure does not happen overnight. It results from a gradual loss of kidney function. Some people are not able to figure out their kidney disease until their kidneys fail. This happens because people in the early stage of kidney disease may not have any symptoms. Symptoms usually show up in a later stage with the progression of the disease and may include:
- Anemia
- Decreased appetite
- Difficulty in sleeping
- edema of feet or ankles
- General body weakness
- Itching
- Lethargy
- muscle cramps and twitches (especially in the legs)
- Sudden weight loss
What treatments are available for kidney failure in Ayurveda in India?
Ayurveda always works by understanding the reasons behind the disease. In patients with Acute Kidney failure, it has been observed that people have disturbed Agni, due to which the food is not digested properly. Ayurveda assesses the Dosha, Dushya, Adhishthana of the disease and the capabilities of the patient. After proper identification, Acute Kidney Disease Treatment in Ayurveda incorporates appropriate therapeutic interventions. There is no terminology for Kidney Failure in Ayurveda but on the basis of pathogenesis, a management plan is decided.
In the case of acute kidney failure, the detection and management of the primary cause are essential. Kidney Failure can be confirmed by blood and urine tests and other tests like CT scans or MRIs.
In Ayurveda, acute kidney failure or Mutravaha strotosdushti is primarily treated using Basti Karma (Enema therapy). A medicated enema is a detox therapy that is infused through the urinary tract to cleanse the accumulated toxins. It also eliminates the aggravated doshas that may have been the reason for kidney complications. Some herbal medicines used to repair kidney damage are Punarnavadi Guggulu, Gokshuadi Guggulu, Chandraprabha Vati, Punarnavadi Qadha and Haritaki. Specific diet (Ahaar) and lifestyle (Vihaar) changes are also recommended by Ayurvedic experts to combat kidney disease.
The contemporary system of treatment costs high to patients. Hence, there is a need to establish affordable medical care with no side effects. Our ancient system of treatment is available with sustainable remedial measures. As per Ayurveda, for all types of urine disorders, Vata dosha is the causative factor collaborating with Pitta and Kapha. Hence, person specific treatment (Acute Kidney Disease treatment in Ayurveda) is applied considering Doshas. The proposed line of kidney failure treatment is virechana, swedana, mutrapravartaka, raktaprasadaka, agni deepan and sarva dhathu poshaka. There is also a concept of pathya-apathyas (compatibles-incompatibles) in ayurveda. Ayurveda medicines include regenerative herbs under the topic of Rasayana Chikitsa, which helps regenerate nephrons.
Also Read : Can you live a normal life with Nephrotic Syndrome?
Herbs like 'Punarnava', 'Gokhuru', and 'Varuna' are always found to be life saviors for patients with chronic kidney disease. 'Varuna' acts as a blood purifier and helps to maintain homeostasis, while 'Gokhuru' is found beneficial in rejuvenation of kidney nephrons.
It is always advised that one should not take any medicines without proper consultation.
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