A few Kidney Disease and their ayurvedic treatments

Kidneys-The filtering Units of the human body

On either side of the spine, two bean shaped organs-kidneys are located in the abdominal region. Kidneys are placed safely under the cover of the lower ribs. It is not easy for anyone to feel the kidneys since these are placed deep inside the abdomen.

The size of adult human kidneys are found around 10 cm long, 6 cm wide, and 4 cm in thickness. It weighs around 150-170 grams each. The two kidneys filter about 200 litres of fluid every day.

Urine formation occurs in the kidneys and then flows down to the urinary bladder through the ureters. Each ureter measures around 22-30 cm. The ureter is a long hollow, tube-like structure. The adult urinary bladder can hold up to 400-500 ml of urine (filled near capacity).

Digestion is a long continuous process. It converts food into energy and, during the process, produces harmful toxic chemicals. These waste materials need to be removed from the body. Kidneys are the filtering organs that remove these chemicals from urine.

Functions of Kidney:-

Remove excess fluid from the blood and help maintain electrolyte balance.
Balance important minerals (sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium) in your blood.
Remove the waste 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
Production of an active form of vitamin D.
Production of red blood cells

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 are traditionally 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 with specialised Ayurvedic Treatment:

Nephrotic Syndrome

It is a disease seen more in both children and adults. It is characterised 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 disease, infection, cancers, medicines, or unknown causes. Ayurvedic treatment for kidney damage is found immensely beneficial.

Nephritic Syndrome

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

reduced urine output,
presence of blood and proteins in the urine,
swelling/edema in the body

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 condition 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 hard, crystalline material formed within the kidneys or urinary tract could be a stone in your kidney, ureter, or urinary bladder. Kidney stones are also called renal calculi. Kidney stones have been associated with the common cause of blood in the urine. These stones are often found to be causing shooting 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 are also associated with stone formation.

In Ayurveda, Mutrashmari is considered 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 Procedure that includes
Santhanam (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 disease's root cause and rejuvenate the damaged body organ. Chronic kidney disease can be caused due to damage or a decreased kidney glomerular filtration rate. This condition results in a progressive decline in kidney function, consequently accumulating toxic waste products, excess water, and salts in the body.

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