Kidney Treatment for IgA Nephropathy
If you have been diagnosed with kidney damage and have been told that it is due to IgA nephropathy, your first reaction will probably be- ‘what on earth does that mean?’ IgA nephropathy is not well publicised, yet it is more common than you may think. IgA (Immunoglobulin A) nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease is in fact the most common cause of glomerulonephritis, or more simply inflammation of the filtering units of the kidneys.
IgA is a protein that normally assists the body when fighting against infections. In the case of IgA nephropathy, IgA antibodies are deposited in the glomeruli of the kidneys. When a high amount of IgA forms in the glomeruli, it builds up in the tiny blood vessels of the kidneys, leading to inflammation. This creates a blockage in the filtering system of the kidneys, meaning that their filtering capacity becomes compromised, which can have a widespread impact upon the body and put the kidneys under a lot more pressure.
It is unclear exactly what causes IgA deposits to form in the kidneys, but a hereditary link has been established. It is also associated with respiratory infections, which would increase production of IgA. Acute IgA nephritis can result a few days after a respiratory infection, especially in young men, but this usually runs its course and does not persist to long-term kidney damage.
IgA nephropathy is most common in young men and presents with blood in the urine, which is often the first sign that there is a problem. This disease can often initially present as symptom free, but the danger there is that you could go for much longer than 10 years before there are any obvious signs of damage. By then the damage done to your kidneys can be a big problem, and it is estimated that up to a quarter of adult IgA nephropathy patients go on to develop kidney failure.
IgA nephropathy is associated with increased oxidative damage to the kidneys, meaning that treating with antioxidants is essential. Fortunately nature has provided us not only with fresh and vital foods that are high in antioxidants, but there are also a wide range of vitamins, herbs and minerals that are considered to be strong antioxidants. These should make up a part of your standard kidney treatment anyway, but are even more important in the case of IgA nephropathy. Natural treatment also includes options from nature’s strong anti-inflammatory choices, plus those that improve the immune system response. IgA nephropathy has also been associated with the development of high cholesterol, but you will find that the best diet to cure your kidneys is so healthy that it has very widespread effects, including cholesterol control.
Advanced damage caused by IgA nephropathy can result in the common changes shown in kidney function tests including high protein in the urine, high creatinine and high BUN (blood urea nitrogen) results. Herbs and nutritional supplements have proven to drastically improve these results as they can reverse kidney damage, while treating the cause of the problem (such as the natural kidney healing program contained in www.beatkidneydisease.com).
There is no specific orthodox medical treatment to cure IgA nephropathy; however nature has provided us with some answers when it comes to kidney treatments. You will be relieved to know that natural therapies can go a long way in both restoring the health of your kidneys, and treating IgA nephropathy as a cause of kidney damage. The Western medical profession considers this kidney damage to be irreversible and the only treatment available aims to slow the progress of kidney damage. So you will be happy to see that the natural options here prove this to be untrue.
Kidney Stones and Natural Kidney Treatments
If you have been diagnosed with kidney stones you will be all too aware of the potential pain and danger that they can cause. The thought of this can be a bit scary to say the least, but you will be relieved to know that by adopting natural therapies you can finally find a solution that can not only offer treatment for the kidney stones that you already have, but most importantly they can help prevent the return of kidney stones in the future.
Natural therapies are gentle and effective, and at the same time as preventing and treating kidney stones, they will have the wonderful side effect of improving your kidney function, and therefore your general well being. This is a far cry from the side effects of the medicines your doctor might prescribe for kidney problems! In fact pharmaceutical treatment of kidney stones is quite a sad state of affairs. Instead of offering a solution, orthodox medicine in this case offers painkillers, and the problem here is that these anti-inflammatory drugs can actually contribute to kidney damage. Not much of a solution really. Treatments that may be used to actually destroy or break down kidney stones include surgery for extremely stubborn stones, or more commonly, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), a technique where shock waves travel through the body and hit the larger stones in an attempt to break them up into pieces that are small enough to pass.
Neither of these options sound like much fun, nor do they actually address the cause of kidney stones in the first place. This means that even if they get rid of the stones that you have, they do not minimise the risk of developing more kidney stones in the future. For the best management we need to begin with taking a look at how your kidney stones developed in the first place, keeping in mind that prevention is the best cure.
It is true that some kidney stones, if small enough will pass through the urinary tract of their own accord. But if they are not small enough and they attempt to pass anyway, believe me, you will know about that! Not really worth the risk is it? So this is where our fabulous natural medicines fit in. As part of a complete heath system, the natural therapy approach recognises that there are certain dietary and lifestyle indiscretions that initially encouraged the development of kidney stones, so it would stand to reason that the first thing to do would be to address these.
