Abstract

Kidneys are filters that filter toxic substances from blood and therefore help in detoxification. There are instances when the kidney functions are hampered due to various conditions. The causes usually are physiological and anatomical. The last stage of kidney dysfunction is kidney failure. This disease usually manifests with fluid accumulation in the body, confusion, lethargy and anorexia. The diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and blood work. As the condition is severe, the prognosis is not so good. In Ayurveda, this can be related with mutra vaha srotas dushti, where the symptoms relate with kidney failure. So we shall discuss this in some detail.

Introduction

Kidney/Renal Failure is an end stage kidney disease is a medical condition in which the kidney reduces or stops filtering the wastes/toxic substances in the body. When kidney functions are less than 15 percent of normal levels, it is generally considered as renal failure. Kidney failure can be classified into acute and chronic kidney failure depending on the cause. In Ayurveda, kidney failure can be correlated with Mutra vaha sroto dushti as the symptoms are very similar with each other. The management of kidney failure in modern medicine is supportive and parental and surgical. Whereas, in Ayurveda, the management is based on dosha involved and herbal formulation.

Causes of Kidney Failure

• Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) earlier known as acute renal failure. It occurs when the blood flow to the kidney is disrupted. This could result from accidents, complications from surgeries or injuries. This can even result from drug overdose like antibiotics or chemotherapy. This condition is reversible as the flow to the kidneys is resumed and the drug is stopped.
• Chronic kidney failure has many causes. Common causes are uncontrolled hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes. Other than this hantavirus and usage of nephrotoxic drugs can lead to chronic kidney failure.

Signs and Symptoms

• As kidney functions are hampered the levels of urea in blood raises which can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, nocturia, frequent urination, less frequent urination, weight loss, blood in urine (hematuria), difficult urination and others.
• High phosphorus levels in the blood can cause bone damage, muscle cramps, itching and others.
• Potassium in the body can cause muscle paralysis and abnormal heart rhythms.
• Excess build up of fluid in the body that can cause swelling in the legs, feet, face and ankles.
• Diseased kidney produces less erythropoietin, which results in anemia.
• Patient feels lethargic and weak
• Memory related problems
• Reduced blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Concentration problem
• Foamy or bubbly urine

Investigations

• Urine culture
• Glomerular filtration rate
• Renal failure index

Management

• Diet management
• Hemodialysis
• Peritoneal dialysis
• Kidney transplant

Ayurvedic View and Management

Kidney failure is an advanced stage of kidney disease. In Ayurveda, mutra vaha srtoto dushti is there that can be correlated with kidney failure. The symptoms include anuria, dysuria, hazy urine and pyuria. Acharya Charak has advised to manage mutra vaha sroto dushti on the same protocol as of mutrakricha. The causes of the disease are improper dietary habits, dry alcohol intake, consuming meat of those animals and birds who live in mountains and watery areas, indigestion and trauma. With these, vata dosha dominantly and with doshas get vitiated and obstruct the working of the urinary system, which results in a number of symptoms including anuria, dysuria and others.

Panchakarma management of the disease depends on the dosha predominance. Medicines used for kidney disease are chandrakala rasa, shwet prpati, mutrakrishantak rasa, tarkeshwar rasa, yavakshar, chandraprabha vati, vrikkshulantak vati, gokshuradi guggulu, hingvadi vati, eladi churna, yavkshar kantkari churna, vyoshadi churna, gokshuradi kwath, punarnavadi kwath, amritadi kwath, panchtrinmuladi kwatha, pashanabhedadi kwatha, punarnavasav, chandanasava, madhukasasav, shatavari ghrita, sukumar kumar ghrita, shudh shilajit etc. These are some of the classical formulations used for kidney disease.

Herbs such as gokshura (Tribulus terrestris), punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), trin panchmool, varun (Crataeva nurvala), chandan (Santalum album), lajwanti (Mimosa pudica), pipal (Ficus religiosa), vacha (Acorus calamus), dadim (Punica granatum), bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri), kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), palaash (Butea monosperma) and various others are used to check kidney functions and establishing healthy kidneys.

Herbal Remedies for Kidney Failure by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda is a famous ayurvedic company and herbal manufacturing unit. Planet Ayurveda’s formulations are made from pure and authentic herbs as mentioned in the ayurvedic texts. The products of Planet Ayurveda are pure and have various certifications. Planet Ayurveda is pleased to present its Revive Kidneys Pack For Advanced Stages for kidney failure. All the products in this pack are a perfect remedy to revive the kidneys with their nephroprotective properties. Let’s have a look at each product in some depth.

