Renal failure, also known as kidney failure is a condition in which a person's both the kidneys no longer function on their own. The condition of this failure can either be chronic or temporary. The alternatives for kidney failure can be dialysis or kidney transplant which serves limited kidney functioning. The causes of renal failure can be multiple like diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune kidney diseases, intake of certain medications, severe dehydration, and obstruction in urinary tract or uncontrolled liver disease. The symptoms associated with renal failure are fatigue, indigestion, vomiting, swelling in hands, ankles; frequent urination, itchy skin and poor appetite.
‘Mutravikara upadrava’ is the ayurvedic term for chronic kidney disease. According to ayurveda, the kidneys are made up of Rakta and Medha dhatus and form the root of madovahastrotas. Thus, kidney failure or any other kidney malfunctioning occurs as a result of vitiation of these dhatus. Kidney failure also occurs due to accumulation of Vata dosha.
Now, when we observe the line of treatment of renal failure in ayurveda, it mainly focuses on treating the root cause of the same. Here, in this case it is the vitiation of dhatus and the toxicity in the kidney. Thus, the panchakarma procedure is employed in order to clear up the toxins from the body and enrich the nourishment in the dhatus. This is done by various procedures like enema therapy, decoction, liquid herbal supplements and strong medications to cleanse the body.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a disorder in which the kidneys gradually and permanently stop performing. When the kidneys fail to perform their function, the body suffers lots of new problems. These problems are potentially fatal. And the most fundamental difficulty is that every hospital recommends kidney transplantation or dialysis. But, none of these is a long-term aid from renal conditions. Ayurvedic therapy for CKD is more realistic and results-oriented in this situation. Because Ayurveda is based on the concept of reversing harm, Ayurvedic therapy aids in the greater rejuvenation of the kidneys.
|
Stage |
Kidney function |
Kidney working |
Values |
|
1 |
Is near to normal |
>90% |
90ml/min |
|
2 |
Mild decrease in working capacity |
60-89% |
60-89ml/min |
|
3a |
Impact on capacity of kidneys |
45-59% |
45-59ml/min |
|
3b |
High impact on capacity of kidneys |
30-44% |
30-44 ml/min |
|
4 |
Severe decrease in renal functions |
15-29% |
15-29 ml/min |
|
5 |
Kidney failure |
<15% |
< 15 ml/min |
The treatment of renal diseases in ayurveda mainly focuses on balancing the vitiated doshas that addresses the root cause of the disease. This treatment is done in three dimensions:
The most important thing to remember is that the inclusion criteria for Ayurvedic CKD therapy are as follows: We only consider situations that are below or equal to grade 4.
Because of a variety of factors, Ayurveda is unable to treat every case of CKD.
The Three-Dimensional Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease is as below:
The Vata dosha is engaged in the process, and the location belongs to the Vata dosha as well. In this situation, Basti is a good option. The kidney is a component of the intestines' big intestines.
Kidney in Ayurveda:
The Basti treatment is exclusively performed in IPD. This is done for 16 days at first, then at regular intervals for another 8 days. This period lasts for 2-3 months. In such circumstances, we provide Virechana therapy. This is what we do when our Pitta is disrupted.
At Elite Ayurveda, we do not provide a bundle of medications to our patients. Every patient is unique, and everyone requires fresh and unique medications.
This is the treatment's third and most significant dimension. Even when the Ayurvedic drugs for CKD are stopped, you must maintain your diet as a patient.
There are four primary things that happen with kidneys in the event of Chronic Kidney Disease. The damage to the kidneys is caused by all four of these factors together.
Exposure and a High Blood Flow:
Kidneys tend to filter blood, and the most significant factor in this is supply of blood to the kidney. In a minute, over 400 ml of blood passes through 100 gm of kidney tissue. No other organ has as much blood as the liver.
Because of the high blood flow, the kidneys are exposed to everything in the blood, both good and toxic. When these "chemicals" or "elements" are harmful, the kidneys are harmed. The majority of these substances are "medicines."
Blood Pressure (BP)
Filtration is impossible without the presence of pressure. This pressure is created in the kidneys. Larger arteries split into smaller arteries, which in turn divide into smaller arteries, and so on. And, of course, the tiniest organisms, such as Glomeruli, are found within the cup. These capillaries are always at danger of being damaged due to pressure. When hypertension is present, the pressure doubles, increasing the risk of tissue damage by a factor of 10.
Electrostatic Barrier Alteration
The molecules in the filtering membrane are negatively charged. A barrier is created by these molecules. The anionic (non-charged) macromolecules are stopped by this barrier. When this barrier is disrupted by a membrane damage, proteins begin to escape from the filter, resulting in CKD.
Microvasculature that has been disrupted
The microvasculature of the nephrons, the tail section of the glomeruli, is extensive. When disorders like diabetes affect the microvasculature, it affects the nephrons' function. The condition of CKD is caused by this damage. As a result, we have a thorough grasp of the root causes of the problem. When it comes to therapy, all we have to do is reverse the situation.
The symptoms of CRF vary depending on the stage of the disease. The functioning of the kidneys is used to classify these phases. eGFR is used for determination of kidney functioning and is noted by taking blood tests like urea and creatinine.
The acronym GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate, which for a normal and healthy kidney is 100 ml/min. Glomeruli are kidney-related units. These little cup-like structures perform the basic functions of the kidney. The kidney's capacity and capabilities are the same as these units' capacity and capability.
Certainly, the disease's symptoms alter as it progresses through various phases. The following is a list of symptoms organized by stage.
1. Symptoms of Stage 1 CKD: The basic stage of renal disease is this. In most cases, this is a stage with no symptoms. Only when a patient goes for a routine blood checkup does he or she learn about the disease. This is a period in which the kidneys are still fighting to keep up with their work. Thus, recovery from chronic kidney disease at this stage is possible.
2. Symptoms of CKD Stage 2: This stage might be symptomatic as well. A skilled physician can only make a choice after careful observation. Because the symptoms at this point have little to do with the kidneys.
Symptoms can be noted as:
3. Symptoms of CKD Stage 3: This is the point at when renal problems begin to occur. According to the GFR, this ailment is divided into two categories: 3a and 3b. However, the symptoms of these two sub-stages are nearly identical.
The symptoms at this stage can be noted as follows:
4. Symptoms of CKD stage 4: The symptoms of stage 4 CKD are:
5. Symptoms of CKD stage 5: At this stage the symptoms become more severe:
“The ayurvedic approach of disease looks for the root cause and not merely the symptoms. The basic principles of Ayurveda consider an individual human a specific identity and hence his treatment giving importance to the treatment of the patient rather than the treatment of the disease.”
“Since Ayurveda focuses on the root-cause of the disease, it effectively reduces the risk of severe health complications arising out of the untreated underlying cause. Patients who complete their Ayurveda treatment have a reduced risk of health complications later.”
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