15 Studies on Natural Kidney Treatments

Kidney health is so very important, but very few of us really understand the balance needed to keep them healthy.  What can we do ourselves to keep them high functioning and are there any safe or natural kidney treatments if we already have a diseased kidney? Kidneys are bean-shaped organs that remove excess organic molecules from the blood and waste products.  They are essential in the urinary system and regulate internal conditions, such as electrolytes, blood pressure (salt and water balance), red blood cell production and an acid-base balance so they remain stable and constant. Kidneys are a natural filter of the blood and remove water soluble wastes.

Kidney Failure Help

Kidney failure begins when there is a build up of waste products in the body which then causes weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, confusion and more.  If there is an inability to remove potassium from the bloodstream, abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death can occur. However, there is some amazing research on charcoal and renal failure, read this research related to kidney failure: Dialysis Free Protocol for Some End Stage Renal Disease Patients. Charcoal filters toxins so it carries adsorbed substances out of the body and into the feces. 

Stages of Kidney Failure

According to Davita.com, they say “Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is the best measure of kidney function. The GFR is the number used to figure out a person’s stage of kidney disease. A math formula using the person’s age, race, gender and their serum creatinine is used to calculate a GFR. A doctor will order a blood test to measure the serum creatinine level. Creatinine is a waste product that comes from muscle activity. When kidneys are working well they remove creatinine from the blood. As kidney function slows, blood levels of creatinine rise.”

Davita.com breaks down the five stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and GFR for each stage:

• Stage 1 with normal or high GFR (GFR > 90 mL/min)
• Stage 2 Mild CKD (GFR = 60-89 mL/min)
• Stage 3A Moderate CKD (GFR = 45-59 mL/min)
• Stage 3B Moderate CKD (GFR = 30-44 mL/min)
• Stage 4 Severe CKD (GFR = 15-29 mL/min)
• Stage 5 End Stage CKD (GFR <15 mL/min)
• Dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed in order to maintain health.

What Other Things Can We Do to Reverse Kidney Disease?  

1. Thiamine (vitamin B1).  New research shows that the low-cost vitamin Thiamine (vitamin B1) reverses kidney damage in diabetics, restoring the ability of the kidneys to function without allowing proteins to spill over into the urine.  This research was conducted at Warwick University in the UK.  Source
2. Zinc supplementation is an effective means of improving serum levels of zinc and cholesterol in the Hemodialysis patient according to this source.
3. Slippery Elm Bark is known for preventing or reversing damage to a cat’s kidneys.
4. Acacia Gum – “…Dietary supplementation with acacia gum may be an alternative to renal replacement therapy to improve the quality of life and reduce or eliminate the need for dialysis in children with ESRD in some developing countries.” See source.
5. Cordyceps – Researchers have noted that a polysaccharide isolated from Cordyceps sinensis has a hypoglycemic effect and may be beneficial for people with insulin resistance.  It may improve renal function and cellular immune function. Source.
6. Vitamin D -Low levels of vitamin D may increase kidney disease.  Source.
7. Vitamins C and E and their combination are safe and effective treatments for reducing the severity of Restless Leg Syndrome in hemodialysis patients over the short-term. Source.
8. Acetylcysteine is an antioxidant and in a study, participants’ creatinine levels increased in 33 percent of patients who did not get acetylcysteine, in 15 percent of those getting the standard dose and in 8 percent of those who got the double dose, after a heart procedure. Source
   
9. Radix angelicae sinensis, the Chinese herb Dang qui improved anemia in heomodialysis patients. Source. 
10. Curcumin ameliorates kidney failure in 5 out of 6 nephrectomized rats according to this source.
11. Amino acid GABA has a protective effect against chronic renal failure in rats. Source. 
12. Palo Azul Tea. Green Tea was effective on rats with chronic renal failure. Source. 
13. Baking Soda.  The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) reported that a daily dose of baking soda could prevent kidney damage and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Baking soda prevents kidney disease and dialysis.The study investigated the use of baking soda in individuals with metabolic acidosis or too much acid in the bloodstream, due to acid indigestion Those on sodium bicarbonate were less likely to develop renal failure and require kidney dialysis.  Source. In another study, “…baking soda demonstrated that bicarbonate supplementation slows the rate of progression of renal failure to end-stage renal disease and improves nutritional status among patients with chronic kidney disease.”
14. Ketogenic Diet. Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that the ketogenic (low carbs, high fat) diet is useful as many cells can get energy from ketones.  Ketones are molecules produced when the blood glucose levels are low and blood fat levels are high. It has been shown that when cells use ketones instead of glucose for energy, glucose is not metabolized. As high glucose metabolism is what causes kidney failure in diabetics.  In this study, mice were allowed to develop kidney failure. Half of the mice were then fed a ketogenic diet while the other half was kept on a standard diet high in carbohydrates. The researchers found that the half on the ketrogenic diet had their kidney failure completely reversed after eight weeks.  Source
15. Eliminate soda, NSAIDs, GMOs, statin drugs and X-Rays or imaging.  Research says that consumption of two servings of artificially sweetened soda gives a two-fold increased odds for kidney function decline. Source.  Anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs can cause acute renal failure. Source.  A report published in the International Journal of Microbiology has verified that Monsanto’s genetically modified (GMOs) crops are causing severe health problems. A legal challenge issued against Monsanto forced the multi-national agriculture giant to release raw data revealing that animals fed its patented GMO corn suffered liver and kidney damage within just three months.  Statin drugs can also create kidney disease. Source.  X-rays and imaging “is becoming one of the most common causes of acute kidney failure,” said Dr. Michael Rudnick, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, who has done extensive research on the subject. Source.

Lastly…..D-mannose or activated charcoal may prevent urinary tract infections for some.

[If you haven’t already read these posts, check out Bladder Control, Hydrangea Root for Kidney Function or the one on Kidney Stones.]