Revive Kidneys Pack for Advance Stages

1. Mutrakrichantak Churna
2. Rencure Formula
3. Gokshuradi Guggul
4. Punarnava Capsules
5. Phyllanthus Niruri
6. Saral Ghan Vati
7. Nephralka Capsules
8. Chandanasav

Products Description

1. Mutrakrichantak Churna

Mutrakrichantak Churna is a blend of kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), varun (Crataeva nurvala), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris) and bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri). It is a patent herbal product of Planet Ayurveda which has provided good results in kidney disorders. The churna is a perfect remedy for abnormal kidney functions. It helps in nourishing and healing nephrons and enhances its actions. With this, it helps in managing the condition of kidney failure and alleviates symptoms associated with it.

Dosage: One teaspoonful twice daily with warm water.

2. Rencure Formula

Rencure Formula capsules are filled up with effective herbal extraction of varun (Crataeva nurvala), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), kaasni (Cichorium intybus) and others. Rencure Formula, as the name suggests is a remedy for curing the ailment of kidneys. The herbs help in alleviating the inflammation of the kidneys. It promotes and maintains normal urination. It removes harmful toxins from the body.

Dosage: One capsule twice daily with warm water after meals.

3. Gokshuradi Guggul

Gokshuradi Guggul is a classical ayurvedic formulation that is used in a number of urinary diseases. The formulation contains gokshura (Tribulus terrestris), guggul (Commiphora mukul), shunthi (Zingiber officinale), amla (Emblica officinalis), Mustak (Cyperus rotundus), haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and various others. Gokshuradi Guggul is a medicine that is known for its diuretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. With these properties it helps regular and normal flow of the urine and healthy functioning of the kidneys.

Dosage: Two tablets thrice daily with warm water after meals.

4. Punarnava Capsules

This capsule is a standardised pure extract of Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia). It helps to improve skin texture. It purifies blood and promotes healthy skin thus it is very beneficial in managing Psoriasis.

Dosage: 1-2 capsules twice a day with lukewarm water after meals.

5. Phyllanthus Niruri

Phyllanthus Niruri capsules are made up of herbal extract of bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri). It has diuretic properties which help in expelling the toxins out of the body thus helps in reducing swelling in the body. With its cooling properties, it helps in urinary disorders like incontinence, painful micturition and burning sensation in urine.

Dosage: One capsule twice daily with warm water after meals.

6. Saral Ghan Vati

Saralghan vati contains herbal extract of saral (Pinus roxburghii). Saral has many health providing properties such as analgesic, diuretic, antioxidant, anti inflammatory, immunomodulating and others. These properties help in the management of kidney failure by repairing kidney cells and diuretic effects remove toxins that are accumulated in the body.

Dosage: Two tablets thrice daily with warm water after meals.

7. Nephralka Capsules

Nephralka Capsules are a patent product of Planet Ayurveda for kidney problems. These capsules contain herbs punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri), kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) and others. These herbs protect the kidney from various disorders. It has various effects such as diuretic and analgesic. This helps in normalising kidney functions and removing excess water from the body and helps persons with compromised kidneys.

Dosage: One capsule twice daily with warm water after meals.

8. Chandanasav

Chandanasav is a classical herbal syrup that contains safed chandan (Santalum album), tagar (Walleriana valichi), gambhari (Gmelina arborea), lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), nelofar (Nymphaea stellata), manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), mochras (Bombax ceiba), munakka (Vitis vinifera), rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), rakta chandana (Pterocarpus santalinus) and various others. Being cool in potency helps managing kidney dysfunctions and has diuretic effects. It enhances the well being of the urinary system.

Dosage: Two tsp twice daily with an equal amount of warm water.

Conclusion

Kidney failure is a serious and complicated condition. There are some causes behind the occurrence of the disease. Prior care and observance is required to keep a check on the functioning of the kidneys. Other systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension when not managed properly, can hamper the kidney functions and if not taken care of, damages the kidneys and hampers its functioning. There is no permanent solution for kidney failure in the modern system of medicine but they provide options such as dialysis and kidney transplant. This option too depends on the availability of the donor’s kidney. Whereas, the ancient medicinal system of Ayurveda has so much to offer. Ayurvedic herbs are so efficient to manage kidney disorders. Even in advanced stages, when no other options are left but dialysis, ayurvedic herbs come to help. The nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory and healing properties of the herbs and herbal formulations provide relief in patients with kidney failure. Planet Ayurveda’s Revive Kidneys Care Pack for Advanced Stage is the perfect combo that can pull the patients out of unending pain associated with Kidney Failure.