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Potassium Restriction in CKD

When you have kidney disease, your kidneys cannot remove extra potassium in the right way, and too much potassium can stay in your blood. When you have too much potassium in your blood, it is called hyperkalemia, or high potassium. Having too much potassium in your blood can be dangerous

Why are CKD patients advised to restrict potassium in diet?

Potassium is an important mineral in the body that is needed for the proper functioning of muscles and nerves and to keep the heart beat regular.

Normally, the level of potassium in body is balanced by eating potassium containing foods and removal of excess potassium in the urine. Removal of excess potassium in the urine may be inadequate in a patient with chronic kidney disease and can lead to the accumulation of a high level of potassium in the blood (a condition known as hyperkalemia).

The risk of hyperkalemia is less in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis compared to those on hemodialysis.

The risk differs in both groups because the process of dialysis is continuous in peritoneal dialysis while it is intermittent in hemodialysis.

High potassium levels can cause severe muscle weakness or an irregular heart rhythm that can be dangerous.

When potassium is very high, the heart can stop beating unexpectedly and cause sudden death. High potassium levels can be life threatening without noticeable manifestations or symptoms (and therefore it is known as a silent killer).To avoid serious consequences of high potassium, CKD patients are advised to restrict potassium in diet.

What is normal potassium level in blood? When is it considered high?

The normal serum potassium (level of potassium in blood) is 3.5 mEq/L to 5.0 mEq/L.

When the serum potassium is 5.0 to 6.0 mEq/L, dietary potassium needs to be limited.

When the serum potassium is greater than 6.0 mEq/L, active medical intervention is needed to reduce it.

A serum potassium greater than 7.0 mEq/L is life threatening and needs urgent treatment such as emergency dialysis.

Classification of food according to potassium content:

To maintain proper control of potassium in blood, food intake must be modified as per the doctor’s advice. On the basis of potassium contents, foods are classified into three different groups (high, medium, and low potassium containing foods).

High potassium = More than 200 mg/ 100 gms of food

Medium potassium = 100 to 200 mg/ 100 gms of food

Low potassium = Less than 100 mg/ 100 gms of food

Foods with high potassium content

Fruits: Fresh apricot, ripe banana, chico, fresh coconut, custard apple, gooseberry, guava, kiwi fruit, ripe mango, oranges, papaya, peach, pomegranate and plum

Vegetables: Broccoli, cluster beans, coriander, drumstick, mushroom, raw papaya, potato, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato, tomatoes and yam

Dry fruits: Almond, cashew nut, dates, dry figs, raisins and walnut.

Cereals: wheat flour

Legumes: Red and black beans and mung (monggo) beans

Non-vegetarian food: Fish like anchovy and mackerel; shell fish like prawns, lobster and crabs; and beef

Drinks: Coconut water, condensed milk, buffalo milk, cow milk, chocolate drinks, fresh fruit juices, soup, beer, wine and many aerated drinks

Miscellaneous: Chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, Lona salt (salt substitute), potato chips and tomato sauce

Foods with Medium Potassium Content

Fruits : ripe cherries, grapes, lychees, pear, sweet lime and watermelon

Vegetables: Beet root, raw banana, bitter gourd, cabbage, carrot, celery, cauliflower, French beans, okra (ladies finger), raw mango, onion, radish, green peas, sweet corn and safflower leaves

Cereals: Barley, general purpose flour, noodles made from wheat flour, rice flakes (pressed rice) and wheat vermicelli

Legumes: red and black beans and mung (monggo) beans

Non-vegetarian food: Liver

Foods with Low Potassium Content

Fruits : Apple, blackberries, lemon, pineapple and strawberries

Vegetables : Bottle gourd, broad beans, capsicum, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, green peas, raw mango and pointed gourd

Cereals : Rice, rava and wheat semolina

Legumes : Green peas

Non-vegetarian food : Beef, lamb, pork, chicken and egg

Drinks : Coca-cola, coffee, lemonade, lime juice in water, and soda

Miscellaneous : Cloves, dried ginger, honey, mint leaves, mustard, nutmeg, black pepper and vinegar

19 March 2023 / by Vaidya Kalpna Monga

Phyllanthus niruri

Bhumi Amla helps in managing liver disorders and reverses any damage caused to the liver due to its hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antiviral activities.

It also helps to prevent ulcers by reducing gastric acid production as well as protecting the stomach lining against damage caused by excessive gastric acid.

Family name Eubhorbiaceae

Sanskrit :Bhudhatri, Tamalki, Bahuphala

Hindi :Bhui Amla, Bhom Aawali

Marathi : Bhui Aanwali

Bengali : Bhui Aanwala

Punjabi : Patal, Aamla

Kannada : Kirunnelli

Telugu: Nailvusari

Introduction

This annual herb grows in the rainy season, bears flowers and fruits in winter, and then dries and dies in summer. It is found all over India. Its fruits are round but very small and for this reason they are called Bhudbatri

Appearance

The plants have very soft stem that are straight, reddish and slightly split.The branches look like spread feathers. The leaves are arranged alternately on the branches and are quarter to half inch long, dense, oblong with rounded tips. They are faded greay on the lower side of the surface. The flowers are single and grow from the junction of the leaves and the branches.

