Experts representing alternate Indian medical systems, particularly ayurveda, have claimed herbs can work as a protective agent for the kidney and provide relief to thousands of patients in the country.
However, they warned that the herbs should be taken from a good source, on the advice of doctors, and should not contain any impure heavy metals or impurities which may further damage the kidneys.
Ayurveda experts assert that in view of side effects of allopathic medicines and low access to kidney transplantation, more and more hapless kidney patients are turning towards herbal remedies to get rid of kidney disease which is on increase in the country.
The number of Indians suffering from chronic kidney ailments has doubled in the past 15 years, and at present 17 in every hundred citizens suffer from some form of kidney disease, health experts have said.
They said that herbal formulation prepared of punarnava plant (Boerhavia diffusa) and other established kidney protective herbs in ayurvedic formulations have shown promising results in preventing and reducing the increased levels of kidney function parameters — serum creatinine.
In this connection, Neeri KFT (NSRF), which is a blend of punarnava plant, leaves of lotus, patharchur and other key herbs, has proved to be a life saving drug for all those kidney patients who are under the regular dialysis.
The positive effect of the herbal drug has been published in The Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Research too. It said that “NSRF is a potent nephro-protective formulation, protecting kidneys from nephrotoxins including oxidative damage induced by lead acetate. lead acetate is considered as a major nephrotoxicity inducing agent causing direct damage through multiple pathways including oxidative stress.
The drug has also helped in maintaining histological parameter of kidneys apart from reducing increased levels of uric acid and electrolytes, it said. Giving full marks to the formulation, Professor Dr KN Dwivedi Head of department of Banaras Hindu University’s Dravayagunavigyan vibhag said, “Considering increase in kidney disease patients there is a need of a protective agents like Neeri KFT.”
KK Sharma, Chairman, Aimil Pharmaceuticals India limited, which has produced the product said that it has taken more than a decade of R&D to formulate a unique combination of herbs for kidney patients.
Well known ayurveda expert and founder of Planet Ayurveda firm, Vikram Chauhan, too vouched that Ayurvedic herbs as good alternative to dialysis if used under the recommendations of an experienced ayurvedic practitioner. “The herbs like Punarnava (puna — again, Nava — new), Phyllanthus niruri, kaasni which are all found in a classical ayurvedic formulation called Mutrakrichantak Churna,” he said.