Polycystic Kidney Disease – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an autosomal dominant, genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. Common symptoms include pain in the back and sides; headaches; urinary tract infections; hematuria; liver and pancreatic cysts; abnormal heart valves; high blood pressure; kidney stones; aneurysms in the brain; and diverticulosis in the colon.
The Ayurvedic treatment of this condition is aimed at treating symptoms, preventing complications and prolonging life. Medicines like Triphala-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivadi-Churna, Kuber-Vati, Varunadi-Qadha, Punarnavadi-Guggulu and Kanchnaar-Guggulu are used to treat the cysts. These medicines help to reduce the number and size of the cysts.
Herbal medicines like Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Erandmool (Ricinis communis), Apamarga (Achyranthus aspera), Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum), Prushnaparni (Uraria picta), Varun (Crataeva nurvala), Latakaranj (Caesalpinia crista), Kachnaar (Bauhinia variegata), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica) and Patha (Cissampelos pareira) can also be used for this purpose. Medicines like Varun and Latakaranj form the mainstay of treatment for this condition, and can be used equally well to treat polycystic ovaries.
Most patients having pain get relief with the above mentioned medicines due to shrinking of the cysts. Infection and bleeding in the cysts can be treated using medicines like Sukshma-Triphala, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Qadha, Laxadi-Guggulu, Vasa (Adhatoda vasaka), Naagkeshar (Messua ferrea), Laxa (Purified wax) and Sphatik-Bhasma. High blood pressure can be treated using medicines like Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Sutshekhar-Ras, Dhamasa (Fagonia cretica), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Kidney stones can be treated using medicines like Hazrul-Yahud-Bhasma, Pashan-Bhed (Bergenia ligulata), Yava-Kshar and Mulak-Kshar.
Other associated conditions like valvular heart disease, aneurysms and diverticulosis need to be treated separately using appropriate medicines like Trayodashang-Guggulu, Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Arjunarishta, Kutaj-Parpati and Panchamrut-Parpati. Most patients having multiple, large-sized cysts usually progress to end-stage kidney failure, which can be prevented or treated using medicines like Chandraprabha-Vati, Saarivadi-Churna, Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Punarnavadi-Qadha, Gokshuradi-Guggulu and Gomutra-Haritaki.
Ayurvedic medicines, given in combination with modern treatment, can thus help to control the symptoms of PKD, improve the quality of life and prolong survival for people affected with this condition. All such patients should be under the regular care and supervision of an Urologist.