Nephrotic Syndrome is a disease seen more in children aged 18 months to 8 years and also in adults, and is characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, low levels of protein in the blood, and high cholesterol. This results from damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys, usually due to disease, infection, some cancers, medicines, or unknown causes. Treatment outcome is usually more favorable in younger children.
Nephritic Syndrome, also known as Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis, is seen more in adults. This is characterized by reduced urine output, presence of blood and protein in the urine, and swelling in the body. This disease also results from damage to the filtering mechanism in the kidneys. Mostly the cause is unknown, but it is also believed to result from a malfunction of the immune system of the body, resulting from viral infection or autoimmune disease. The treatment outcome in this disease may not be so favorable.
It is important to note that symptoms for both the above syndromes may overlap with each other and with other diseases of the kidneys.
The commonest physical manifestation of kidney-related disease is swelling in the body, more so below the eyes and in the feet and ankles. This swelling is known as "Kaphaj Shoth" in Ayurveda. Diseases caused by disturbed kapha dosha present gradually, and the response to treatment is also slow. Hence, such disorders, incuding kidney-related diseases, need long-term treatment.
Ayurvedic formulations useful in kidney disease are: Gomutra Haritaki, Chandraprabha, Arogya Vardhini, Punarnavadi Qadha, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Punarnavadi Guggulu, and Saarivadyasava. Herbal medicines used are: Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Shunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Deodar (Cedrus deodara) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
A special combination of jaggery and ginger in equal proportion, called as "Gudardrak Yoga" is used in all kidney-related swelling with very good results. The dose is first increased gradually for the first ten days, and then gradually reduced for the next ten days till the starting dose is reached. A gap of a few days (usually a week) is given, after which the medicine is restarted. Several such courses are given.
In refractory patients, special medicines are used which act on the tissues which make up the kidneys, with the aim of trying to repair the damage caused due to disease. Medicines like Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Punarnava are used to bring the immune system to normal.
Nephritic Syndrome, also known as Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis, is seen more in adults. This is characterized by reduced urine output, presence of blood and protein in the urine, and swelling in the body. This disease also results from damage to the filtering mechanism in the kidneys. Mostly the cause is unknown, but it is also believed to result from a malfunction of the immune system of the body, resulting from viral infection or autoimmune disease. The treatment outcome in this disease may not be so favorable.
It is important to note that symptoms for both the above syndromes may overlap with each other and with other diseases of the kidneys.
The commonest physical manifestation of kidney-related disease is swelling in the body, more so below the eyes and in the feet and ankles. This swelling is known as "Kaphaj Shoth" in Ayurveda. Diseases caused by disturbed kapha dosha present gradually, and the response to treatment is also slow. Hence, such disorders, incuding kidney-related diseases, need long-term treatment.
Ayurvedic formulations useful in kidney disease are: Gomutra Haritaki, Chandraprabha, Arogya Vardhini, Punarnavadi Qadha, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Punarnavadi Guggulu, and Saarivadyasava. Herbal medicines used are: Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Shunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Deodar (Cedrus deodara) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
A special combination of jaggery and ginger in equal proportion, called as "Gudardrak Yoga" is used in all kidney-related swelling with very good results. The dose is first increased gradually for the first ten days, and then gradually reduced for the next ten days till the starting dose is reached. A gap of a few days (usually a week) is given, after which the medicine is restarted. Several such courses are given.
In refractory patients, special medicines are used which act on the tissues which make up the kidneys, with the aim of trying to repair the damage caused due to disease. Medicines like Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Punarnava are used to bring the immune system to normal.