The kidneys are designed to filter the blood of toxins and impurities. When kidneys fail to filter as needed, dialysis may be needed. Dialysis is the mechanical removal of waste from the blood stream that would usually be processed by the kidneys if they were properly functioning. Kidney failure is not always permanent.
There are two types of dialysis:
Hemodialysis – an artificial kidney machine is used to filter blood of toxins and impurities. It is performed through the use of a narrow plastic tube inserted into a vein or artery in the arm or leg.
Peritoneal dialysis-this is a more severe treatment where the blood is cleansed inside the body and requires the insertion of a catheter into the abdomen.
Dialysis does not cure kidney failure. It is a temporary solution designed to help the body rid itself of waste while the kidneys heal.
Length of Treatment
If dialysis is necessary, the length of the treatment depends largely on the health of the kidneys. Hemodialysis can take three to four hours per session.
Causes and Risk Factors of Kidney Failure
There are many causes of kidney failure, including:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Malaria
- Exposure to lead
- Kidney infection
- Yellow fever
- Kidney disease
- Physical injury
- Using too much of some medications
Symptoms of Kidney Failure
Symptoms of kidney failure can include:
- Feeling tired or fatigued
- Frequent need to urinate
- Itchy skin
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Water retention
- Blood in the urine
- Protein in urine
- Erectile dysfunction in men
Natural Healing Solutions
There are many good diuretic and nephritic or kidney-oriented herbs available today that cleanse and purify, tone, strengthen, revitalize, rejuvenate, and revivify the kidneys. Theses herbs include:
- Agrimony
- Uva Ursi
- Cornsilk
- Juniper Berries
- Buchu
- Gravel Root (Queen of the Meadow)
- Celery Seed
- Pelitory of the Wall
- Tribulis
- Cleavers
- Water Eryngo
- Horsetail, and
- Nettle
Dietary Intervention
Drink fresh vegetable juice, especially with parsley and celery, two potent and reliable natural diuretics. These vegetables will nourish the kidneys in addition to build the kidneys.
Drink bitter and unsweetened cranberry juice to help cleanse the kidneys and urinary-genital tract. If the taste is too strong, try diluting the juice with water.
Drinking alkaline water will greatly neutralize the effects of acid in the body and will also cause the tissues of the body to throw off toxins. If alkaline water cannot be found, distilled water will do. It is so important to drink water so as to flush the body out.
Other dietary intervention strategies are:
- Limit intake of salt-no fast food, no processed foods, no cheese, no canned or dehydrated soups, etc.
- Limit intake of high-potassium foods such as bananas, oranges, tomatoes, spinach and potatoes
- Choose low phosphorous foods such as corn, rice and green beans
- Limit protein intake-avoid meats, eggs, milk, cheese.
- Avoid dairy products, nuts, peanut butter, dried beans and peas, hot chocolate and beer
