KIDNEY DISEASES & AYURVED :

Ayurved has its own detailed understanding of Kidney diseases(VRIKKA ROGA). Many classical texts have described Kidney diseases, their symptoms, causes, classification & most importantly Treatments. The importance of Kidneys was well known to Ayurvedic scholars. Any malfunctioning or disease in them can lead to very serious conditions & death in a few days. Many terms have been used to describe Kidney diseases, for e.g Vrikkaroga, Mutrakriccha, Mutraghata, Ashmari, Prameha etc. Only an Ayurvedic expert can fully comprehend the given vocabulary since Ayurved has its own concepts of understanding these conditions.

In our GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA, there are many medicines for various types of Kidney diseases, ranging from simple Kidney stones to ESRD(end-stage renal failure). Ayurved has a complete line of treatment for all Kidney diseases. At present, the detailed anatomical and physiological understanding of Kidneys & the diagnostic procedures for pinpointing the exact abnormality/disease has been done by modern doctors with the help of technology. The modern inventions of Dialysis & Kidney transplants have changed the whole scenario of treatment of Kidney Diseases. Though it may seem to be worlds apart, Ayurved & Modern medicine have quite some similarities. Ofcourse, the differences are there & they are mainly due to the modern knowledge of physiology due to advancements in technology. It is very sad to see many modern doctors having a very biased approach towards Ayurved & blaming Ayurvedic medicines for damaging Kidneys. This is far from the truth & absolutely ridiculous & grave injustice towards Ayurved. In fact, it would be noteworthy to mention here that Ayurvedic texts while describing treatments for various Kidney diseases have CLEARLY mentioned specifically which Ayurvedic medicines are to be avoided in Kidney diseases(this is the same thing as in modern medicine many drugs are avoided or given with dosage modification). This simply shows the level of precise knowledge that has existed in Ayurved about Kidneys. Ayurved has its proven efficacy in treating all such diseases & it doesn’t require any validation from anyone. We do appreciate modern medicine for all its advancements in understanding & treating Kidney diseases. Thanks to technology, modern investigations can accurately measure every physiological change that is occurring in the body. This is very valuable in emergency treatments. Still, unfortunately, modern treatments in ESRD ( end-stage renal disease ) are mainly confined to Dialysis & Renal Transplants which have their own restrictions in offering a normal life to the patients, even though the patient does get some time to survive. Even modern medicine experts know this & are in a search for better treatment regimes. Ayurved can prove to be of great value in such life crippling diseases provided the patient resorts to Ayurved in time.

1.Functions of KIDNEYS:
Most people are familiar with one function of the Kidneys, that is to rid the body of waste materials via urine. We shall now see the multiple functions performed by the Kidneys ⇒

1. Regulation of water & electrolyte balances

2. Regulation of acid base balance

3. Regulation of body fluid osmolality & electrolyte concentrations

4. Excretion of metabolic waste products & foreign substances: Kidneys are the primary means for eliminating waste products of metabolism, for e.g. urea, creatinine, uric acid, etc. Kidneys also eliminate most toxins & other foreign substances that are either produced by the body or ingested such as pesticides, drugs, etc.
5. Regulation of arterial pressure
6. Secretion of hormones

a. Erythropoietin: almost all of this is secreted by Kidneys, this hormone stimulates the production of RBCs.

b. Kidneys produce the active form of Vit d

7. Gluconeogenesis: the Kidneys add glucose to the blood during long periods of fasting.

It can be easily understood that when the Kidneys are diseased, these functions are disrupted & severe abnormalities of body fluid volumes & composition occur, causing death in a few days. Ayurved has since ages recognized Kidney as a very vital organ. Many terms have been used that indicate the existence of the precise knowledge regarding this. It is quite surprising that in the absence of modern day technology how did Ayurvedic experts had such a detailed understanding of Kidneys, its functions & the diseases that affect them.

2. SYMPTOMS of KIDNEY Diseases :

It can be rightly said that Kidney diseases are often diagnosed ACCIDENTLY. Such is the lack of awareness among the general public that many Kidney patients don’t even know that they are suffering from some Kidney disease. This is the main reason for many patients being diagnosed in the advanced stage of Kidney disease when Kidney function has deteriorated to a dangerous level. Hence we would like to mention the main symptoms that should prompt you to see your Doctor at the earliest.

