How can kidney patients recover from CKD?

Your kidneys work hard throughout the day to remove wastes, toxins, and excess fluid from the blood. Each kidney varies slightly comparing the size of your closed fist; every 30 minutes filters all the blood in your body. Their work duties include controlling blood pressure, stimulating the production of red blood cells, keeping your bones healthy, and regulating blood chemicals essential for life.

CKD is a condition where the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as they should. As the kidneys are not able to do so, this excess fluid and waste from blood remains in the body and may cause other health problems e.g., heart disease, stroke, etc.

The other consequences of CKD include:

• Anemia or reduction in the number of red blood cells.
• Higher rate of infections.
• Low calcium levels.
• High potassium and high phosphorus concentrations in the blood.
• Loss of appetite, nausea.
• Depression.

CKD has varying levels of side effects as per the degree of seriousness. And in the cases where it is left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure and eventually to ESRD. In untreated CKD, the kidneys stop working slowly; dialysis or kidney transplant may be required. A kidney failure patient needs to be treated with dialysis or kidney transplant; and is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

It must be noted that all patients with kidney disease do not progress to kidney failure. To help patients with CKD recover and prevent them from risk for kidney failure, we must work to control the risk factors responsible for CKD. We must adopt some lifestyle changes; take proper medications as and when required. Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, has been a life savior for patients with CKD.

Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease

As has been observed for years, there are various reasons found responsible for chronic kidney diseases. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common conditions leading to CKD. Your health care provider can help you find out the reasons responsible for you reaching the stage of this disease. It is of utmost importance to find out the cause of your kidney disease, as it will be the deciding factor for the type of treatment you will receive.

Diabetes

Higher levels of glucose in your blood damages your kidney filters (Glomerular function). If this state is maintained for a long time, your kidneys become so damaged that they are no longer able to do a good job filtering wastes and extra fluid from your blood.

The first sign of kidney disease due to diabetes can be identified as the presence of proteins in your urine. When these filters get damaged, a protein called albumin passes out of your blood into the urine. A healthy kidney allows an extremely limited amount of albumin to pass from the blood into the urine.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure can cause severe damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys. This hampers the normal functioning of the kidneys. Due to this, the kidneys are not able to remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. This excess fluid in the blood further may raise blood pressure even more.

Other known causes of kidney disease

Apart from diabetes and HBP, the majorly affecting causes of CKD in the present world, the other causes of kidney diseases are:

• A genetic disorder causing the growth of cysts in the kidneys, known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
• Age-related
• Disease like Lupus nephritis.
• Drug toxicity
• Genetic conditions, like : Alport syndrome
• Glomerulonephritis
• Heavy metal poisoning, like lead poisoning
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome, commonly seen in young children
• Kidney infections
• Obesity
• Renal artery stenosis

Tests for CKD

Blood test

The tests mainly used for the identification of kidney disease are blood tests. These tests measure the levels of a waste product in your blood. These tests include eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), creatinine levels, etc. You may suffer from CKD if your kidneys are not able to maintain a filtration rate of 90ml/min.

Urine test

There are various tests done to analyse your urine composition too. The urine composition is used to assess the health of your kidneys:

• Assess the albumin and creatinine ratio known as ACR.
• Assessment of the presence of blood or protein in your urine.

Along with the eGFR, urine tests can help to give a more accurate picture of your kidney’s health.

Other tests

Few tests also used to assess the levels of damage to your kidneys include:

• Ultrasounds scan (USG), MRI scan, or CT scan. – these scans help to check any blockages.
• A kidney biopsy – Although used in rare circumstances, a small sample of kidney tissue is removed and examined microscopically for signs of damage.

Test results and stages of CKD

The above-mentioned tests results are comprehended as:

A higher stage for eGFR and ACR indicates severity of kidney disease.

What are the complications you must face with CKD?

If you are leaving your CKD untreated, there are few potential complications associated with it and will eventually lead to kidney failure.

• Fluid build-up: - Acute kidney failure may lead to the accumulation of fluids in your lungs, which can be the reason for shortness of breath observed in kidney patients.
• Chest pain:- If the pericardium (lining that covers your heart) becomes inflamed, you may experience chest pain.
• Muscle weakness: - Your body fluids and electrolytes imbalance can cause muscle weakness resulting in twitches and cramps.
• Permanent kidney damage: - Acute kidney failure can cause permanent loss of kidney function or end up in ESRD (end stage renal disease):- People with ESRD require either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.
• Death: - Acute kidney failure can lead to loss of kidney function and untimely death.

How can kidney patients recover from CKD with Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicine science practiced for ages. It teaches us the lessons of life used for managing our health ailments. It works on the principle that the balance between mind, body, and spirit leads to good health. Being originated in India, it is practiced across the globe today.

Ayurveda-this branch of medicine is holistic in nature. This implies that the treatment is not prescribed focusing on the symptoms of the disease, but it considers many more factors like the conditions of mind and body. As per the beliefs of Ayurvedic science, there are three doshas or body types known as vata, pitta, and kapha and we will find a disease whenever there is an imbalance amongst these doshas. A person with unbalanced doshas will have physical or emotional characteristics attributed to that dominant element. Ayurveda also suggests the integration of yoga for the alignment of doshas.

Ayurveda states that any kidney-related disease occurs due to blockage of body channels called srotas. These srotas are responsible for the flow of liquid in and out of the kidneys. Ayurvedic treatment has been proven helpful in treating kidney diseases. It works on eliminating kidney problems and alongside helps in the restoration of damaged kidney cells. Ayurveda makes use of herbal preparations and enhances the functioning of kidneys. It offers treatment for all stages of kidney-related problems.

There is a proposed line of treatment for managing Chronic Kidney Disease. Although, it is a fact that the treatment is person specific, according to the stage and state of a patient. The therapy mostly followed is virechana, swedana, mutrapravartaka, raktaprasadaka, agni deepan and sarva dhathu poshaka. There is strict pathya-apathyas (compatibles-incompatibles) too. Regenerative medicines, Rasayana Chikitsa, help to regenerate nephrons.

Ayurvedic medicines like Punarnava, Varun, Kasni, Palaash, Gokshur and many more in combination with other medicines are used for kidney problems. These medicines have different functions and medicinal properties.

1. Punarnava has anti-inflammatory properties. It maintains a healthy fluid balance by maintaining healthy urine flow. It reduces the accumulation of the fluids in kidneys and helps to treat swelling around the feet and joints.

2. Varun is powerful ayurvedic medicine. It improves urinary function and strengthens the prostate gland. Varun reduces the accumulation of oxalate, thus preventing stone formation in the kidneys. It also helps in preventing intestinal bleeding, intestinal worms, and chronic migraines.

3. Kaasni is used for all types of kidney disorders. It also an anti-inflammatory action that helps in the prevention and relief from kidney inflammation. It has amazing effects on respiratory troubles and low hemoglobin also. It has been found as a miraculous medicine for creatinine treatment in Ayurveda.

4. Palaash is considered the best herb used for kidney problems. It has antimicrobial and anthelminthic action that eliminates intestinal worms and parasites. Palaash leaves help in treatment of digestive ailments, cold and sore throat.

5. Gokshur is an herb having cooling effects. It also relieves inflammation and treats chronic kidney disease naturally. Gokshur is helpful in renal infections and enhances immunity.

These medicines are always found helpful in recovering from Chronic Kidney Diseases. The above-mentioned herbs are for informative purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician.