Ayurvedic treatment for nephrotic syndrome

by Rahul Kumar Health and Medical

What is nephrotic syndrome ?

Nephrotic syndrome can be a group of symptoms collectively indicating that the kidneys are not functioning properly. The kidneys filter the waste out of the blood through the urine.

The symptoms include -

● Excess of protein in a person’s urine, known as proteinuria

● Low levels of a protein called albumin in the blood, known as hypoalbuminemia

● Edema, which causes swelling in parts of the body

● Excess of cholesterol and other fats in blood, known as hyperlipidemia

Our kidneys consist of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron is made up of a filter, called the glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus is responsible for filtering blood and the needed substances are returned by the tubule to blood, removing wastes and excess water which becomes urine. When the glomeruli are inflamed, therefore allowing excess protein to leak from blood into the urine, it indicates signs of nephrotic syndrome.

Symptoms of nephrotic syndrome

The condition of nephrotic syndrome may be known through routine blood and urine tests at a doctor’s appointment. It causes water to build up in the body. It can cause severe swelling all over the body.

The results of the tests can give a clearer idea on the levels of protein in the blood and urine, fat and cholesterol levels in the blood.

Some common signs of nephrotic syndrome are-

● Weight gain

● Swelling in feet, ankles, face and hands.

● Fatigue

● Foamy urine

● Not feeling the urge to eat

What causes nephrotic syndrome ?

A lot of different conditions can cause nephrotic syndrome. The most common conditions that may lead to nephrotic syndrome are-

● Diabetes

● Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis

● Minimal change nephropathy

● Amyloidosis

Diseases affecting only the kidneys and leading to nephrotic syndrome are primary causes.

The diseases affecting the whole body, including the kidneys are the secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome occurs because of secondary causes most of the time. Diabetes is the most common secondary cause of nephrotic syndrome in both adults and children.

How is nephrotic syndrome diagnosed ?

The only way to know the condition of kidneys is by testing. Doctors may recommend one or more of these tests -

● Urine dipstick test: This test is conducted to check for albumin in a person’s urine. The urine sample is collected in a container during a visit to a lab. A chemically treated paper, also called dipstick, is placed into the urine for the test. If there is presence of albumin in the urine, it changes color.

● Blood tests: Blood tests indicate whether the kidneys are filtering waste as they should. If it does not, then it could be a sign of nephrotic syndrome.

● Kidney biopsy: The doctor will look at a small piece of kidney tissue under a microscope for signs of damage in a kidney biopsy.

It is advised to get both urine and blood tests done to be double sure. A person may have normal blood test results but there still are chances of presence of protein in their urine. Protein in urine is a major sign of damage to the kidneys.

Are there any complications of nephrotic syndrome ?

● Excess water in the body. Fluid gets built up around the ankles, or in hands. This can cause discomfort but does not lead to serious problems. Breathlessness may be caused due to fluid build up in the lungs in cases of extreme nephrotic syndrome, however.

● Blood clots. The blood can become sticky in nephrotic syndrome resulting in blood clots. These usually occur in the veins of the leg, causing swelling. These blood clots can travel into the lungs, causing chest pain, breathlessness or coughing up blood.

● High cholesterol. High levels of cholesterol in blood are common in cases of nephrotic syndrome. If the kidney specialist finds that the cholesterol levels are high over a period of years, then there is an increased risk of a heart attack. Timely treatment of nephrotic syndrome brings down the cholesterol levels itself, but in some severe cases drugs may be needed to bring them down.

● High blood pressure. High blood pressure is caused by extra water in the body and kidney issues. This may further increase the risk of a heart attack and stroke.

How to treat nephrotic syndrome?

Although there is no cure for nephrotic syndrome, doctors may recommend certain medications to heal the kidneys and prevent it from getting worse.

To control blood pressure, certain medications are available so that heart attack or a stroke is prevented.

To help the body get rid of the extra water and reduce swelling, certain medications can be taken.

Can Ayurveda cure nephrotic syndrome ?

Nephrotic syndrome is curable through Ayurveda. Ayurveda having its roots in India, is a globally popular concept today for its results. Ayurveda not just accounts for the symptoms of a disease but also caters to other factors such as conditions of mind, body and soul.

Ayurvedic treatment for nephrotic syndrome also makes it the ideal treatment alternative as it has no side effects on the body. Unlike other treatment alternatives such as Dialysis and kidney transplant, it is affordable and result-oriented.