Nature gives many benefits to humans. The air, water and the food we eat, nature enhances and beautifies our well-being and freely provides the essentials for our survival and growth. One more precious thing that has been gifted by nature is the blessing of herbs that cure millions of diseases.
Our ancient Veda, Ayurveda, has blessed us with its immortal properties of nurturing humans through various natural herbs.
As we move towards globalization, we face many changes in lifestyle, living standards, and others. Due to which many diseases have captured humans. One of them is a kidney disorder. The number of cases for kidney disorders is increasing, and so is the number of cures. Kidney treatment naturally is the best choice available to the patients as in this no Kidney transplants or other modern biological methods like dialysis are required. The patient sees a ray of hope in ayurvedic kidney disease treatment.
What is kidney disorder?
The kidneys are a pair of organs visible at the bottom of the rib cage. There is one kidney on every side of the spine in the human body.
Kidneys are essential organs. They are mainly responsible for the process of filtering waste products, excess water, and other impurities from the blood. These harmful toxins are stored in the bladder and then removed during urination. The kidneys also keep regulating pH, salt, and potassium level in the body. They produce hormones that manage blood pressure and also control the production of red blood cells. The kidneys even activate a type of vitamin which is vitamin D that helps the body absorb calcium.
Kidney disease affects millions of people worldwide. Kidney disorder occurs when the kidneys lose their natural ability to perform, and the kidney gets impaired. The damage can be caused by different diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and other various chronic conditions.If the kidney disease gets worse over a period, then the kidney might stop working correctly and lead to kidney failure. In this situation, kidney transplant or dialysis is the treatment available, but these methods cant cure the disease. They can only increase your life for a certain period.
Causes and types of kidney disease?
- Chronic kidney disease: This is the typical form of kidney disorder. Chronic kidney disease is basically a long-term condition that doesn’t improve over time, usually caused by high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is very dangerous for the functioning of kidneys because it increases the pressure on the glomeruli. Glomeruli are basically the small blood vessels in the kidneys where blood is cleaned. Over time, the increased pressure damages these blood vessels, and kidney function begins to decline and gets worse periodically.
Kidney function will collapse to the point where the kidneys can no longer be able to perform their job correctly. In this case, a person would need dialysis. Dialysis filters extra liquid and waste from the blood. Dialysis may help treat kidney disease, but it can’t cure it.
Diabetes is also a significant cause of chronic kidney disorder. Diabetes is a cluster of diseases that causes high blood sugar. The increased level of sugar in blood damages the blood vessels in kidneys. Which means the kidneys can’t clean the blood properly. Kidney failure can occur when your body is full of toxins.
- Kidney stones: Stones are another common kidney problem. These stones build-up when minerals and other blood solidify in the kidneys, forming solid masses. Kidney stones usually come out from the body during urination. Passing kidney stones can be extremely painful, but these stones rarely cause significant problems.
- Polycystic kidney disease: A genetic disorder which causes numerous small cysts to grow in the kidneys. These cysts later can interfere with kidney function and cause kidney failure. It’s important to remember that individual kidney cysts are common, and they are always harmless. Polycystic kidney disease is a separate thing and a more severe condition.
- Urinary tract infection: (UTI) are bacterial infections of any part of the urinary system. Infections in the bladder are common. They are easily treatable and rarely cause any health problems. However, if they are not treated, these infections can spread to the kidneys and cause kidney failure which is life threatening.
- Fatigue: Fatigue is basically feeling overtired, with low energy and a desire to sleep that interferes with daily activities.
- Swollen face: A person who has kidney disorder may notice a swollen face. This is basically accumulation of fluid near the face.
- Frequent urination: Passing urine frequently is an indication of kidney disorder. If a person is urinating frequently, this means that the kidney is somewhere lacking in working properly.
- Puffiness around the eyes: After waking up early in the morning, if puffiness is visible around the eyes then this is also a major sign of kidney disorder.
Risk factors for developing kidney disease?
People having diabetes are more at risk of developing kidney disease. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney disease, accounting for about 44 percent of total new cases. One may also be more likely to get kidney disorder if you:
- Are suffering from high blood pressure
- have other family members suffering from chronic kidney disease
- Are above 65 years.
How is kidney disease treated?
Treatment for kidney disease concentrates on controlling the underlying cause of the disease. This means that your doctor will advise you to manage your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol level. Doctors may use any of the following methods to cure kidney disease.
Treatment with medication and drugs
Your doctor will prescribe blood pressure medications that can slow the progression of kidney disorder. Your doctor may prescribe the medications to preserve kidney function, even if you don’t have high blood pressure.
You can also be treated with cholesterol drugs. These medicines can reduce blood cholesterol levels and help maintain kidney health. Depending on the symptoms, your doctor may also prescribe drugs to relieve swelling and treat anemia.
Diet and lifestyle changes
Making changes in the diet is as important as taking medication. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will help to prevent many of the underlying causes of kidney disease. Your doctor may recommend that you:
- control diabetes through insulin.
- Avoid foods that are high in cholesterol
- Reduce the intake of salt
- Switch on a heart-healthy diet that includes fresh fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products
- Quit smoking
- Start working out physically
- Maintain body weight
Kidney Treatment in Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, finding the cause and treating the primary condition that causes kidney disorder is required to manage the condition effectively so that ayurvedic kidney treatment can cure the kidney disorder.
The remedies for diabetes start with bio-cleansing procedures, which are aimed at a fat reduction to ensure that there is no further complication caused—also followed by the treatment with a combination of diet changes, herbal medicines, and lifestyle changes.
Diet recommendations on the basis of Ayurveda (AAHAR)
Ayurvedic kidney treatment involves following diet:
- Increase the quantity of barley in the diet as it will help in drying up excess fat
- Turmeric and cinnamon are beneficial in the early stages of diabetes.
- Have Ayurvedic herbs like gokshura, Triphala, musta, cardamom, or coriander mixed with honey.
- Include other cereals such as wheat, and rice, which crops within 60 days to add fiber to the diet.
- Vegetables such as green banana, dwarf (fenugreek leaves), bitter gourd, along with bitter and leafy vegetables, may be taken.
- Include fruits such as orange, watermelon, apple, other fruits with low sugar content.
- Groundnut and mustard oil can be beneficial.
- Consuming white pumpkin 20-30 ml on an empty stomach can prove to be beneficial for the kidney.
- Consume methi seeds soaked overnight in water.
- avoid or cut down the amount of sugar, sugar products, rice, potato, ghee, butter, fat, regular oil, fermented food items, alcohol.
Lifestyle changes on the basis of Ayurveda (VIHAR)
- Start exercising regularly. Walking, swimming, running, or yoga are highly beneficial.
- Regular dry massage can be beneficial.
- Taking a regular steam bath can help reduce fat in obese diabetics.
- Include breathing exercises like pranayam in your daily routine.