In India, the number of people suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)--a condition when the kidney fails to filter waste as it typically does in a healthy body— is on increase due to unhealthy lifestyles. Rising cases of diabetes and hypertension have added to the woes. Currently, available conventional treatments for CKD like dialysis have their own limitations such as lack of accessibility and high cost, thus impacting the quality of life as well as finances. Ayurveda experts tell The HEALTH PIONEER that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for such patients if they walk through the Ayurveda path encompassing simple diet, lifestyle modification, and interventions based on time-tested herbal formulations.
Says Dr Rama Kant Yadava, Associate Professor, Department of Kayachikitsa (Ayurvedic medicine) at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) at Sarita Vihar, Delhi, “ We had conducted a pilot study recently on 40 patients reporting grade 4 and grade 5 CKD stage irrespective of any cause, whether due to diabetes or hypertension. The patients continued with allopathy medicine but add-on therapy such as a combination of formulations based on Punnarva, Guduchi was given to them.
“Interim results of the study have been encouraging. We found that the quality of life of the patients got improved ie they were not showing signs of tiredness unlike a kidney patient exclusively on dialysis. All biochemical parameters at the required levels were constant while a few patients even reported comparatively taking less dialysis. We are assessing the data and will publish the results soon.”
In fact, encouraged by the results, the AIIA, the autonomous body under the Union Ayush Ministry started a Nephrology Clinic at the institute in March this year and has already diagnosed over 1000 patients with renal diseases and failure so far.
“Most of the patients that we are seeing are already on dialysis. We don’t advise them to stop taking allopathy medicines or dialysis because diabetes and hypertension cannot be managed with ayurveda at one go. But ayurveda formulations based on herbs like Giloy, Varun, Punarnava, Kaasni, Gokshur, and Shigeru, help in detoxifying kidney cells apart from reducing high levels of uric acid and electrolytes,” says Dr Yadava.
Patients with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) or CKD have damaged kidneys that become incapable of filtering waste products like salt, excess water, urea, etc, out of the circulatory system resulting in metabolic toxicity. This leaves them struggling with fatigue, dizziness and sleeping issues all the time, particularly when on dialysis.
Experts say that CKD is often left unnoticed at the early stages and generally diagnosed at later stages as the patient remains asymptomatic for a long time or has nonspecific signs and symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and itching, etc.
Even though Ayurvedic doctors have traditionally used herbs like Varuna and Gokshura to treat kidney failure, it is only recently that these practices have been validated scientifically.
Dr Sanchit Sharma, Executive Director of AIMIL Pharma which manufactures NEERI KFT, an ayurvedic formulation for kidney ailments agrees, “Ayurveda blends our modern lifestyle and health-oriented habits with the ancient knowledge of using natural resources to help us live a healthy, stress-free and disease-free life.
“In the same way, Ayurveda texts have mentioned various herbs which are proven to improve kidney functioning like- Cichorium intybus, also known as ‘Kasni’ regulates sodium-potassium ATPase activity and protects ion-homeostasis, Crateva religiosa, also known as 'Varuna' which is an excellent diuretic and blood purifier that helps to maintain homeostasis. Also, ‘Gokhru’ is beneficial in rejuvenating nephrons.
“But since many times it is very difficult to collect all these herbs and to use them with accuracy, we have been working to develop these products scientifically,” he added.
There are several studies that have shown a statistically significant improvement in Blood Urea and Creatinine levels of Chronic Renal Failure patients treated with Ayurvedic drugs for one month.
A few ayurveda experts assert that with the help of customized ayurveda kits they have freed many patients from dialysis dependency. Dr Puneet, a fifth generation ayurveda expert and founder of Karma Ayurveda, a wellness clinic in the national capital, says that the “The Kidney Failure Treatment” and herbal medicines provided by them have successfully treated thousands of kidney patients in India and around the world.
Sharing a string of testimonials of the patients, from India as well as abroad particularly the US who were successfully treated and made dialysis free, he says that all types of kidney problems including CKD can be treated completely with natural techniques that help rejuvenate cells of the ailing organ by cutting down reactive oxygen species which is associated with its pathological damage.
“The entire treatment process is herbal and has no side effects. We have successfully treated thousands of cured patients from all around the world. We treat patients as per their medical needs, status and stage of the disease. ‘One size fits all’ formula is not applicable in our treatment procedure. All patients are unique in themselves for us. We customize treatment package as per their needs,” Dr Puneet asserts.
