Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) or Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a progressive condition, where kidneys stop working slowly and permanently. When kidneys are not able to complete their task, it brings a lot of complications with the body. These complications are life threatening. And basic complication is- everybody hospital suggests for Kidney transplant or dialysis. But both of these are not permanent solution. In this condition, Ayurveda treatment is more practical and result oriented for CKD. Because Ayurveda has a thought process of reversal of the damage therefore Ayurvedic treatment helps in revival of the kidneys in a better way.
Here we will discuss about the CKD in detail but before that we need to know about the kidneys and the disease too.
Kidneys work as a filtration unit for the human body. There are many small structures- Nephrons. These units work as filtering units. Once the blood passes through these, these well equipped cells filters the blood. And these expel the waste products and simultaneously “recollect” good things. When these bean shaped structures stop working. These do just opposite.
So wastes like urea (BUN) and Creatinine increases in the blood and proteins starts eliminating from the body.
Therefore in case of chronic kidney disease, which is a state of the kidney failure- the wastes increase in the body on one hand. And on second side, kidney miss and pee the healthy and helpful things.
Facts about Chronic Kidney Disease
- This is a progressive condition where kidneys stop working slowly and permanently.
- 40-60% cases of the CKD are because of the Hypertension and diabetes.
- Hypertension leads to CRF and CRF leads to hypertension- this is the reason things keep on complicating.
- In US, 37 million adults have CKD!!
- CKD is more common in women than men.
- Ayurveda refers this condition as – Mutrkrichri or Mutraghat.
- Ayurvedic treatment approaches to restore the normal kidney function as well as assures the rectification of the cause of the problem too.
- In comparison to allopathy treatment, Ayurveda treatment is cost effective and helps in a better way.
- Most of the deaths in CKD occur because of the heart disease.
Symptoms of Chronic Renal Failure
The symptoms of the CRF varies according to different stages. These stages are classified according to the working of the kidneys. eGFR decides the working level of the kidney. Blood tests like urea and creatinine- decides the level of the eGFR.
GFR is basically- glomerular filtration rate. This is 100 ml/min for a normal and healthy kidney
Glomeruli are units of the kidneys. Basic work of the kidney is done by these small cup like structures. The capacity and capability of kidney is the- capacity and capability of these units.
So here are the details about stages of CKD-
| Stage | Condition of The Kidney | Percentage of Kidney Working | GFR Values |
| 1 | Kidney function is near to normal. | >90% | 90 ml/min |
| 2 | Mild decrease in working capacity of kidney | 60-89% | 60-89 ml/min |
| 3a | Mild to moderate impact on the capacity of kidneys | 45-59% | 45-59 ml/min |
| 3b | 30-44% | 30-44 ml/min | |
| 4 | Severe decrease in renal functions | 15-29% | 15-29 ml/min |
| 5 | This stage we all know as Kidney Failure | <15% | <15 mL/min |
Certainly, symptoms of the disease changes according to these different stages. Here are the details of the symptoms according to stage-
Stage 1 CKD: Symptoms
This is the primary stage of the kidney disease.
Generally this is a stage without any symptoms.
When a patient goes for routine blood check-up, only in that case a patient comes to know about the disease.
This is a stage where kidneys keep on struggling to maintain their work. Thus, the recovery is most easy in this stage of CKD.
Symptoms of Stage 2 of CKD
This stage might also be symptomatic. Only after keen observation a good physician can make the decision. Because the symptoms in this stage are not much related to the kidneys. Here are these-
- Loss of Appetite
- Feeling of fatigue, which keeps on complicating with time.
- Itching on skin with a lot of dryness
- Weakness
- Problem with sleeping
Generally, patient overlooks these symptoms, because these seems like- lack of some vitamins only. And because of overlooking the condition- a patient moves to stage 3.
Symptoms of Stage 3 of CKD
This is the stage where- symptoms of the kidney starts appearing. This condition is classified in two – 3a and 3b according to the GFR. But symptoms remain almost same for these to sub-stages. Here are the symptoms-
- Pain in back
- Fatigue increases regularly
- Loss of appetite is more evident and serious.
- Sleep disturbances increase, patient moves towards insomnia.
- Itching is more remarkable.
- Kidney symptoms appear
- Water retention leads to swelling in foots and hands.
- Frequency of the urination changes.
- Urine can either increase or decrease.
- Patient starts feeling weakness.
- Blood pressure shoots more regularly.
- Patient can face breathlessness due to anaemia.
Symptoms of stage 4 CKD
In stage 4 of CKD the following symptoms start appearing-
- Soreness and twitching of the muscles.
- Shortness of breathe
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mental cloudiness increases- patient cannot make proper decisions.
Your blood pressure keeps on increasing in this stage. Therefore cardiac problems can appear in this stage.
Symptoms of Stage 5 CKD
Because this is a terminal stage of the problem, thus all the symptoms become more evident and complicated.
- Weakness becomes more severe
- Patient doesn’t feel any appetite and cannot eat anything.
- Patient cannot sleep at all.
What happens to Kidney in CKD
In case of Chronic Kidney Disease, there are four basic things which happen with kidneys. These four all together are responsible for the damage to the kidneys.
