CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE - AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive disease that primarily affects people with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. With a 4.8% incidence in North Kerala, CKD was ranked as the 16^th most common cause of death worldwide. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), renal function gradually declines over months or years. Treatments like renal replacement therapy and dialysis are still too costly for the majority of patients, which drives them towards alternative medical systems like Ayurveda and increases the demand for Ayurvedictreatment plan. For these clinical situations, it is our responsibility to develop management and diagnostic strategies. According to Ayurveda, this is an instance of Madhyama rogamarga vyadhi,which is brought on by excessive accumulation of kleda all over the body. Kidney is not that much emphasized in Ayurvedic texts. Kidney may be correlated with vrikka. The embryological origin of vrikka is from medas and rakta.  Meda and rakta dhatu vitiating aharaviharas are contributory factor for developing CKD. Considering the factors involved in pathogenesis, a management plan might also be suggested.