Name a bean shaped pair of organs that is almost the size of a mouse and filters about 112-114 litres of blood in a day. Yes, you’re right, it’s our Kidneys. Our kidneys work non-stop to filter out the waste from our blood keeping the body healthy. But what happens when Kidney functions get affected? Our whole body suffers and these diseases can also become a threat to your life if not treated in time. This is where Kidney Treatment in Ayurveda comes handy. Ayurveda not only suggest ways to deal with the kidney disease but also the diet and lifestyle changes that needs to be adopted in order to keep these problems away.
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What are kidney diseases?
Our kidney’s basic function is to filter the blood by absorbing the vital nutrients from it and eliminating/discarding any toxins from the body. When you have an infection or a kidney disease then your kidney is not able to perform this function effectively. Kidney diseases usually go unnoticed as it is a silent condition and this is why it is crucial to look for any signs or symptoms your body might be giving you.
Our kidneys are two bean shaped organs that are about the size of a fist. The number of people experiencing kidney problems is on a rise due to improper lifestyle and eating habits. You might be at a greater risk of having any Kidney problem if you have diabetes or suffer from High Blood Pressure. Ignoring the signs your body is giving you can lead to major kidney issues or even kidney failure.
The good news is if you recognise the symptoms at an early stage then Kidney treatment in Ayurveda can be done at home using simple remedies. Along with this, making simple changes in your diet and lifestyle habits can go a long way and improve overall functioning of the body.
Various Kidney Diseases
There are various kidney diseases that can affect the functioning of your Kidney and can be a threat to your life. It’s important to understand the type of kidney disease you have and start the treatment as early as possible. These diseases are categorised as:
Acute Kidney Disease
The core work of Kidneys is to eliminate excess fluids, salts and waste from the body but sometimes our kidneys are not able to do this efficiently. This is a condition where the unexpected damage occurs to the kidneys which results in accumulation of this body fluids to a dangerous level. When the electrolyte balance is disturbed and excess fluids accumulate, it can lead to much serious problems that can even be life threatening.
Chronic Kidney Disease
This disease continuously weakens the renal function and can endanger your health. Chronic Kidney Disease is a term used for ongoing kidney dysfunction. If there is a serious injury to the kidneys then they can also stop functioning at a point. This is usually the last stage known as ‘Chronic Renal Failure’.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
This is a genetic condition where you get faulty genes from one or both of your parents. Your kidney develops cysts on the outer part of it that can lead to enlarged size or impaired kidney function. The bad news is these cysts can also grow on other organs of your body like ovaries and liver. Polycystic Kidney Disease can also threaten your life so it’s important to treat it as early as possible.
Kidney Shrinkage
Renal Atrophy or commonly known as Kidney Shrinkage is exactly what its name suggests. This is a condition where the size of your kidneys shrink to a smaller size and is different from Renal Hypoplasia where the size of kidneys is small since birth. It is evident that this will lead to impaired functions of the kidney and needs to be treated as soon you detect it.
Iga-Nephropathy
When clumps of anti-bodies gets deposited inside your kidneys, it leads to an auto-immune disease known as IgA-nephropathy. It typically damages the tiny filters called Glomeruli that helps to filter and remove the fluid and waste from our body which result in leakage of blood and protein into your urine. It can also cause inflammation in the area along with scarring of nephrons that are the fitering units near Glomeruli.
Cysts Kidney Disease
You’re more prone to developing a cyst in your kidney as you age. A kidney cyst or renal cyst is a fluid filled sac that typically grows in the inside of the kidneys or on its surface. These cysts are usually non-cancerous and does not cause any harm but they can lead to other kidney diseases and that it why it is important to get it treated. These kidney cysts can affect the functioning of your kidney and can also lead to enlargement of the kidney.
Kidney Swelling
Hydronephrosis or commonly known as Swelling in the kidney is a condition where your kidney is not able to filter urine out of your system. This results in the build-up of urine in the body and hence swelling in the kidney. There are various reasons why this is happening like obstruction or physiological reaction to pregnancy.
Glomerulonephritis Kidney
Our kidneys have tiny filters called Glomeruli that helps to filter and remove the fluid and waste from our body. When there is an inflammation in the glomeruli then that condition is known as Glomerulonephritis. This can be resolved using ayurvedic treatment at home but you shouldn’t ignore it. If you leave it untreated, it can lead to renal failure.
Kidney Failure
If your body has been fighting an infection for too long then it can lead to Kidney Failure. As the name suggests, it is the last stage of kidney disease where your kidney stops working altogether. When your renal function falls below 15% of the normal range, then you’re diagnosed with Kidney failure. Don’t lose hope because there are still some treatments like dialysis and kidney transplant that can help you live a normal life.
Kidney Infection Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is a kind of urinary tract infect that can affect one or both of your kidneys because of the presence of certain virus or bacteria. You should get it treated as soon as you get to know about it since it can make you really ill and can even be fatal.
This can be categorised into two types i.e. Acute Pyelonephritis and Chronic Pyelonephritis. When you get an unexpected serious kidney infection out of nowhere then it is termed as acute Pyelonephritis and it can result in enlarged kidneys and harm them irreversibly. Chronic Pyelonephritis although uncommon happens when you get attacks frequently.