The most commonly recognised causes of kidney stones include long term dietary factors such as excess consumption of meat products, low water intake, consumption of soft drinks and caffeine, and in some cases high calcium intake (depending upon the form of kidney stones). There are some other issues that play a role in the development of kidney stones including a genetic influence, use of diuretic drugs, sedentary lifestyle and a link to diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and osteoporosis.
So as you can see a lot of the causes are well within your control, and making some simple changes can greatly reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. If you are prone to the development of kidney stones, are in the high-risk category or would like to attempt to dissolve any stones you have at present, you may want to hit the natural therapies even harder. If diet and lifestyle changes don’t feel like enough for you, there are a range of herbs and nutrients available that both treat and prevent kidney stones, and can become a part of your everyday routine.
Let’s take a look at some of the best herbs and nutrients to treat your existing kidney stones:
Crataeva nurvala: is often the herb of choice in this regard. Studies have shown that Crataeva prevents the development of oxalate based kidney stones. It also helps to reduce inflammation, which occurs with the passing of stones.
Gravel root: is another herb that can be applied to treat kidney stones and it has a long history of being useful in treating other kidney issues such as infections, as well as helping to reduce uric acid.
Magnesiu: Low magnesium in the diet has been linked to the formation of kidney stones, and supplementation with magnesium citrate has shown to reduce the size of existing stones plus help to prevent the formation of new stones.
Vitamin B6: Deficiency of this vitamin has been linked with an increase in urinary oxalate, which is associated with the development of kidney stones.
These are just some examples, and the form of treatment that you choose will also be dependent upon the type of kidney stones that you have. But as you can see, with the use of appropriate herbs and nutrients, combined with long term positive dietary changes and a healthier lifestyle, you can feel much more confident that you are doing all you can to keep your kidneys healthy and prevent the future development of kidney stones.
Kidney Treatment: Resolve Your Diabetes and Resolve Your Renal Failure
Diabetes is fast becoming one of society’s biggest health risks. But did you know that there is a strong association between diabetes and kidney damage? In fact diabetes is to blame for over 40% of cases of kidney damage, making it the leading single cause of kidney disease. There are many widespread health issues associated with diabetes, so it is already essential to control your blood sugar in this regard. But if left untreated, diabetes can result in very serious issues for your kidneys, which can put your life at risk.
This of course sounds rather scary, so it should help to know that natural therapies can offer you a solution to not only control your blood sugar, which will in turn help protect your kidneys, but they can also help to reverse kidney damage and prevent or treat the other potential health implications of diabetes.
But first let’s take a look at how diabetes is related to kidney function. Diabetes is such a huge concern because if left uncontrolled there are several ways in which it can damage the kidneys. These include predisposing you to urinary tract infections, damaging nerve supply to the kidneys and damaging kidney blood vessels. High blood sugar feeds bacteria within the urinary tract, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections. These may only seem to cause discomfort for you, but in reality they can actually be far more serious. If left untreated, urinary tract infections can rise to the kidneys causing inflammation and damage that may compromise kidney function.
High blood sugar can contribute to the clogging of blood vessels, causing the passageway to narrow. This blocks the flow of blood to the kidneys and can cause some serious damage. High blood sugar can also damage nerve supply to the kidneys, resulting in communication problems with nerve signaling to other body parts. In this case a potential problem that commonly results is that the brain does not know that the bladder is full and urine can back up, placing further pressure on your already hard working kidneys.
So we have a potential for big problems here, and that is not even to mention other dangers of diabetes such as cardiovascular problems, increased risk of stroke, and damage to the nerves and eyes. But that’s enough of the scary talk. Let’s take a look at what can be done to solve these problems. The use of a combination of natural therapies can go a long way in helping to balance your blood sugar, protect your kidneys and even reverse kidney damage. When it comes to diabetes the most important place to start in regard to natural therapies would be diet. If you have type II diabetes, your diet is probably what got you into trouble in the first place!
You can never underestimate the power of following a healthy diet and it is never too late to start. You have most likely been given some guidelines to control your blood sugar, but following the correct diet will also work wonders for your kidneys. Luckily the two sets of guidelines do not contradict each other. The body works as a whole and the best kidney diet will also keep you feeling vital and energetic, help control your weight and balance blood sugar. It is all about eating fresh and natural foods, and balance is the key. Diet is quite predictable in regard to balancing blood sugar; however there are several foods that are generally regarded as healthy, but actually need to be avoided with regard to kidney disease.
