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 8 to 12 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.
CKD, CRF, chronic kidney disease, chronic renal failure, Ayurvedic treatment, herbal medicines.