Chronic nephritis is a chronic inflammation of the tissues of the kidney.It is caused by a wide variety of etiological factors. The disease is frequently associated with a slow, progressive loss of kidney function. It is usually discovered accidentally, either by routine urinalysis (tests done to check kidney function) or during a routine physical checkup when anemia, hypertension, or laboratory findings (elevated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen) are discovered. Its course is long and the prognosis (expectancy of cure) is poor. In TCM, this disease is categorized as "shui zhong", "xu lao", "yao tong", etc.

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TCM can help to control some symptoms such as edema (swelling).

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Syndrome (a)
Deficiency of the spleen-yang and kidney-yang

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Warming yang of the spleen and kidney to promote diuresis (loss of excess water in the body through increased urine output).

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for reinforcing the spleen. astragalus root (Huang Qi)15g, dangshen (Dang Shen)15g, white atractylodes rhizome(Bai Zhu)15g, poria (Fu Ling)15g, prepared aconite root (Fu Zi)10g, cinnamon bark (Rou Gui)6g, shell of areca nut (Da Fu Pi)12g, water-plantain tuber (Ze Xie)15g, plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)30g (wrapped in a piece of cloth before decoction).

Simple Prescription: Princesplume ladysthumb fruit (Shui Hong Hua Zi)30g, lean pork (Shou Zhu You)120g. Decoct them in water. The pork is for eating and the decoction for drinking. It should be taken in two separate doses on the same day.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Helping to Control edema (should be cooperated with herbal medicine).

Prescription/Formula: Shuifen(Ren 9), Qihai(Ren 6), Sanjiaoshu(B 22), Zusanli(S 36), Sanyenjiao(Sp 6).

  

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Syndrome (b)
Hyperactivity of yang due to deficiency of yin

Edema, headache, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in ears), dry mouth, irritability, feverish sensation in the palms and soles, palpitation, insomnia, red tongue, taut and thready pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Nourishing yin and suppressing hyperactive yang.

Prescription/Formula: Bolus of six drugs including rehmannia and adding wolfberry and chrysanthemum with additional ingredients. Wolfberry fruit (Gou Qi Zi)15g, chrysanthemum (Ju Hua)10g, dried rehmannia root (Sheng Di)15g, prepared rehmannia root (Shou Di)15g, dogwood fruit (Shan Yu Rou)12g, moutan bark (Mu Dan Pi)10g, chinese yam (Shan Yao)15g, poria (Fu Ling)12g, water-plantain tuber (Ze Xie)10g, tortoise plastron (Gui Ban)15g, uncaria stem with hooks (Gou Teng)20g, eucommia bark (Du Zhong)10g, abalone shell (Shi Jue Ming)30g.

Simple Prescription: Carp (Li Yu) 500g, waxgourd (Dong Gua)200g, Chinese green onion (Cong Bai)10g. Stew the carp together with waxgourd. Put Chinese green onion sections into the stewed carp before it is taken.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

  

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Syndrome (c)
Retention of damp-heat in the body

Flushed face, obesity, edema, distension of head, headache, dry mouth, irritability, constipation, prolonged hormonotherapy, thin and yellowish or yellowish and greasy coating of the tongue, and a rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Clearing away pathogenic heat and dampness.

Prescription/Formula: Modified Decoction of Gentian for purging liver-fire. Gentian root (Long Dan Cao)10g, scutellaria root (Huang Qin)10g, capejasmine fruit (Zhi Zi)10g, Sichuan clematis stem (Mu Tong)10g, water-plantain tuber (Ze Xie)10g, plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)12g (wrapped in a piece of cloth during decocting), dried rehmannia root (Sheng Di)12g, phellodendron bark (Huang Bai)10g, dandelion herb (Pu Gong Ying)20g, cogongrass rhizome (Bai Mao Gen)30g.

Simple Prescription: Houttuynia (Yu Xing Cao)60g, plantain herb (Che Qian Cao)60g, decoct them in water, for oral administration.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Helping to Control edema (should be cooperated with herbal medicine).

Prescription/Formula: Shuifen(Ren 9), Qihai(Ren 6), Sanjiaoshu(B 22), Zusanli(S 36), Sanyenjiao(Sp 6).

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Digestive System, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

• Static Qigong:
  Inner-Nourishing Qigong
  Standing Qigong
  
• Dynamic Qigong:
  Baduanjing of Internal Exercise
  Taiji
• Specific Dynamic Qigong:
  Regulating-Kedney Qigong
  Waist Qigong
  

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
Those who indicate the symptoms of obvious general swelling and gradual reduction of the amount of urine should eat things which are good at inducing water loss from the body, such as radishes, waxgourds, towel gourds, red phaseolus beans, black soybeans, crucian carp, bamboo shoots, watermelon and so on. Those in whose urine there are red blood cells proved by uroscopy should eat things that can arrest bleeding, such as shepherd's purse, eggplant, shelled peanuts, cogongrass rhizome, lotus root with knots and so on. Those who suffer from nephritis accompanied with hypertension should often eat food that can bring down blood pressure, such as jellyfish, celery, spinach, tomato, Jew's ear, fresh corn, water chestnuts and the like.

(c) Life style
When there is edema, patients should stay in bed to have a good amount of rest, prevent catching any colds, try not to drink too much water, and not eat salted food.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.