He reiterated that if Ayuverda is channelized properly, lots of chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis, a certain type of cancers, Parkinson’s and skin problems such as leucoderma among others can be cured and treated through the alternative medicine system.
Dr Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Senior Consultant at Kamlesh Ayurveda Hospital and Panchakarma Centre Lucknow lamented that CKD is draining out not only patients but also caregivers. “Ayurveda is a ray of hope for the world. Unlike allopathic treatment, which does not have the option to reverse the condition of kidney dialysis, there are medicines and treatments in Ayurveda that help rejuvenate the vital organ at a cellular level and improve its functioning. It can help a patient live a healthy life without dialysis. But I would like to clarify that one has to continue with Ayurveda medicines throughout their life to ensure that kidney cells remain rejuvenated. But then again it depends on the stage of the disease.”
He points out that results also depend on the patient’s willpower. “To get desired results, the patient must first rectify his/her lifestyle. Herbal medicines can help patients to stop dialysis if they follow the basic principles of Ayurvedic medicine for their kidney damage. Reduced number of dialysis also means less burden on pocket as well as on caretakers also,” he adds.
Dr Sinha was echoing pain of several CKD patients in the country who are unable to get dialysis because they can't afford it. Due to its recurring/chronic in nature, on an average, as per estimates, each patient requires between 10 to12 sessions monthly at an average of cost of Rs1,600-Rs 2000 per session. In addition to this, they have to shell out on lab tests, doctor consultation and regular medicines.
Dr Sinha, however, laments that most patients resort to Ayurveda only at advanced stages of the disease after the other options of treatment have failed to give them the desired results, therefore posing a greater challenge to treat them.
“Changing lifestyle of people, sedentary work, eating fast foods, junk food, tinned food, incompatible food, constant stress and strain, overindulgence of alcoholic drinks, chewing tobacco contributes substantially to Agnimandya–a condition when the food is not digested properly due to diminished power of digestive fire in the body”, points out Dr Sarita Gaikwad, Director of Sarita’s Punarnava Trimarma Chikitsalay and Research Centre, Nanded.
Echoing similar views, Dr Vinay Walenkar, Head of Office, Ayurved Vyaspeeth advises that “Many diseases, particularly the ones related to kidneys can be avoided by adopting a healthy lifestyle. One should make it a habit to not eat after sunset, as this habit of eating late at night is the mother of many diseases. Our role as Ayurvedic practitioners should not be limited to giving medicines, but we also have to educate the people about these habits for a healthy life.”
Professor SN Gupta, Vice Chancellor of Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University, Nadiad, also agrees with his colleagues from the fraternity that “Ayurvedic treatments can help patients in many ways. In certain cases, Ayurveda has been able to provide 100% recovery to patients, thereby preventing them from a condition of dialysis and kidney transplant. Ayurvedic therapies and treatments have also helped patients on the verge of dialysis and renal transplant to postpone the procedures.”.
What is chronic kidney disease in Ayurveda?
According to Ayurveda urine formation starts in the intestine itself although filtration takes place in the kidneys. An imbalance of agni (fire element ) disturbs the process of formation and filtration of urine, Malformed urine leads to the accumulation of wastes in the body. This unwanted accumulation is known as ‘ama sanchaya’ (toxin accumulation) in Ayurveda.
This ‘ama’ accumulation manifests as –
l loss of appetite
l tiredness
l heaviness
l puffiness around the eyes
l excess water (in the later stages)
l abnormal values of Creatitnine, Urea ,GFR etc.
On the basis of different factors, damage at different levels of filtration apparatus can take place.
Diet and lifestyle:
The main aim is to increase the agni while keeping the medicines as soft on the body as possible, as kidney is an organ derived from the mother according to Ayurvedic shastras.
Avoid:
l Dals
l Milk and milk products like dahi (yogurt)
l Seeds and nuts
l Non-veg items like meat, fish, and eggs
l Hot spices’ pepper, chilies etc.
l Less of wheat/ brown bread ( as it is heavy to digest)
l Junk foods,white sugar, refined foods like maida etc.
Consume:
l Vegetables
l Fruits
l Rice after removing starch
l Diluted lassi (buttermilk) is the only allowed milk product
l Water processed with berberis/cumin seeds
Lifestyle
l Do not forcibly hold the urge to pass urine or stools (vegadharana)
l Avoid daytime sleep except when very sick
l Avoid heavy meals after dark
l Hot water fomentation over the kidney area is advised.
l Vajrasana (thunderbolt pose)after food
Source: Himveda
