Kidney Disease
Article contributed by:
Ms Jie Jundong, TCM
Physician
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
While treatment of
diabetes, high blood
pressure and other
ailments have seen rapid
advancements, diagnosis
and treatment of kidney
disease is still
lagging. As a
result, many kidney
patients do not know the
deterioration of their
condition and miss out
on the best opportunity
for treatment. Due
to the lack of
understanding about
kidney disease, many
have developed urinaemia
and would require a
dialysis or kidney
transplant to save their
lives. This causes
a huge financial burden
on families and the
society.
Symptoms
Kidney diseases include
kidney glomerulus, renal
tubule problem,etc. Among the severe and
chronic kidney
dysfunctions, kidney glomerulus remain the
most common ailment and
its occurrence can be
primary or continuous. For primary occurrence,
it could appear as Nephrosis syndrome or
Nephritis. Continuous
occurrence refers to
kidney glomerulus
arising from other
ailments, such as
diabetes, high blood
pressure, and lupus. Symptoms of chronic
kidney failure include
edema, headaches, itchy
skin, nauseous and
vomiting. Diabetes has
become the main cause of urinaemia, while
unhealthy habits are the
cause of diabetes.
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Treatment
Various kinds of kidney
diseases can be
differentiated by acute
or chronic
characteristics. Generally, Chinese
physicians specialise in
treatment of various
chronic ailments such as
chronic nephritis, and
chronic kidney
dysfunction.
Chronic nephritis is
mainly caused by
prolonged external
impairment, weakening of
internal organs or even
over-exertion. Although
prognosis is poor,
methods used in
controlling the ailment
include reducing blood
pressure,
anti-infection,
diuretics, cortical
hormones, and cell
toxicants.
Increasing
effectiveness of herbal
medicine can help treat
chronic nephritis and
prevent the ailment from
developing into kidney
dysfunction. Treatment
is mainly focused on
lungs, kidneys, spleen, weakliness of body
resistance. By combining
treatment using Chinese
medicine with western
medicine, it can combat
infection, reduce blood
pressure, reduce blood
density and manage
immunity. Treatment of
chronic nephritis is
aimed at delaying the
deterioration of kidney
functions, improving
clinical symptoms and
reducing side-effects. It also recommends
treatment using a
combination of medicine
and oral food.
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Points to Note for
Chronic Nephritis
Patients
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Patients with edema and
hypertension should
limit the consumption of
salt; daily intake
should be within 3-5g.
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Those with severe edema
should be restricted to
1-2g, and only when the
swelling subsides can
salt intake be
increased. Ingestion of
fluids should not exceed
1000-1500ml.
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Ingestion of
fluids should not exceed
1000-1500ml.
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For chronic
nephritis patients with proteinuria, only when
kidney function is
normal can their intake
of protein be increased,
albeit not too much. If
there are signs of
azotemia, limit protein
intake to about 40g
daily.
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If
there are signs of azotemia, limit protein
intake to about 40g
daily.
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Diet for Chronic
Nephritis Patients
Chronic Nephritis
Patients with
Proteinuria:
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Symptoms include
shedding of protein
through urine, weakening
of body, yellowish skin colour, aching of waist
and kidney. Foods such
as braised black chicken
soup, stewed chicken
with cordyseps, steamed
chicken with astragalus,
and accompanied by raw
cucumber, tomato and
bean curd soup, and
fried cucumber slices.
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Increase protein
intake without
increasing burden on the
kidneys. Consume foods
like milk, soya bean
milk, various meats and
fish that are rich in
protein.
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Patients can consume
foods that help to
detoxify and promote the
circulation of water of
the body, such as winter
melons, asparagus, wild
rice stems, bamboo
shoots, lettuce and red phaseolus beans.
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Chronic Nephritis
Patients with
Hematuresis:
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Be cautious when
consuming nourishing
food that reduces
pathogenic heat because
such foods are cooling
in nature. As hematuresis is caused by
the pathogenic heat,
food such as black
fungus, Chinese yam,
aloe vera, and water
chestnuts is nourishing
and helps strengthen the
body.
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For those who are
particularly weak,
consume astragalus root,
carp fish and
soft-shelled turtle to
strengthen the body.
