Category: Kidney Health

June 23, 2018

Azotemia Treatment with Ayurveda – Types, Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

Do You Know About Azotemia?

With growth of population the type and number of diseases are also increasing. One of them is Azotemia that is related to kidneys. It is a condition when kidneys are damaged and not working properly. The kidneys are important organ of our body that filters waste products out of blood. When kidneys got damage they are not able to remove waste products from blood. This disease is related to dysfunctional filtering of blood by kidneys when they are not able to remove nitrogen waste.

What are Types of Azotemia?

There are three types of azotemia mentioned below :-

1. Prerenal Azotemia

It occurs when fluid is not flowing enough through kidneys. When blood pressure to kidney is low, it causes high level of serum creatinine and urea. Prerenal type of azotemia is a most common and can be reversed.

2. Primary Renal Azotemia

It is an intrinsic disease that causes parenchymal kidney damage and leads to uremia. This type of azotemia causes kidney failure, acute tubular necrosis, glomerulonephritis or any kind of kidney disease.

3. Postrenal Azotemia

This condition causes blockage of urine flow in kidneys. The Postrenal azotemia is caused by congenital abnormalities like blockage of ureters by kidney stones, vesicoureteral reflux, uterus cancer andprostatic hyperplasia.

Sometimes, there is increased urine flow that can lead to hydronephrosis.

What are the Causes as per Three Types of Azotemia?

1. Prerenal Azotemia

The causes for reduced flow to kidneys are mentioned below :-

  • Hemorrhage
  • Dehydration
  • Burns
  • Diarrhea
  • Heat exposure
  • Long-term vomiting
  • Heart failure
  • Shock
  • Blockage of artery that supplies kidney with blood.

2. Primary Renal Azotemia

The different causes of primary renal azotemia are :-

  • Infection: Kidney infection causes damage to tubules with kidney that filter blood.
  • Vascular Disease: It causes blockage and damage to tissues present in blood vessels.
  • Medication: This type of azotemia may be caused due to nephrotoxins like cocaine, cyclosporine, antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

3. Postrenal Azotemia

The common causes of blockage in tubes is due to:

  • Urinary catheter
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Urinary crystals
  • Tumor

Signs And Symptoms of Azotemia

Azotemia-Treatment with-Ayurveda

  • Fatigue
  • Decreased alertness
  • Confusion
  • Pale skin
  • Decreased or absent urine output
  • Thirst
  • Edema
  • Swelling
  • Rapid pulse
  • Dry mouth
  • Uremic frost
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Acute kidney injury
  • Loss of energy

What are Risk Factors for Azotemia?

There are several risk factors responsible for azotemia that includes :-

  • Heart failure
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Renal insufficiency
  • Advanced age
  • Prolonged use of nephrotoxic drug

How is Azotemia Diagnosed?

For diagnosis of azotemia blood tests and urinalysis are done to monitor the functioning of kidneys. These tests include blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test, 24 hour urine collection test or creatinine test.

How is Azotemia Treated?

Ayurvedic treatment is a best way to cure Azotemia. As per Ayurveda, all three energies (vata, pitta and kapha) are imbalanced in azotemia. Planet Ayurveda offers various herbal remedies for Azotemia that provides effective results on symptoms associated with this disease.

Products description

1. Chandanadi Vati

This vati is used to balance pitta and kapha dosha in the body. Chandanadi vati is an effective remedy for curing dysuria, urinary infections, diabetes, in burning micturition, nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and its associated symptoms. It maintains metabolism, blood circulation and healthy digestion. The ingredients used for preparation of this vati are Safed Chandan(Santalum album), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Kapur (Cinnamomum camphora), Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) Choti Elaichi(Elettaria cardamomum) and Pasahnbhed(Bergenia ligulata) etc.

1. Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis)

It is commonly known as Amla or Indian gooseberry. This herb is richest source of Vitamin C. The herb has various health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and immune-modulatory properties.

