Besides the size of the kidneys, an ultrasonographic examination of the concerned organs may also indicate the underlying pathology causing CRF, e.g. BEP, or urinary stones, or any congenital abnormality of the kidneys, responsible for obstruction in the urinary tract, leading to chronic UTI. As detailed in the topic of UTI, whenever there is an obstruction in the urinary tract, chances of infection in the urinary tract increase considerably.
As a result of small/ shrinking kidneys, their functioning becomes markedly deranged and blood urea, serum creatinine start increasing, leading to various signs and symptoms of CRF. This happens when the disease manifests itself in clinical form, after its hidden phase.
As time passes, due to the constant adverse effects of the disease on the" kidneys, the size of the kidneys may be so markedly reduced, that their functioning may be adversely affected, and these organs may never attain normalcy, i.e., there may occur an irreversible damage to the kidneys, and the patient may have to live on repeated dialysis. Such is the importance of the kidneys in the body, and these are indeed vital for the life of an individual, like other organs of the body, e.g. heart, lungs, liver, brain, etc. Therefore, the kidneys should also be given due attention and care in maintaining the normal health of an individual.
Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
Chronic renal failure is known in Ayurveda as "Mutra-Kshaya". While the physiology of production of urine in Ayurveda is quite different from that of modern medicine, the ancient Ayurvedic texts recognized the importance of chronic kidney failure, and gave it due consideration and importance.
Traditional Ayurvedic medicines which are useful in chronic renal failure are: Gokshuradi Guggulu, Punarnava Guggulu, Punarnavadi Qadha(decoction), Arogya Vardhini, Chandraprabha Vati, Gomutra Haritaki, Surya Kshar and Yava Kshar. Single herbal medicines useful in this condition are: Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Shilajit (Purified Bitumen), Varun (Crataeva nurvala), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia),Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Apamarg (Achyranthus aspera) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
According to Ayurveda, the kidneys are made up of a combination of two tissues, "Rakta" and "Meda". It is believed that the medicines which act on these two tissues also act upon the kidneys and help to preserve and restore function. Some of these medicines are: Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Saariva, Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Chirayta (Swertia chirata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Chandan (Santalum album) and Shunthi (Zinziber officinalis).
Some Ayurvedic physicians recommend a soup made from the intestines of goat to improve kidney function and urine output. Yet others recommend rice and jowar, processed like popcorn, to be eaten in large quantities.
The advantage of using Ayurvedic medicines in chronic renal failure is that in most patients, the kidney damage can be either partly or fully reversed, the frequency of dialysis can be reduced, and the increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases can be significantly reduced. Thus, Ayurvedic medicines have the potential for an important therapeutic contribution in all the stages of this condition.