If you need a little extra help there are some herbs and nutrients that will assist you in balancing your blood sugar levels and curb any cravings that are a little too hard to control. Sometimes it is a little beyond your control, and certain nutrient deficiencies can cause sugar cravings, which will quickly subside with the use of these therapies. It is always important, and even more so if you are on medication, to monitor your blood sugar levels very closely if using herbs and nutrients. These remedies are fast and effective and if not taken carefully and monitored, there is potential to swing into a low blood sugar state. Some of my favourites are: Gymnema, Goat’s Rue, and Fenugreek.
Exercise is also extremely important in controlling both weight and diabetes, and if done regularly it is shown to improve insulin sensitivity. It may have taken many years of poor lifestyle and dietary choices to develop diabetes, so unfortunately there is no instant cure. Even though natural therapies at times do seem miraculous they do require time and commitment.
But take a look at your choices. The orthodox treatment offers pharmaceutical medication such as metformin, which lowers blood glucose for Type II diabetics, while potentially causing side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. There are different types of drugs available for diabetes, depending on whether you have Type I (insulin dependent) or Type II (non insulin dependent). Drugs that may be offered for Type II diabetes include those that increase insulin secretion from the pancreas, slow the time that it takes glucose to be absorbed from the digestive tract or increase organ sensitivity to insulin. But even orthodox medicine states that you need to make dietary and lifestyle changes while taking these drugs. So for once everyone agrees on the importance of natural approaches!
The medical profession doesn’t always give drugs for Type II diabetes, and in fact natural therapies can be even more beneficial than medication. Increasing your fibre intake can help slow absorption of glucose from the digestive tract, just like drugs can, but without the nasty side effects. Herbs that balance blood glucose can also help improve the health of your pancreas, to encourage natural production of insulin; while pharmaceutical drugs give you manufactured insulin and can cause damage of other organs. So armed with the correct knowledge you can see that natural remedies can improve the function of your body while helping to balance blood sugar.
As you can see diabetes is one of the biggest health dangers in our society, and unfortunately it is consistently becoming more common. High blood sugar is related to several life threatening illnesses, but if you are dedicated enough to make some lifelong dietary and lifestyle changes, it need not all be doom and gloom. It is very possible with the use of natural therapies to not only reverse damage that may have been done to your kidneys, but also control your blood sugar to protect your kidneys, along with the rest of your body for a happy and healthy future.
Natural Kidney Treatments to Cure Infections the Safe Way
For some people it is a very common and annoying occurrence to develop a urinary tract infection. Some of us are more susceptible than others, but what many people don’t know is that these infections are actually more dangerous than annoying, and if left untreated they can develop into a kidney infection.
Urinary tract infections develop due to the presence of bacteria in the urine. This bacteria, if not treated can rise into the kidneys, causing further infection. Normally urine is prevented from flowing from the bladder to kidneys, thus preventing bacteria from reaching the kidneys. However at times obstruction of urine, which leads to stasis and multiplication of bacteria can cause urine to flow in the wrong direction, meaning that untreated urinary tract infections can reach the kidneys, leading to inflammation and infection.
This form of kidney infection is known as pyelonephritis, which describes inflammation of one or both kidneys, and can be either acute or chronic. The most common symptoms of pyelonephritis include fever, nausea, vomiting and back pain-you will certainly be aware that this is happening!
Certain conditions such as pregnancy, kidney stones, diabetes and prostate enlargement increase the risk of developing pyelonephritis. With the exception of pregnancy, it is interesting to note that the other conditions all increase the risk of the development of kidney disease, so it is very important to develop strategies to protect your kidneys as well as your immune system, and to address these causes where appropriate.
Natural therapies and orthodox medicine have a very different approach to treatment in the case of kidney infections. Your doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacterial infection. Unfortunately these also kill the necessary good bacteria and tend to compromise your immunity, which ends up leaving you more susceptible to develop further infections. Natural therapies however, can address the cause of infection, leaving you strong and healthy and less likely to relapse. Herbs and nutrients can be used to improve immunity, reduce inflammation and strengthen the kidneys and bladder, while at the same time performing the anti-bacterial action to kill off the culprits. So nature’s wonders can be applied to acute infections, and long term, chronic conditions.
The remedies that you choose to treat yourself will be dependent upon your stage of infection. If you are experiencing repeated bladder infections and simply want to improve your urinary tract health and immunity you may choose different remedies than if your condition is more chronic and you have developed pyelonephritis. Some of the best herbs to treat urinary tract infections include Echinacea, Buchu and Golden rod. Echinacea is a well-known herb that is used as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune stimulant to treat both current infections and to prevent future relapses. Buchu has an anti-microbial action that is useful to treat bladder infections. It is also a strong anti-inflammatory. Golden rod can help flush toxins from the kidneys and is an anti-inflammatory that is useful in both urinary tract and kidney infections.