2. Kapur (Cinnamomum Camphora)

The herb acts as coolant in nature and balance kapha dosha in the body. It is a very useful in relieving burning sensation and symptoms associated with azotemia.

3. Safed Chandan (Santalum Album)

This herb is commonly known sandalwood. It acts as coolant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant andanalgesic. The herb treats burning sensation, itching, bladder inflammation, swelling, urethritis and other symptoms associated with azotemia. Safed chandan balance pitta dosha in body and show various therapeutic values.The main benefits of this vati are in haematuria, cystitis, kidney stones and dysuria.

Recommended Dosage:Two tablets twice daily with plain water after meals.

2. Chanderprabha Vati

Chanderprabha Vati is an Ayurvedic formulation used from ancient time for its therapeutic values. It helps to balance all three energies (vata, pitta and kapha) doshas in body. The formulation is used to treat urinary tract infections and other problems related to kidney diseases. Ingredients used for preparation of these tablets are Shilajit (Asphaltum), Guggul (Commiphora mukul), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Mustak (Cyprus rotundus), Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) etc.

This vati shows calming effect on whole body.It is very beneficial for weakness, excessive urination, Burning urination, renal calculi and retention of urine.

Recommended Dosage:Two to three tablets twice daily with plain water after meals.

3. Nephralka Capsules

Nephralka Capsules give effective results in the kidney problems. The herbs used for preparation of these capsule are Bhumi-amla (Phyllanthus niruri), Mooli satva (Raphanus sativus), Revandchini (Rheum emodi), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) and Punarnava (Boerrhavia diffusa).

1. Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus Niruri)

This herb pacifies pitta and kapha dosha in the body. It helps to manage all the problems related to kidneys.

2. Punarnava (Boerrhavia Diffusa)

The herb acts as diuretic and manages painful micturition. It is a natural cleanser that remove toxins from body and manage symptoms associated with azotemia.

3. Kalmegh (Andrographis Paniculata)

This is a most common herb that increases blood cells count, boost-up immunity, manages digestive system and balances excess fluid absorption.

4. Revandchini (Rheum Emodi)

The herb consists considerable amount of minerals, vitamins, fiber, carbohydrates and fats etc. It is beneficial in removing toxins, waste products from kidneys and deals with associated symptoms of Azotemia.

5. Mooli satva (Raphanus Sativus)

This herb is full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that rejuvenate immune system.

Recommended Dosage:One to two capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

4. Punarnava Capsules

Pure extract of herb Punarnava “Boerhavia diffusa” is used for preparation of Punarnava Capsules. The capsule acts as an excellent kidney tonic. Herb used possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, antioxidant and carminative properties. It helps to balance kapha dosha in body. These capsules are helpful in kidney stones, swelling, fatigue, edema, acute kidney injury and decreased urine output conditions. The capsules show effective results in symptoms and problems associated with azotemia.

Recommended Dosage:One to two capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

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April 16, 2018

Top 7 Tips to Keep your Kidneys Healthy and Happy Naturally

Home Remedies for Kidney FailureWhy it is Important to Keep the Kidneys Healthy ?

The kidneys are a pair of organs which are located in the small of the back; one kidney on each side of the spine. It is vital to ensure the health of the kidneys and to improve kidney functions naturally with the help of healthy diet and lifestyle habits.

Keeping the kidneys happy and healthy is important for good health because kidneys perform some extremely crucial functions. Some of these functions include:

  • Filtering and eliminating waste products from the body (in the form of urine)
  • Maintaining the health of the bones
  • Controlling the blood pressure
  • Removing drugs from the body
  • Balancing the body’s fluids
  • Releasing hormones which regulate blood pressure
  • Controlling the production of red blood cells
  • Regulating the body’s salt, potassium and acid content
  • Promoting strong and healthy bones by producing an active form of Vitamin D.

