This story I am describing dates back to 1995, which were just initial years, when I started believing about efficacy of homeopathy. Before that as most of allopathic practioners does not endorse homeopathy as effective science, I was also in those group.

This is the case of Master Maulik – son of my sister, a 10 years old male child.

His complaints began after he had been sick for some time and his parents noticed that he had developed some swelling on both legs. Urine revealed high amounts of protein. He was referred to a Nephrologist who, after all investigations, diagnosed him as having Nephrotic Syndrome. He was put on cyclosporine and steroids. For about 6 years he continued to have increased swelling that had spread to his abdomen and face too. He would get 3-4 acute exacerbations of the condition in a year in spite of being on high dose of steroids. He would develop swelling all over the body and his urine would become turbid. The albumin in the urine would become ++++ at such times. Apart from this he would also get frequent colds during which his urine albumin would start increasing again. Nephrologists advised for kidney biopsy which was not consented presently by relative.

Nephrologists’ told that eventually he will need a transplant. They told that there is no cure yet. He will die too young. Prognosis is very grave.

At this time I started the homoeopathic treatment, he was on a high dosage of steroids daily along with a diuretic. Homoeopathic medicines were given based on his symptomatology only (as I did not know much about all aspects of homeopathy) I gave him Apis, Ars – one dose each and after one month Mercurius and Lycopodium one dose each. Bio-chemic Natrum Mur 6X and Ferum Phos 6X twice a day for 15 days was also given. Then biochemic was advised to take as soon as signs of cold appears.

Nephrologist was unaware that he is under homeopathic treatment. I used to advice my sister that you should be under constant care of Nephrologists.

Within 3 months there was good improvement in his condition. Now he was on reduced dosage of steroids. He would not get colds as frequently as before and there was improvement in his overall health after commencing homoeopathic treatment. My sister reported that it's the first time in all these years that we have been able to reduce the dosage of steroids and still he continues to improve. They were glad about opting for homoeopathic treatment because steroids would give his son only temporary relief and lots of side-effects, of which they were not even aware previously.

By the end of 6 months of treatment he did very well and his drugs’ dosage and steroids had been lowered by Nephrologist. Nephrologist was surprised that he was doing so well in spite of being on such a low dose of the medication. Now Maulik would not require as frequent visits to Nephrologist as before and he would need to see him only once in about 3 months. Overall he did well with the treatment. The response in his case was positive in a very short period of time. They were much surprised for the treatment which he had to continue for long time since this disorder started.

At about 12 months of starting homeopathic treatment all drugs – homeopathic and allopathic were stopped, as he was cured of all symptoms and no albumin in urine.

Today Mr Maulik is 29 years old and he enjoys good health. He is not taking any allopathic or homeopathic medicine for as long as 10 years except when he feels starting of cold symptom, I have advised him to take biochemic – Natrum  Mur 6x and Ferum Phos 6x as required.

Understanding of chronic renal disease:

Chronic renal disease produces progressive loss of renal function leading to low and deteriorating glomerular filtration rate.  Initially Chronic kidney disease is without specific symptoms and can only be detected as an increase in serum creatinine or protein in the urine. As the kidney function decreases creatinine level in blood serum is increasing. Nuclear medicine MAG3 and DMSA scans give idea of blood flows through kidney.

Following is the pathophysiolgy of chronic renal disease:

• Blood pressure is increased due to fluid overload and production of vasoactive hormones, increasing one's risk of  suffering from congestive heart failure.
• Urea accumulates; leading symptoms are ranging from lethargy to pericarditis and encephalopathy.
• Potassium accumulates in the blood can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
• Decreased erythropoietin leads to anemia.
• Fluid volume overload produces mild  to severe pulmonary edema.
• Hyperphosphatemia can lead to hyperparathyroidism, with hypercalcaemia, renal osteodystrophy and vascular calcification that further impairs cardiac function.
• Metabolic acidosis, due to accumulation of sulfates, phosphates, uric acid etc, may cause cardiac and neuronal dysfunction and  promotion of hyperkalemia due to excess acid (academia).
• Accelerated atherosclerosis develop cardiovascular disease. Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease tend to have significantly worse prognoses.
• In chronic renal failure numerous uremic toxins accumulate. These toxins show various cytotoxic activities in the serum.

Causes of Chronic kidney disease:

It is easy to understand kidney disease classification  according to the part of the renal anatomy:

• Vascular, such as bilateral renal artery stenosis and small vessel disease such as ischemic nephropathy, hemolytic-uremic syndrome and vasculitis.
• Glomerular,
  o Primary Glomerular disease such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and IgA nephritis
  o Secondary Glomerular disease such as diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis.
• Tubulointerstitial diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, drug toxin-induced chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis and reflux nephropathy.
• Obstructive such as with bilateral kidney stones and diseases of the prostate

Chronic kidney disease - Homeopathy Treatment and Homeopathic Remedies:

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, family history, presenting symptoms, underlying pathology, possible causative factors etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. Homeopathy tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness are also looked for. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition. The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick and to restore the health. Homeopathy remedies do give cure but even in incurable cases as well the quality of life can be greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed with each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Homeopathy Remedies for Chronic kidney disease:
Am-C., Apis., Apoc., Ars., Asc-C., Bapt., Bell., Canth., Carb-Ac., Cic., Cupr., Cupr-Ac., Dig., Gels., Glon., Hell., Hydr-Ac., Hyos., Kali-Br., Kali-S., Morph., Mosch., Op., Phos., Pic-Ac., Piloc., Plb., Queb., Ser-Ang., Stram., Ter., Urea., Urt-U., Verat-V.

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