1. Change in urine: Since the Kidneys are the only organs that are responsible for forming urine, obviously Kidney diseases cause some change in the urine sooner or later⇒

a. Change in the amount: you may urinate less than normal, more than normal or in greater amounts.

b. you may feel pressure or difficulty in urinating.

c. you may have to get up more often in the night for urinating

d. Foamy or bubbly urine: this happens due to greater amounts of proteins in urine

e. red, brown or purple urine

2. Swollen feet, ankles, hands: this happens due to sodium retention.

3. Persistent puffiness around eyes/swollen face: This happens due to large amounts of proteins leaking in the urine

4. Breathlessness: this occurs due to many reasons, like fluid collection in the lungs, anaemia, high B.P. etc.

5. Uncontrolled B.P: This is a very important sign to note. If the patient is already having high B.P. then there is an increase in his blood pressure readings in spite of taking his medicines regularly. If a person suddenly develops high B.P. then it is very difficult to control B.P. with usual medicines & this makes the doctor suspicious of Kidney disease. Many patients are diagnosed with kidney disease due to this condition.

6. Dry/itchy skin: This is caused by mineral & bone disease which accompanies Kidney disease.

7. Poor appetite, nausea, vomiting:

8. Tiredness: This is seen in varying degrees of Kidney failure due to a build-up of toxins & wastes in the blood. Also, the person has trouble concentrating.

9. Muscle cramps, poor sleep:

These symptoms are only possible signs that you may be having Kidney disease. Many patients don’t experience any symptom in the early stages of the disease & many attribute their symptoms to other diseases. Many chronic Kidney diseases are SILENT in their early stages. In Ayurved, many such symptoms are mentioned that are called POORVAROOPA (they are seen months/years before the actual symptoms are seen). An Ayurvedic expert by his NAADI PARIKSHA can diagnose the undergoing disease process & warn the patient. This can be very valuable from the treatment point of view since this is the best time to get treated.

3. CAUSES of KIDNEY Diseases :

Kidney diseases are chiefly categorized in two types i.e. Acute Kidney failure & Chronic Kidney failure. Hence we shall see the causes of both these conditions separately.

Causes of Acute Kidney failure⇒

Acute kidney failure is defined as that condition in which there is a SUDDEN loss of kidney function. The causative factors that cause it work at three levels⇒

1. Prerenal: any cause that lowers the blood supply to the Kidneys

2. Renal: any cause that damages the Kidneys themselves

3. Postrenal: those causes that arise from below the kidneys i.e ureters, bladder, prostate.

For the simple understanding of the readers, we have summarized these causes as follows⇒

1. Sepsis

2. Trauma, crush injuries, burns; causing blood loss, fluid loss

3. Severe dehydration

4. Toxic injury: Medications, poisons

5. Low B.P., Heart failure, Liver cirrhosis

6. Renal artery stenosis

7. Urinary tract obstruction: due to B.P.H., Kidney/bladder stones, CA of bladder, Ureters, Prostate.

8. Autoimmune diseases for e.g. lupus

Causes of Chronic Renal failure⇒

1. Diabetes: most common cause

2. Hypertension( 2nd most common cause)

3. Glomerulonephritis

4. Drugs: painkillers, heroine

5. Infections

6. Stones

7. Polycystic kidney disease

8. Reflux nephropathy

9. Unknown

Ayurved has its own understanding of kidney diseases. According to Ayurved, the Kidneys can become diseased in many ways. The concepts are unique & only an Ayurvedic expert can truly interpret them & apply in practice. Texts have mentioned many causes ranging from faulty diet/lifestyle to madhumeha(diabetes) etc. On close observation, we see that they are the same causes that modern medicine has identified today. Still, the important thing is the treatment part so that the patient is freed from his sufferings.