7 Tips to Protect Kidneys Naturally

Kidney health is directly related to the overall quality of a person’s life. In order to protect the kidneys and improve kidney functions naturally, it is advisable to consume a healthy diet and bring some changes in your lifestyle. By taking a little extra care of your kidneys in terms of having a healthy and robust daily routine, you can improve kidney function notably and, consequently, improve the quality of life.

1) Eat a Healthy Diet

The most important thing to bear in mind in order to improve kidney functions naturally is to consume a balanced diet which is good for the kidneys and the heart. Such a diet should ideally include an abundance of vegetables and fruits, as well as foods which are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids including walnuts, canola oil, flaxseed oil, and cold water fish like salmon, lake trout, albacore tuna, and sardines.

Moreover, a kidney-healthy diet also means that the sodium content in the diet should be appropriate, and the consumption of processed foods should be avoided. In addition, the intake of foods like eggs, cheese, fried foods, and whole milk should also be avoided because they are high in saturated fats and cholesterol.

2) Consume Plenty of Fluids

Kidney function can be notably enhanced by increasing fluid intake and keeping the body hydrated. Water and other fluids can help the kidneys eliminate urea, sodium and other toxins from the body; thereby significantly reducing the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Although there is still no consensus about how much intake of water and other fluids is ideal for the maintaining kidney health, it is believed that the daily consumption of water should be around 2 litres.

tips-to-protect-kidneys

3) Increase Physical Activity, but don’t Overexert

Regular physical exercise has several health benefits. It can keep the body weight in check, make the muscles strong, lower blood pressure, promote good sleep, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides).

However, while making physical activity a part of your daily lifestyle, it should be remembered that exercise should be done in moderation. Any kind of overexertion can lead to excessive breakdown of muscle tissue and can also put a strain on the kidneys.

4) Keep Blood Sugar Levels in Check

Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels in the body can also improve kidney functions naturally. Since the risk of developing kidney damage is fairly high for people suffering from diabetes, it is all the more important for such people to keep blood sugar levels in control.

High blood sugar levels not only damage the kidneys, but can also have an adverse impact on the eyes, heart, nerves, and blood vessels. To stop the damage or to slow it down, it is essential to control blood sugar.

5) Monitor your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure levels should also be kept in check at the normal 120/80 level in order to ensure a healthy functioning of the kidneys. Blood pressure generally increases when fluid builds up in the body because of improper fluid and sodium (salt) limits in the body.

High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of kidney damage, even though it is usually considered to be a causative factor for a heart attack or stroke. To control blood pressure, people with kidney disease are recommended the use of pills which are categorised as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

6) Limit Alcohol Consumption

Limiting the intake of alcohol can also be beneficial for overall health of the kidneys because alcohol is essentially a toxin which needs to be filtered from the blood. It is advised that men should not take more than two drinks a day, while women should restrict their alcohol consumption to one drink a day. The ‘measure’ of one drink, by definition, is 12 of beer, or 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

Consuming alcohol in excess amounts has a dehydrating effect on the body, and also a harmful impact on the normal functioning of the kidneys. Furthermore, kidneys are also indirectly affected by consumption of excessive alcohol because it increases the risk for high blood pressure and liver disease.

7) Quit Smoking

Smoking can lead to heart and kidney disease because it can damage blood vessels, thereby decreasing the blood flow in the kidneys. Inadequate blood flow prevents the kidneys from functioning at their optimum level. Hence, it is important to quit smoking in order to improve kidney functions naturally.

Smoking can increase the risk of kidney cancer and nephrosclerosis, or hardening of the kidneys. Moreover, smoking can also cause coronary artery disease because it can cause the hardening of the arteries of the smokers. So, by quitting smoking, a person can reduce the risk of heart and kidney disease.

Conclusion

Kidney health can be maintained naturally by keeping the body healthy with the help of balanced diet and regular exercise. By taking proper care of your body, you can keep your kidneys safe, and also reduce the likelihood of developing a health condition which can potentially damage the kidneys. Moreover, since other health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can have an adverse effect on kidney health, it is important to get regular kidney function screening, especially if you are at risk of developing kidney problems.

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