Kidney Stone Disease
This is a condition where hard, pebble like pieces forms in one or both of your kidneys. These stones are made up of minerals or salt present in your body. It can affect any part of your urinary tract, from your kidneys to bladder. The size of these stones varies from person to person, it can be as small as a grain or as large as golf balls. A small stone can easily pass out of your body through urinary tract but a large stone causes severe pain and can even get stuck and block the pathway.
Signs and Symptoms
Kidney disease is a silent condition and do not have visible signs or symptoms but look out for these few signs to detect any kidney problem at an early stage:
- Swelling in ankle, feet or legs i.e. Edema
- Itching and Rashes on the skin
- Changes in urination like increased/decreased frequency or dark/foamy urine
- Pain in abdomen
- High blood urea levels
- Muscle cramps
- Having pain or difficulty urinating
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or difficulty concentrating
Causes of Kidney Diseases
- Urine backed up in your kidneys
- Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
- Dehydration
- Auto-immune diseases
- Diabetes
- Insufficient blood flow to Kidneys
- Certain medications
- Severe heart or liver failure
- Kidney infection
- Obesity
- Drinking alcohol and smoking
How Ayurveda treats kidney diseases
Ayurveda looks at the root cause of the problem in your body. It uses holistic approach to treat the cause and not just ease the symptoms of the disease. As per Ayurveda kidney diseases are a result of imbalance of doshas in your body which needs specific treatment.
Ayurveda relies on natural herbs to treat the blockage or swelling in the kidney along with strengthening the kidney function. You’ll notice major difference once you start practising this Kidney Treatment in Ayurveda at home without the need of rushing to a doctor. These small steps will not only ease the problem but also keep kidney diseases away in long run!
Importance of Early detection and Treatment
Kidney disease is a silent condition that does not have any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stage. You’ll only start to notice any signs once the disease has reached a serious stage. This is why it is crucial to keep an eye for any little symptom and get your kidney tested right then and there, especially if you’re someone having diabetes or high bp.
Early detection of the diseases helps you treat the condition in time and prevent the risk of any further complication like cardiovascular disease or kidney failure. You should not ignore any sign your body might be giving you especially when it comes to Kidney Problems because one small ignorant act can lead to life threatening diseases. You can easily treat the early stages of the kidney diseases at home using Kidney Treatment in Ayurveda with natural herbs and adapting a healthy lifestyle.
Kidney Treatment in Ayurveda at home
Kidney Detox: Ayurvedic treatment for kidney cleansing
You need to cleanse your Kidney periodically to reduce ama levels as per Ayurveda. To do this you can use herbs like Varuna, Parsley, Brahmi, Celery and Punarnava. Simply add any of these two herbs in boiling water and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain the tea and drink it warm to flush out the kidneys and Urinary tract.
Tomato Juice for Kidney Failure
Drink a cup of Tomato juice first thing in the morning. Add a tint of pepper and salt to the juice and consume it on empty stomach. Tomatoes are rich in potassium and prevents Kidney Failure. Make sure you consult with a doctor regarding your Kidney problem before taking this.
Triphala for overall Kidney health
Triphala is made by mixing three fruits/herbs i.e. Amalaki, Bibhitaki and Haritaki. It not only detoxifies your kidney but also enhances overall health. Triphala is rich in antioxidants and help reduce kidney damage and prevent formation of stones in Kidney. You can take one teaspoon of Triphala powder in warm water on empty stomach or between meals for better absorption.
Herbal Teas for Kidney Function
Make an herbal tea using herbs that support kidney function like Nettle Leaf, Punarnava or Gokshura and drink that once a day. These herbs help in cleansing your kidney and thus improving kidney function.
Juices for Kidney Diseases
You can take Cranberry, Carrot, Beetroot, or orange juice once for twice a day on a daily basis. These are rich in anti-oxidants and help fulfil the hydration levels in your body along with preventing kidney diseases.
Also Read Ayurvedic Remedy for Dandruff: Natural Solutions for Itchy Scalp
Ayurvedic Diet for Kidney Disease
- Include green leafy vegetables in your diet.
- Eating fruits like berries that are rich in anti-oxidants is very beneficial.
- Drink adequate amount of water i.e. 8 glasses of water a day to prevent infections in kidney or as advised by your doctor.
- You can also add Coconut water or Barley water to your everyday diet.
- Limit consumption of Caffeine and Alcohol.
- Prepare freshly cooked meals instead of processed ‘fast’ or canned foods.
Lifestyle Changes that Should be made
- Engage in mental exercises like reading or solving puzzles to stimulate the brain and get rid of Dizziness or difficulty in concentrating.
- If you have swelling in any part of the body, then reduce your salt intake.
- Maintain a healthy sleeping routine to ensure you’re getting deep quality sleep.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol as much as possible.
- Maintain your blood pressure and sugar levels.
- Practice yoga and exercises on a daily basis.
When to Consult a doctor?
If you’re consistently experiencing fever, pain in the back or side, nausea, vomiting, changes in urination i.e. change in frequency, colour or getting blood in urine, or have a family history of kidney disease then you should seek medical help or consult your doctor.
