Ever wondered how does our body filters out all the toxins and waste products? It is the function of a fist-sized organ that comes in pairs, Kidneys. This organ is responsible for filtering out our blood and making it free from waste products and toxins. Moreover, kidneys also produce a hormone that makes our metabolism stronger thereby giving our body enough power to fight off bacteria and viruses. Other major functions of the kidney include:
Balancing the level of water
Regulating blood pressure
Production of Red Blood Cells
Balancing the levels of acids and bases in the blood
With these major functions, a kidney becomes one of the important organs of human anatomy. Despite this fact, many patients worldwide are suffering from kidney diseases at large. Though the main causes of all kidney problems are usually associated with poor lifestyles, homeopathic and allopathic doctors usually end up recommending kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant to their patients. One such rising problem is that of Kidney Shrinkage. However, kidney shrinkage treatment in Ayurveda promises a satisfying and permanent cure to this problem using all-natural methods.
What causes kidney shrinkage?
The condition of Kidney Shrinkage is also known as Atrophic Kidney where either one or both the kidneys become smaller than their usual size. Generally, the ideal size of healthy kidneys is about 10-12cm in length, 5-6cm in width, and 3-4cm in thickness. In case the size of kidneys shrinks below these points, the condition is referred to as kidney shrinkage.
The shrinkage of kidneys is usually associated with kidney disease. Kidney disease affects the nephron inside the kidney which is a very slow process. When left ignored, it further damages the nephron that results in the shrinkage of kidneys. Though there are various causes associated with kidney shrinkage, it usually becomes hard to understand the real cause behind this problem. Here are some of the most common causes associated with shrinkage of kidneys:
Last-Stage Kidney Disease
Kidney Failure
Kidney Stones
Other Acute Kidney Disease
Other Chronic Kidney Disease
Most Common Symptoms
Before we get into the symptoms part, let us understand how does kidney shrinkage affect our body. As mentioned above, kidneys are responsible for carrying out various functions inside our bodies. They have tiny blood vessels inside them that filter out our blood with toxins and other waste products. When our kidneys shrink, they hamper the functioning of these blood vessels. It then becomes difficult for the kidneys to filter out waste and maintain the level of water and other fluids inside the body.
All these changes in the body lead to certain conditions or symptoms. However, these symptoms come under notice only after some time. Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with kidney problems:
-Inflammation on Swelling: Since the body is not able to process waste, excessive nutrients, and balance the water level, it results in swelling in different areas including Legs, Faces, Head, etc.
-Hematuria: As mentioned above, the blood vessels get damaged in this hence. It results in a condition where patients notice blood in urine, known as Hematuria.
-Extreme Body Pain: Kidneys are not functioning the way they are meant to. It results in extreme pain usually in the back or lower abdomen.
-High Blood Pressure: High Blood Pressure is another key indicator of kidney shrinkage.
-Nausea: Excessive amounts of unfiltered protein and nutrients result in conditions like nausea that can further result in fatigue and restlessness.
Recommended Diet to Treat Shrinkage
When it comes to kidney problems, factors that are related to your diet and lifestyle play an important role. Hence if you refer to kidney shrinkage treatment in Ayurveda, the first thing you will be advised is to bring changes in the diet. Here are some of the changes advised by an Ayurvedic expert when it comes to treating kidney diseases:
Avoiding high protein intake through foods like red meat, fish, etc.
Avoiding dairy products except for buttermilk
Reducing intake of products rich in sodium or potassium (salt)
Avoiding processed or packed food
Ayurvedic Treatment for Kidney Shrinkage
In most cases, a kidney patient suffering from kidney shrinkage is advised to live with just a kidney that is healthy. You will also come across many cases where doctors advise kidney patients to go for dialysis. However, this is considered one of the worst treatments for kidney diseases. Once a patient gets into kidney dialysis, in 99% of the cases, he only comes up with the worst kidney case.
It has been observed that patients who go for kidney dialysis are often referred for a kidney transplant. Again, around 99% of the cases where patients did kidney transplants failed miserably within a span of just 5 years. Hence there was a need for a treatment that could treat kidneys without such procedures that might give rise to other serious complications.
This is where kidney shrinkage treatment in Ayurveda made its name in treating kidney patients without dialysis. Ayurveda focuses on two major factors when it comes to treating kidney diseases. These are:
Ahar (diet)
Vihar (Lifestyle)
When both of these things are balanced, a person suffering from any kind of kidney disease can recover completely. The best characteristic of these methods is that they do not have any kind of negative effect on the patient. Since all the methods and medicines used in Ayurvedic treatment are natural, they are meant to treat the problems from the root level. It thus gives a healthy and revived kidney along with a body with a strong metabolism.