Hepatorenal syndrome is a condition in which an individual with established liver disease simultaneously develops kidney failure. The liver disease has to be chronic, advanced and with the presence of portal hypertension and ascites. In this scenario, individuals who have a low arterial blood pressure, reduced sodium levels in the blood and severe urinary sodium retention have a high risk of renal vessel constriction, which usually causes renal failure. The common signs and symptoms of this condition include a reduced urine output, progressive decline in renal function, and all the symptoms of chronic liver disease. Hepatorenal syndrome is a potentially serious condition with high morbidity and mortality and therefore requires treatment by a team of specialists, and intensive care in the acute stage.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment for hepatorenal syndrome is aimed at simultaneously treating the liver disorder as well as improving kidney function. Herbal medicines which have a specific action on the liver and help in regeneration of the liver cells, and reduce inflammation as well as obstruction within the liver, are used in high doses in the management of this condition. Restoration of the functioning of the liver to optimum levels and reduction of obstruction within the liver help in reducing portal hypertension as well as resolving fluid accumulation within the abdomen, which is known as ascites. A correction in liver function also gradually brings about reduction in the risk factors for kidney failure.
Simultaneously, herbal medicines which have a specific action on the kidney are also used in high doses in order to prevent or treat kidney failure. Herbal medicines are used to improve kidney function as well as improve the blood supply to the kidneys, resulting in a gradual correction of metabolism in the body and in the blood. Herbal medicines are also used to flush the toxins generated in the process either through the kidneys or through the gastrointestinal tract.
Most individuals affected with hepatorenal syndrome, depending upon the severity of the condition, require Ayurvedic herbal treatment for periods ranging from six to nine months, in order to bring about a remission of the condition and possible cure. Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a significant role to play in the management and treatment of Hepatorenal syndrome.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
