Chronic kidney failure is also known as chronic renal
failure (CRF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are several medical
conditions which can cause this condition, including persistent high blood
pressure, untreated and/or uncontrolled diabetes, renal artery stenosis,
advanced and chronic polycystic kidneys, medical conditions like advanced
autoimmune diseases, adverse drug reactions, drug abuse, severe infections, and
large, impacted kidney stones.
An early diagnosis and early institution of effective
treatment is crucial in preventing permanent kidney damage. Persistent presence
of albumin in the urine, and a gradually increasing creatinine level – even
though it may well be within the stipulated normal range – are indicators of
gradual kidney damage.
Post renal causes usually include ascending infections, and
damage resulting from blockage of urine due to impacted kidney stones. Such causes
can usually be treated and removed completely, and the damaged kidneys usually
recover completely in most patients. Pre-renal causes include generalized
conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and diseases causing
inflammation in different organs, such as auto-immune diseases; Ayurvedic
herbal treatment is especially useful in treating such conditions which put the
kidneys at risk.
Irrespective of the cause, the end result of chronic kidney
disease is damage to nephrons, which are the functional and structural working units
in the kidneys. Herbal medicines act specifically on the capillaries and
nephrons in the kidney to reduce infection, remove inflammation and blockage,
remove damaging immune complexes, and bring about healing to damaged tissue.
Most patients with up to stage 4 kidney disease improve very well with long
term Ayurvedic treatment, usually ranging from 6 to 10 months. Dialysis can be
given concurrently to tide over the acute stage of kidney damage. Ayurvedic
herbal treatment is thus useful to treat and potentially reverse damage to
kidneys, which is the hallmark of chronic kidney disease.
The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic
Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