The fruits are round like those of dhati and grow in rows below the branches .

Chemical Composition

One leaves contain bitter chemicals known as hypo Phyllanthine.

Properties

It is light, dry, coil, bitter, pungent and a little sweet. It cures cough and thirst, pit, and blood disorders, itching, and wounds.

This is a Magical herb for curing all types of liver disorders.

Medicinal Usage

Mouth problems

Prepare cold decoction of 50 gm leaves in 200 ml water. and use this to gargle. It cures mouth problems.

Swelling of breasts: Apply paste of its whole plant.

Bronchitis and bronchial asthma:

Boil 50 gm of the entire plant in 1/2 litre water till it is reduced to 1/4″.
Give this to the patient in quantities of 1 teaspoonful, twice a day.
It is beneficial for curing cough and bronchitis

Jaundice:
Grind 10 gm of its root and give it with 250 ml milk every morning and evening, on empty stomach.

Abdominal pain:
Boil 20 gm leaves in 200 ml water. Strain solution and give in little amounts. It cures abdominal pain & diarrhoea.

Chronic diarrhoea:
Boil its 50 gm whole plant in 400 mil water till 1/4 water is left.

Add 5 gm fenugreek seeds in it.

Give little amount of the solution to the patient.

Diabetes:
Give 15 gm whole plant powder with 20 black peppers 2-3 times a day.

It cures even chronic diabetes.
Metrorrhagia:
Give 5 gm powder of its seeds with water in which nice has been washed, for 2-3 days. It cures excessive blood flow in menstrual cycle.
Also, its root’s powder can be given in a similar manner.
Liver related disorders:
Grind solid the shade dried fruit and take 10 gm of the grinded mixture in an earthen pot and boil it with 400 ml water till water is reduced to 1/4″.
Strain the solution and give this to the patient in the morning on empty stomach and in the evening, one hour before meal.
It cures liver disorders, jaundice, swelling and ulcer etc.

Therefore, it should not be taken without consulting with a doctor.
Dalchini should be taken under the supervision of your Ayurvedic doctor.

5 March 2023 / by Vaidya Kalpna Monga

Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bl

Family Name: Lauracea
English Name :Cinnamon

Sanskrit:Gundatvak, Chonch, Twak,
Utkat, Darusita

Hindi: Dal Chini

Gujarati Taj, Bael, Balchi

Marathi:Dalchini, Puharchak

Bengali: Daruchini, Poi

Punjabi:Dalchini

Telugu: Lanvan Vakl

Kannada: Lavang Patte

Persian: Darchini

Arabic: Darsini , Kiphra

Cinnamomun is found in Himalayan region, Ceylon and Malaya. Based on the countries of origin, it is categorized into three forms:

Introduction

1.Cinnamomum cassia. It comes from China and its bark is thick.

Cinnamomun sp. It is imported in India from Sri Lanka. It is thinner than that found in China, sweeter and
less bitter. For medicinal purposes, cinnamon from Sinhal islands is the best.

3.Cinnamomum tamal. It is thick, less bitter and when grinded with water, it becomes sticky. Its leaves are known as tejpat. This variety found in India and China is called Taj. Taj does not have oil and only the bark is used. Cinnamon is used as a common spice in cooking.

Appearance

Its ever green tree is 20-25 ft tall. Its leaves are frontal, leathery, 4-7 inch long and the upper part is shiny with 3-5 veins. When crushed, leaves release a pungent odour. The taste of leaves is bitter.
Flowers are long, and grow in bunches. They also have a pungent smell.

Chemical Composition

Bark contains 1/2% to 1% oil which contains cinnamuldihide and eugenol. The oil is yellow when fresh and then changes to red when kept for some time.
The leaves produce an oil which includes salts of Eugenol.
The seeds also contain 33% of oil.
The roots contain a colourless oil which smells like camphor.

Medicinal Use

Soak a piece of cotton in cinnamon oil and apply on the aching tooth.
Use its 5-6 leaves to brush the teeth. It cleans the teeth& the teeth become shiny, white.

Tooth pain:

Influenza: Take 3 ½ gm cinnamon, 600 mg cloves, 2 gm ginger root. Boil them in 1 litre water till water is reduced to 250 ml. Strain the solution. Give 50 ml of this solution thrice a day. It cures influenza fever.

Deafness: Put 2 drops of cinnamon oil in ears. It cures the deafness.

Cough: Give I teaspoonful cinnamon powder with 2 teaspoonful honey every morning and evening. It cures cough.