4. TYPES OF KIDNEY DISEASES :

In AYURVED different terms have been used to describe Kidney diseases, for e.g. MUTRAGHATA, MUTRAKRICHRA, PRAMEHA etc. These have their own classification of their causes, symptoms & treatments. Only an AYURVEDIC EXPERT can fully understand their true meaning & apply it in practice. In our GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA, many medicines have been used which are unique to our heritage & are hardly used elsewhere by Ayurvedic practitioners. For the easy understanding of our readers, we shall now see the types of kidney diseases according to modern criteria …

All Kidney diseases can be broadly classified into 2 main categories

1. ARF(Acute Renal Failure): Here the Kidneys abruptly stop working entirely. If treated in proper time the Kidneys may eventually recover near normal function.

2. CRF (Chronic Renal Failure ): There is a progressive loss of the number of functioning nephrons ( the functional unit of the Kidney )& hence a gradual reduction in the overall Kidney function.

We shall now see the more detailed classification of Kidney diseases⇒

1.Glomerular diseases:

a.Acute Glomerulonephritis syndrome( acute nephritis )

b.Nephrotic Syndrome

c.Recurrent haematuria

d.Asymptomatic proteinuria

e.Glomerular disease can present with Hypertension/ARF/CRF

2. Kidney diseases due to Systemic diseases :

The kidneys can become diseased due to many systemic diseases, the chief ones are

a. SLE ( commonly known as Lupus )

b. Vasculitis

c. Diabetic Nephropathy ( very common in INDIA)

d. Amyloidosis

3. Infections of Kidney & Urinary tract:

a. Acute Pyelonephritis

b. Chronic Pyelonephritis

c. T.B. of Kidneys

4. CANCER of Kidneys

5. ESRD ( end-stage renal disease): Earlier, this was called as CRF. Many conditions can cause this. The impairment of the excretory, metabolic & endocrine functions of the Kidneys leads to the development of the clinical syndrome of URAEMIA. The main causes that cause ESRD or play an important role in its development are⇒

a. DIABETES (diabetic glomerulosclerosis)

b. HYPERTENSION ( along with Diabetes, this is a very important cause of CRF)

c. Glomerular diseases: Many types of glomerulonephritis cause CRF.

d. Vasculitis & Arteriosclerosis

e. Chronic Pyelonephritis

f. T.B. of kidneys

g. Analgesic Nephropathy: Many patients have a habit of taking Painkillers off & on. This can lead to CRF.

h. CALCULUS (stone): Stones anywhere in the urinary tract or kidneys can many times lead to CRF. This point has to be remembered.

i. Polycystic Kidney Disease( infantile/adult): This is also a common cause of CRF.

Thus it can be seen that CRF may be caused by any condition that destroys the normal structure & function of Kidneys.In many patients, the condition progresses insidiously over a no. of years & frequently it is impossible to determine the exact underlying Kidney disease & its cause.

5. STEPS to PREVENT KIDNEY Diseases:

Ayurved has always emphasized greatly on the PREVENTION of diseases. This applies to all diseases equally and need not be overemphasized for Kidney diseases.WHY? , because Kidney diseases require very great efforts to treat once they have developed.The treatment is complex,requires great expertise,patience,discipline & regularity.Hence Ayurved recommends following all rules to PREVENT Kidney disease. These are the steps one should follow⇒

a.CONTROL DIABETES: Since diabetes is the number 1 cause & risk factor for Kidney diseases, hence all diabetics should STRICTLY CONTROL DIABETES. Studies suggest that a careful control of blood sugar levels will definitely slow down or even prevent the development of Kidney disease. Kidney damage caused by diabetes usually occurs slowly over many years. The best way to slow or prevent diabetes-related kidney disease is to try to reach your blood glucose goals. For this, the most effective way is through medications, properly planned diabetic diet & exercise. Ayurved has marvelous medicines for diabetes. Ayurvedic medicines have many added advantages since they control the amount of sugar, proteins in urine. After medications, a planned diabetic diet is absolutely essential. Though diabetic diet has to be customized taking into account various individual factors like age, weight, other illnesses, your medicines, activity level etc.there are some general recommendations that one can follow. Choosing slow release, high fibre carbohydrates (whole grain carbs)over refined,starchy ones(rice, white bread, snacks)is the first essential step. The next step is to take high-quality proteins like beans, eggs, low-fat dairy, nuts in moderate amounts. Regarding fats choose olive oil, nuts, fish. , plenty of green vegetables, fruits(ask your doctor which fruits are allowed & in what quantity).

