Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Treatment In Ayurveda
What Is a Kidney Cyst?
If someone has been diagnosed with kidney cysts, these cysts can be of different kinds. In reality, a kidney cyst is a round fluid-filled pouch made up of smooth, thin-walled tissues. The number of cysts may vary in number from one person to another. Simple cysts are the most commonly found type of kidney cyst. These cysts are most often benign.
Another type of disease related to kidney cysts is Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Simple kidney cysts are different from PKD. PKD is found to run in families and is characterised by many cysts growing in your kidneys. This large number of cysts makes your kidneys increase in size and damages the kidney tissue.
Over the time, if you are living with PKD, your kidneys will not function well, and the disease can lead to kidney failure. Sometimes, it has been seen in people with PKD, that cysts also develop in the liver or other parts of your body.
Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is another medical condition where cysts are found to be growing in your kidneys. This condition is not found to run in families as PKD does. ACKD is found in adults and children with chronic kidney failure and end-stage renal disease. ACKD may or may not cause your kidneys to grow in size or lead to cysts in other body parts. The cysts develop in people who are on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. We must note that kidney failure can cause cysts, not dialysis. This risk of developing ACKD increases with the years a person is on dialysis.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Symptoms
Simple kidney cysts are usually asymptomatic. Therefore it has been observed that in most cases, a doctor finds kidney cysts during an ultrasound or computerised tomography (CT) scan when it has been done for another reason. It doesn’t mean that it would remain asymptomatic throughout your life. A cyst may show you some symptoms, and they may include:
- Blocked blood flow or blocked urine flow through the kidneys
- Blood in your urine
- Fever, chills, or other signs of infection
- Impaired kidney function
- Pain in your sides, back, or upper abdomen (if the size of cysts is increasing and putting pressure on other organs)
An association between simple kidney cysts and high blood pressure has been found. But, the nature of the relationship between the two is unclear yet.
Polycystic Kidney Disease PKD symptoms include:
- Back or side pain
- Blood in your urine
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infections
Causes of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD):
The main cause of kidney cysts is not yet fully understood, but scientists have assessed a little about their inheritance pattern. It has been found more in men than in women. It is common for people aged 50 or older to have one or more simple cysts in their kidneys. The size of these cysts may also increase with certain conditions and double over ten years. It has not been proven with certain evidence yet.
PKD is due to abnormal changes in genes, called mutations.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Diagnosis:
A thorough family medical history and several diagnostic tests would help you diagnose kidney cysts. These diagnostic tests include:
- Imaging tests, like ultrasonography (USG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans
- Blood tests to measure your kidney vitals
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Treatment
If your cysts are silent and not causing any problems, you may not need treatment. If your cysts are creating problems, your doctor may decide on a procedure to remove them. This procedure is called cyst sclerotherapy and involves the following steps:
- During the procedure, the cyst is punctured under ultrasound guidance with a long needle that is inserted through the skin.
- The doctor drains out the fluid filled in the cyst and may then fill the empty pouch with a solution containing alcohol. The alcohol causes the tissues to harden and lowers the chances of reappearance of the cyst. Scarring the space in the cyst is known as sclerosis.
Can we control Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)? Ayurvedic Treatment:
As we say in Ayurveda, the balance of three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) drives the Kidney’s function in the body. Whenever we suffer an imbalance of these doshas, a disease like a kidney cyst (Gurda Granthi) is formed. PKD varies in severity, but the complications found are preventable to an extent.
According to Ayurveda, most of the problems in our body arise due to an undisciplined lifestyle, improper diet, and lack of physical activity. Ayurveda suggests lifestyle and treatment that can help you regulate the problems arising from PKD. Ayurvedic kidney cyst treatment and its suggestive lifestyle changes might help you reduce damage to your kidneys and prevent you from severe complications.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Treatment in Ayurveda
The herbs that are usually used to treat polycystic kidney disease are Gokshura, Guggul, Vijayasar, kaasni, etc. These herbs should be consumed under proper medical supervision to get the best results.
How can I prevent Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)?
Prevention is always considered better than cure. It would always be better to be in a healthy state rather than going to a disease and then curing it. Ayurveda suggests a healthy lifestyle making your life stress free and happy. You can follow these guidelines to keep healthy and fit and prevent kidney disease.
- blood sugar and blood pressure at normal levels.
- Include fresh fibre-rich fruits and vegetables.
- a low fat and low sodium diet.
- Drink an adequate amount of water, neither too less nor too much.
- Daily 30 min exercise is suggested
- Manage healthy weight.
- Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption too.
- Use natural body detoxification procedures.
- Keep non-vegetarian and dairy products minimum
Disclaimer: We recommend you take a prescription from your doctor before taking such remedies into practice. A kidney cyst is a progressive condition that needs to be controlled in time. We recommend opting for Ayurveda for the genuine revival of the capabilities. If you are already pursuing a treatment, we strictly advise you not to make any changes in your schedule or diet without consulting your doctor or dietitian. For appointments, call at our 24×7 helpline: +91-9871712050 or visit www.karmaayurvedahospital.com