Cough, chronic rhinitis:
Give ¼ teaspoonful cinnamon powder with 1 teaspoonful slightly warm honey three times a day. It cures cough.

Headache:

Apply paste of 8-10 leaves of cinnamon on forehead. It gives relief in headache due to excessive cold .
After patient gets the relief, wash off the paste.

2 .Apply cinnamon oil on forehead. It cures headache paste due to cold.
3.Prepare paste of cinnamon and apply on forehead,
It cures headache due to cold.

Osteoarthritis:
Take 10-20 gm cinnamon powder and 20- 30 gm honey and form a paste.
Use this paste to massage.

Along with the massage, give 1 cup warm water with 1 teaspoonful honey and 50mg cinnamon powder mixed in it, thrice a day to the patient.

Cholesterol:
Give 2 teaspoonful honey and 1/4teaspoonful times a day. cinnamon powder with 1 cup water, thrice a day.
It reduces the cholesterol level.

Therefore, it should not be taken without consulting with a doctor.
Dalchini should be taken under the supervision of your Ayurvedic doctor.

4 March 2023 / by Vaidya Kalpna Monga

Solanum surattense Burm.f/कंटकारी

Family Name : Solanaceae

English Name: Yellow berried night shade

Sanskrit : Kantakari, Shweta, Kshudra, Chandrahasa, Lakshmana,kshetradootika,

Chandrapushpa,ByaghriHindi:Kantakari,Laghukai,Bhatkattiya

Marathi : Bhuitingani

Bengali: Kantikari

Kannada: Malluchi, Ragul

Telugu: Kuda

Dravidi: Kharjarah

Introduction

Kateri called chhoti katabali, is described here as it has more medicinal value. It is found all over India. Its plant spreads like a bush all over the ground. It gives the appearance as if a female cobra with its body covered with thorny sheet is loudly proclaming ‘do not touch me’.

Actually the plant has so many thorns that it is very hard to touch it.

Appearance

Kateri is a shiny green perennial bush. It is found in a diameter of 1-4 ft around its root. It is shiny green in colour with yellow 1½ inch long or slightly smaller thorns. The leaves are 4-6 inch long with teeth or torn edges..

Chemical Composition

The ash of the five parts of the plant contains nitrate, carobonate and sulphate. The five parts contain fat and a resinous substance and dayosazenin.

Fruits contain solesoniz and seeds contain 19.3 percent greenish yellow oil.

Properties

Being warm, it causes sweating.

1.It cures kapha and vata disorders.

2.Being bitter, pungent and warm, it promotes digestion.

3.It is beneficial in curing low digestive power and pitta disorders.

4.It purifies blood, cures swelling and normalizes blood pressure.

5.It cures cough and is beneficial for bronchitis and bronchial asthma, throat problems and hiccoughs.

6. It eradicates histamine from air passages and lungs.

It makes the voice sharp-as that of tiger. Hence, it is known as vyaghri.

kantkari

Medicinal usage:

Alopaecia:

Take 20-50 ml juice of its leaves and mix honey in it. Use this to massage. Within a few days it kills the micro organisms and skin becomes soft. It enhances the growth of new hair.

Cough:

1. Give ½ to 1 gm powder of its flowers with honey. It cures all types of cough in children.

2. In case of cough, give 15-20 gm juice of its leaves or in 50-60 gm decoction of its root, add 2 gm small and 250 pepper a rock salt and give this to the patient

3. Give its 10-20 gm decoction with 2 gm peepal powder mixed in it. Give this to the patient 2-3 times a day. It cures cough completely.

Vomiting Give 10-20 gm juice of its root with 2 teaspoonful honey. It controls vomiting.

Prepare its decoction with Tinospora and give 10-20 gm of it with honey to the patient. It cures swelling, bronchitis, fever and vomiting.

Weakened state of digestive power:

Take equal quantities of its juice along with juice of Tinospora. In 1 kg of this gain juice add 1 kg ghee and cook the mixture till only ghee is lass left. Strain the solution. Give 10 gm of this ghee to the gm patient. It cures dyspepsia and cough due to vata.

Stomach disorders:

Take off the seeds from its flowers and then boil them in butter milk with some salt. Let them dry. Now again soak them in butter milk for the whole night and let them dry during the day.

Repeat this for 4-5 days. Fry them in ghee and give to the patient. It cures stomach pain and pitta disorders.

Stones:

In case of stones, dysuria and ascites, mix equal quantities of powder of root of small and large plants. Give this to the patient with 2 teaspoonful curd for seven and days.

Dysuria: Mix 10-20 ml juice with butter milk. Strain the solution through cloth and give this to the patient. It cures the obstruction in urination.Therefore, it should not be taken without consulting with a doctor.

Kantakari should be taken under the supervision of your doctor.

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2 March 2023 / by Vaidya Kalpna Monga