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Chronic Nephritis
Patients with High Blood
Pressure:
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Food that nourishes
the kidneys such as
soft-shelled turtle,
eel, snake meat, duck
meat, accompanied by
vegetables such as
bitter gourd, winter
melon, celery and
asparagus.
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Consume food that
helps reduce edema, such
as melon skin, towel
gourd, winter melon, crucian carp, freshwater
mussel, and kelp.
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Consume more steamed
and boiled food; reduce
intake of fried food.
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Chronic Kidney
Dysfunction Treatment
Chronic kidney
dysfunction is caused by
prolonged damage to the
kidney. Dialysis and
kidney transplant are
effective in later
stages of kidney
dysfunction, but unable
to resolve problems in
early and intermediate
stages. Chinese medicine
can play a crucial role
in treating chronic
kidney dysfunction. By
combining treatment with
western medicine, it
helps to detoxify and
reduce side-effects in
three areas:
1. Oral Administration
Consuming Chinese
rhubarb over the
long-term can help clear
the bowels, detoxify the
intestines, reduce blood
density and keep kidney
glomerulus and kidney
tubule problems at bay.
2. Enema
Used in treating early
and intermediate stages
of kidney dysfunction.
Ingredients used include
Chinese rhubarb,
dandelion, leonurus and
oyster.
3. Medicated Bath
Patients with kidney
dysfunction who suffer
from water retention but
cannot be treated by
dialysis may also
experience itchy skin. Patient should bathe in
water boiled with
medicinal tangerine
leaves, Chinese
wormwood, perilla leaf,
ginger, Chinese ephedra,
cassia twig and pomelo
skin in order to force
out the toxins through
perspiration.
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Side-Effects of Kidney
Dialysis
Chinese medicinal
treatment of the
side-effects of kidney
dialysis include:
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Low
blood pressure: Consuming
Ginseng Soup can help
raise blood pressure.
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Malnutrition: Chinese
medicine helps to
improve spleen function;
prescription can be
adjusted using Six
Gentlemen Decoction with
Aucklandia and Amomum.
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Anemia: Chinese
medicine can help
improve anemia and
reduces use of rHuEPO.
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High
blood density: Long-term consumption of Danshen
Root and Panax notoginseng can reduce use of
heparin.
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Reaction to dialysis: Astragalusis a
useful regulator of
immunity that helps to
reduce the side-effects
of kidney dialysis.
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Itchy
skin: Chinese
medicine contains
qualities that prevent
itchiness.
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Bone
disease due to kidney problems: Chinese
medicine nourishes the
liver, strengthens
muscles and bones,
promotes blood
circulation and removes
blood stasis among
dialysis patients, and
helps reduce aches and
ostalgia.
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Diet for Urinaemia
Patients
Urinaemia patients’ diet
should contain low
protein, low phosphorus,
high carbohydrate, high
amino acid, appropriate
vitamins and minerals.
Many people have the
misconception that
proteins are high in
nutritional value, but
this is incorrect
because too much protein
will affect and damage
kidney function. However, abstaining from
protein is not right
either because it may
lead to malnutrition. So
intake of appropriate
amounts of high quality
protein in foods like
dairy products is still
necessary.
Foods that
are low in phosphorus
and high in calcium
include paludina, egg
white, kelp, sesame,
lotus root starch,
cabbage, spinach,
tomato, melons and
apples. Intake of high
energy food is necessary
before low protein
treatment, otherwise
proteins in diet will be
broken down quickly and
this is no good for the
kidney. High
carbohydrate foods
include potatoes,
apples, water chestnut
flour, lotus root
powder, wild yam powder
and vegetable oil.
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Points to Note for
Urinaemia Patients
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Beneficial to the spleen
and digestive system, it helps one gain appetite
by using ingredients such as lotus seeds,
Chinese yam, barley, bamboo shoots and melons.
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Provides nourishment to Urinaemia patients,
majority of them have
anemia, dizziness and
tinnitus, lack of
strength, susceptible to
colds, and bleeding
under the skin. Foods
such as stewed chicken
with cordyseps, steamed
chicken with astragalus,
soft-shelled turtle with
winter melon, roasted
shrimp with winter
melon, black fungus soup
with golden straw
mushrooms and radish
soup are beneficial.