The vitamin of choice for treating both urinary tract and kidney infections would be the trusty Vitamin C. This nutrient is excellent for strengthening the immune system and is a strong anti-inflammatory, which also helps to kill off the bacteria. These remedies are just a few of the many options available, and the beauty of natural therapies is that you can choose remedies that suit your personal health requirements just by their specific actions on the body, plus there are no harsh side effects.
Besides creating a lot of pain, kidney infections can also cause other serious health problems. Your kidney function can become greatly compromised over time if infections are left untreated, and this will have widespread impacts across your whole body. If you do have the tendency to develop urinary tract infections there are many herbs and nutrients that you can use to treat and prevent these infections. This in itself will help to protect your kidneys, but it would also be a great idea to offer your kidneys some extra support. Kidney treatment must always include appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes, and if you do have a history of kidney infections, you can use herbs and nutrients to help repair any damage that may have been done in the past.
If your health problems are a little more serious than repeated urinary tract infections and you do suffer from diabetes, kidney stones or prostate problems, it is important to be aware of their link to kidney damage. Not only do these conditions have their own symptoms, and leave you more susceptible to developing kidney infections they can also contribute to long-term decline of kidney function. But the good news is that all these conditions can also be treated with natural therapies. This is of utmost importance as the best way to look after your kidney health is by prevention, and natural therapies can offer you all the solutions.
Kidney Treatment for Autoimmune Kidney Disease
If you have been diagnosed with kidney damage or disease perhaps the most important first step is to find out the cause of your illness. There can be many reasons that your kidney function can decrease, and your treatment options and plan will vary according to your cause. Of course it is important to try to reverse the damage that is done to your kidneys, but if you can also treat the cause this is an important step to ensure that you are minimising the risk further kidney damage in the future.
Natural therapies are a safe and effective way to treat kidney disease. The holistic view that is used takes your whole health history into account, meaning the cause of illness will always be treated. Natural therapies have shown to help reverse kidney damage, protect your kidneys from further damage, and reverse, or help control your cause of illness.
Perhaps some of the less publicised or understood causes of kidney damage are autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system mounts an inappropriate immune attack on healthy parts of the body. Healthy cells that are normally present in the body, in this case those of the kidney are seen by the immune system as pathogens, which the immune system then attempts to destroy. As an incorrect response to what is thought is a pathogen, the immune system forms a type of protein called an autoantibody that attacks specific target cells in the body.
Autoimmune conditions can vary-some can attack the entire system while others cause specific organ damage. Three major autoimmune causes of kidney damage are IgA nephropathy, SLE (lupus) and Goodpastures syndrome. Lets brief take a look at what is occurring with these conditions.
Lupus: usually attacks skin and joints, and also the kidneys. In regard to the kidneys, the auto-antibodies are formed in the glomeruli, and this illness is specifically known as lupus nephritis. The antibodies lead to inflammation, which over time can cause scarring which may affect the functioning of the kidneys.
Goodpasture’s syndrome: is a rare disease, most commonly seen in young men. Auto-antibodies are deposited in the lungs and kidneys. Often the first sign of this illness will be the coughing up of blood.
IgA nephropathy: Immunoglobulin A deposits in the kidneys, leading to inflammation and the resulting decrease in kidney function. Often there are no symptoms, meaning this disease can go undetected for a long period of time, but a common sign is blood in the urine. This disease is more common in men than women.
Autoimmune conditions can be tricky to tackle with the pharmaceutical line of treatment, as a lot about their development is not understood. It is believed that there is a hereditary component and possibly an environmental trigger or response to a viral infection. This can vary between illnesses however, but often, orthodox medicine considers these illnesses to cause permanent damage to organs and will simply medicate with painkillers and anti-inflammatories, which do enough damage of their own accord.
But once again natural therapies can provide a more permanent answer, without any side effects. In the case of autoimmune disorders, herbs and nutrients are fantastic to help relieve inflammation, assist with an appropriate immune response and decrease IgA. There are also specific dietary strategies that you can follow to reduce IgA, such as following a gluten free diet.
With some simple dietary and lifestyle changes, along with remedies that not only reverse your kidney damage, but also remove the cause of damage that they may have been fighting against for years, you are giving yourself and your kidneys the best chance of a long and healthy life.
