Every year, lakhs of  Indians are falling to kidney ailments due to lifestyle disorders including an unhealthy diet. If not detected and treated in time, the illness can aggravate into chronic kidney disease (CKD), warn doctors who have said that Ayush can be a life-saver to the ailing but vital organ of the patient.

"The CKD is increasing at an alarming rate in the country. Modern lifestyle disorders coupled with an unhealthy diet are a major reason. People should be alert about what they are consuming to lower the risk," warned Chief Medical Officer (CGHS) from the Union Health Ministry, Dr. DC Katoch at an event held recently.

At the same time, Dr Bheema Bhatta, Medical Director from Medanta Ayurvaid, Medanta Hospital explained that CKD is a condition in which the functioning of the kidney almost stops.

 Mostly, diabetes, high blood pressure, fat, smoking, increasing age, and kidney stones are the major causes. Incidentally, all these conditions, also called 'silent killers', are on the increase.

He said that in the early stages of chronic kidney disease, there are a few signs or symptoms which even a patient is not able to realize until the condition reaches an advanced stage. But by that time these diseases take serious form. Ayurveda can help save this vital part of the body, if the treatment is started at an early stage, said Dr Bhatta while giving his views on 'the appropriate traditional approach for CKD management.'

According to doctors, functioning of kidney can be significantly improved with the consumption of extracts of time-tested medicinal plants like Gokchur, Guduchi, Punnarava, Kasani, Tulsi, Ashwagandha and gooseberry which are well known for their diurectic and blood purifier properties.

This not only cut down the risk of the disease, retard its progression but can also corrects any deficiency arise out of the disease. NEERI KFT, based on the extracts of these herbs, is one of such formulations which have been found to be directly beneficial to the patients.

Dr Aref Hussain, consultant in Internal Medicine from Aurangabad in Maharashtra concurred saying that NEERI KFT can save the patient with CKD, once the disease is diagnosed correctly. "Dialysis cycles can also be brought down significantly.

The Ayurveda drug has been found to be effective in many patients who have been enrolled in the clinical trial," Dr Bhatt chipped in.

During discussion, Dr Sanchit Sharma, Executive Director AIMIL Pharmaceuticals said that most people fall for fast food particularly fried crispy eatables without knowing that the luring brown layer is laden with amino-acid crispy which is harmful to various vital body organs, particularly the kidney.

Chronic kidney disease is the sixth fastest-growing cause of death globally and around 1.7 million people are estimated to die annually because of acute kidney injury globally.

In India, it is estimated that a population of over 7.8 million people are living with CKD, as per the doctors.