Heavy Blood Flow and Exposure
Kidneys are responsible for cleaning the blood. For this most important thing is supply of the blood. For 100 gm kidney tissue almost 400 ml blood flows through and that too in a minute. No other organ has this much of blood.
Because of this much blood flow kidneys are exposed to everything good and bad, flowing in the blood. When these are bad “chemicals” or “elements” this leads to the damage to the kidneys. Among these chemicals, mostly “medicines” are there.
Pressure of Blood
Filtration cannot be possible without- pressure. To generate this pressure in the kidneys. Bigger arteries divide in smaller and smaller in smallest. And naturally the smallest locates with in the cup like- Glomeruli. These cups work as units of the kidney.
Because of pressure, these capillaries are always on a high risk for the damage. So when hypertension is there- this pressure multiplies and risk of the damage to the tissue increases many folds.
Change in Electrostatic Barrier
The filtration membrane has negatively charged molecules. These molecules make a berier. This barrier stops the anionic (not charged) macromolecules. Once this barrier disturbs due to injury to membrane- the proteins starts leaking from the filter and leads to CKD.
The disturbed Microvasculature
The nephrons, the tail part of the glomeruli has a large network of the microvasculature. When diseases like diabetes impact on this microvasculature it impacts on the working of the nephrons. This damage causes the condition of CKD.
So we have a complete detailed understanding of the causes behind the problem. And when it comes to treatment we just need to reverse the condition.
Ayurveda About Chronic Kidney Disease
Ayurveda is about the dosha. Whatever works in Ayurveda works on the Dosha.
When it comes to kidneys. It is all about Vata Dosha. And it is Vata Dosha subtype – Apana Vayu. Apana vayu is the main sub type, which controls the whole Vata dosha. So, kidneys are important for Vata functions all around the body.
But when it comes to CKD, this is not just about the Vata dosha. All the three doshas involve in process of the disease. Here are the details about all the three doshas-
Vata Dosha in CKD
Certainly the main dosha of the Kidney is Vata. Therefore- Vata is involved mainly.
- The pressure in the kidneys for filtration comes from Vata.
- Movement of the blood occurs because of the same principal of the Vata.
- The Vata is notorious for constriction.
When this Vata disturbs this leads to – increased pressure destroys the tissues in the kidney.
The second reason with increased speed of blood flow also causes the problem with the tissues.
The third character of the vata, which leads to constriction of the microvasculature.
Therefore Vata have all the capacities to cause the disease.
Pitta Dosha for CKD
Pitta balances the “ionic” barrier on the glomeruli.
Once Pitta disturbs this changes the whole buffer system. This leads to the change on the filtration level. Therefore disturbed system leaves the system impair and kidney function changes.
Apart from this, there are many conditions where tissue destruction occurs. When pitta aggravates this leads to the destruction of the tissues. Hence leads to the problem of the CKD.
Kapha Dosha in CKD
Kapha seems main dosha in the hunt. Because it seems that you have swelling all around. But this is not so always.
Kapha block the system and trapped Vata kills the system.
So we have all the three doshas as a cause of the disease of kidney.
Ayurveda Treatment approach for CKD
The Ayurveda treatment is all about balancing the doshas and treating the cause of the problem. This seems easy. But not that way always.
The Ayurveda treatment for Chronic kidney disease is based on the basic principles of Ayurveda. Under Vaidya Dr. Pardeep and Dr. Neetu we work on the three dimensions.
The main thing is- the inclusion criteria for Ayurvedic treatment of CKD is-
- We just take the cases which are below grade 4 or in grade 4.
- The cases where creatinine is below 15 mg/dl.
- The patient will uncontrolled Diabetes.
- Patients with alcohol abuse.
Because we have many reasons- Why Ayurveda Cannot Treat Every Case of the CKD.
The Three dimensional Treatment for CKD
Here are the three dimensional treatment for the CKD.
Panchakarma for CKD
Because Vata is involved in the process and place also belongs to the Vata dosha. Basti is something work well in this condition.
Kidney is part of the large intestines.
Ayurveda about Kidney
The Basti treatment is done in IPD only. This is done for 16 days in start and after regular interval we repeat these for 8 days. This interval might be of 2 months or 3 months.
In some cases, where we do the treatment of Virechana too. This is something we do in case of the Pitta disturbances.
Ayurvedic Medicines for CKD
There are no package of medicines, what we offer to our patients at Sukhayu. Every patient is different and everyone needs new and different medicines.
Ayurvedic Diet for CKD
This is the third dimension of the treatment and most important too. As a patient you need to continue the diet even after we discontinue the Ayurvedic medicines for CKD.
How can I start Treatment
To start treatment for your condition of CKD at Sukhayu Ayurved. There are certain steps for this-
- You need to share all the medical details of the patient.
- We need complete medical history.
- Your recent reports are mandatory
- Renal Function Test
- Liver Function Test
- Lipid Profile and
- CBC
- We do all the assessment once we get all your reports.
- After this you need to arrange the Video Consultation.
- After the assessment of patient we give treatment guidelines.
You need to follow the whole process for the successful treatment for CKD through Ayurveda.
You can book online consultation, our team will share the details about the consultation and required reports.