2. Control B.P.: Hypertension (high B.P.) comes second only to Diabetes in causing Kidney disease. Hence for such patients, it is recommended to follow all instructions STRICTLY given by the doctor. Still, we would like to give some basic steps to follow to keep B.P.under optimum control⇒

a. Restrict SODIUM intake: In hypertensive patients, a daily intake of < 1500 mg of sodium is recommended.A teaspoon(5 grams) of common salt(sodium chloride)contains nearly 2 grams of sodium & 3 grams of chloride.This restriction is the first & most important step in controlling B.P. Your doctor may recommend still lower sodium intake if he feels so.

b. Avoid using salt while cooking, sprinkling salt in prescribed quantities helps in retaining taste.

c. Avoid all medicated salt/salt substitutes since they contain potassium.

d. Avoid all baked foods like cakes, pizzas, biscuits etc. since they contain sodium bicarbonate.

e. Avoid salted chips, soft drinks, popcorn, papads, chutneys, pickles,

f. avoid Chinese fast foods

The list is more, we have mentioned a few items so that hypertensive patients get aware & avoid all such items. This is definitely going to help quite a lot in controlling B.P.Consult your doctor for more details. Ayurved has wonderful medicines for controlling high B.P.

3. Exercise: The importance of exercise in keeping away Kidney disease has to be kept in mind always. This is a must to do. Regular exercise not only helps in controlling Diabetes & B.P., it is crucial in reducing weight, building muscle strength& fitness, keeps all our organs healthy.Exercise is crucial in keeping our bones thick & intact.

4. Optimum weight: Diabetes, hypertension & hyperlipidemia are all obesity-related diseases.These all can lead to CKD & heart disease. Keeping an optimum weight is essential in controlling diabetes, b.p. & cholesterol.This definitely helps in preventing Kidney disease.

5. No smoking please: Smoking damages our blood vessels directly. Stopping Smoking helps in preventing Kidney disease as well as heart disease & cancer.

6. No alcohol: Alcohol is bad for the liver as well as Kidneys.

7. Avoid self-medication: Please do not take painkillers, antibiotics & other on the counter drugs without consulting your doctor.Many drugs are known to damage Kidneys( liver too) & eventually may cause Kidney failure.

8. Proper diet: This is the single most important step that is interconnected to every step recommended above. A conscious, knowledgeable, Healthy eating goes a long way in preventing & controlling diabetes.b.p, high cholesterol, obesity & thus preventing Kidney disease.

6. AYURVEDIC TREATMENT of KIDNEY Diseases :

Ayurved has successful,excellent,precise and detailed treatment for Kidney diseases.This applies to all Kidney diseases ranging from Kidney stones to the most serious condition of ESRD(end-stage renal disease).Modern medicine has developed the techniques of Dialysis & Kidney transplants but Ayurved deals in all such cases chiefly via medicines.The aim of Ayurved is to prevent further Kidney damage and preserve Kidney function.The best time for achieving this is when the disease is in its initial stages & the Kidneys are not much damaged.Unfortunately, patients tend to refer to modern medicine & it is only when they are told to undergo Dialysis or Kidney transplant that they come to Ayurved.We at Amoghsanjeevani respect modern medicine for its accomplishments in the field of treating Kidney diseases.Nevertheless, we can definitely say that Ayurved has much medicinal treatments to offer in all such cases.Their is ample description of these treatment regimens in various classical texts.Ayurvedic treatments are very much successful in preventing Kidney diseases. Also, it is a medical fact that Dialysis & Kidney transplant are the only main treatments in modern medicine, yet, they have their own difficulties that the patient has to bear.Dialysis has to be done lifetime & even Kidney transplant patients have to be under constant medical supervision lifelong, not to mention the financial crisis such patients & their families have to face.Taking into consideration all such difficulties,it would be always worthwhile to consider Ayurved first when Kidney disease has been detected.This will definitely help in slowing down the damage process & even halting it.This is possible by Ayurved.In our GURUSHISHYAPARAMAPA there are so many marvellous medicines for treating Kidney diseases.Consult an Ayurvedic expert for that.We are always available for the same.