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The recommended dishes
are low in salt, cooling and diuretic,
detoxifies and nourishes the body.
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Healthcare for Kidney
Patients
Timely
Diagnosis and
Treatment
Timely diagnosis and
treatment of chronic
nephritis helps to
control diabetes and
hypertension as both can
lead to hardening of the
arteries. If blood sugar
and blood pressure
levels are not
controlled, it may lead
to kidney failure.
Prevention Against
Fu, Treatment of
Prolonged Tonsil
Inflammation
Flu can reduce the
body’s immune system and
leads to infection. It
is reported that flu can
worsen the condition of
40% of patients
suffering from chronic
nephritis. If flu leads
to hypertension, edema
and bubbles in urine,
please consult a
physician. If throat and
tonsils are infected by
streptococcus, seek
immediate treatment or
it may lead to kidney
inflammation.
Diet Adjustment and
Nourishment
Chronic nephritis
patients are typically
malnutritioned, so
attention needs to be
paid to diet. Eggs,
milk, fresh vegetables
are suitable, but
refrain from beef,
mutton, prawns,
crabs, as well as
smoking; but too much
protein and salt may
overburden the kidney.
Those without azotemia
should consume more
protein at 60-80g daily. If there are signs of azotemia, restrict
intake of protein to
below 40g daily. The
diet should pay
attention to nutrition
and vitamins. Those with
edema and hypertension
should moderate salt
intake to 2-4g daily,
while those with severe
edema should take less
than 2g daily. Kidney
patients should also
refrain from sports
drinks because they
contain electrolytes and
salt.
Combine
Rest and
Exercise
Much rest is needed for
chronic nephritis
patients. When the
condition has stabilised, engage in a
light stroll or Tai-chi
workout without
overexertion. These will
help in blood
circulation and are
beneficial to the
kidney’s recovery.
Regular Checkups
Normal people should
conduct a blood test,
urinalysis and
creatinine every six
months.
Staying Positive,
Being Cautious in Daily
Life
Have confidence in
combating illness,
maintain positive
attitude, refrain from
cold beverages; do not
spend long periods in
humid areas or exposure
to rain and water. Sex
life needs to be
moderated.
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Dietetic Treatment for
Kidney Disease
Barley Porridge with
Astragalus and Red Beans
30g of astragalus, 30g
of Job’s Tears Seeds,
15g of red phaseolus
beans, 9g of Endothelium
Corneum Glgeriae Galli
(powder form), 1
tangerine. Cook astragalus for 20
minutes and remove
residue, add other
ingredients and cook
into porridge. After the
meal, consume tangerine. Suitable for those with
Nephritis and water
retention.
Stewed Turtle with
Cordyceps Sinensis
3-5g of Cordyceps
Sinensis, 1 green turtle
or golden coin turtle,
suitable for patients
with chronic nephritis.
Fried Meat Slices
with Chinese Chives
Fry 100g of Chinese
Chives with 50g of
sliced lean meat. The
completed dish is
suitable for patients
with chronic nephritis.
Stewed Chicken with
Cordyceps Sinensis
3-5g of Cordyceps
Sinensis, 30g of
chicken, 3 pieces of
ginger; marinate with
oil and salt before
stewing. This dish is
suitable for patients
with Urinaemia.
Stewed Fish Head with
Rhizoma Gastrodiae
10g of Rhizoma
Gastrodiae, fish head
(half), 3 pieces of
ginger, 2 pieces of red
dates; stew ingredients
in claypot, adding oil
and salt as seasoning. This dish is suitable
for patients with
chronic nephritis &
hypertension.
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Article contributed by:
Ms Jie Jundong, TCM
Physician
Ma Kuang Healthcare
Group
Dated: November 2013
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Ma Kuang
Healthcare
Group is
one of the
leading
healthcare
groups in
holistic
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine (TCM)
products and
services in
Singapore.
Founded in
1999, Ma Kuang has
expanded
rapidly from
its first
TCM clinic
in Middle
Road to
today’s
largest
chain of TCM
clinics in
Singapore. |
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