These supplements are generally unsafe for those with perfectly healthy kidneys, as well as for patients with kidney disease, as it can lead to an increase in kidney failure.
Post Date – 11:35 PM, Wednesday – 11/30/22
Hyderabad: Herbal medicine is the latest fad and the market is increasingly flooded with products claiming to be herbal based and have healing properties. Many people choose these supplements from plants, oils, seeds and flowers thinking they are natural and safe.
However, top doctors caution against those who use or plan to take herbal supplements. These supplements are generally unsafe for those with perfectly healthy kidneys, as well as for patients with kidney disease, as it can lead to an increase in kidney failure.
Dr. Rajasekara Chakravarthi Madarasu, Senior Nephrologist and Kidney Transplant Physician at Yashoda Hospital, states, “Just like allopathic or homeopathic medicines, some herbal products are safe to use while others can cause kidney problems. Regular use of these medicines is not advisable. Yes, especially when a person already has kidney disease, they should prefer not to use these products.”
While these products are known to be herbal, some also contain steroids and heavy metals. People will not know what these products actually contain. “People with diabetes, people with high blood pressure, people who are obese, people with stone disease or recurrent infections, and people who take medication for a long time are all at risk for kidney disease,” he said.
The body has two organs for detoxification, one is the liver and the other is the kidneys. When these products are consumed and enter the bloodstream, they must also be excreted through the kidneys, and this is when the organ is affected. Herbal products must be avoided unless prescribed and approved by a physician and used under the supervision of a physician. When you have kidney problems, you must consult their nephrologist, they will do a test before you start using these products and a week or two later to know the condition of your kidneys.
Some herbal supplements may cause kidney disease to start small but increase if they continue to be used. “Patients who had previously healthy kidneys developed problems after using herbal products. Those who already had kidney problems found progressive kidney problems after using these products,” revealed Dr. Rajasekara.
At the same time, doctors have seen no problems in people using these products. This all varies from person to person, and how their body responds to these products. There are always risks for a healthy person to use these products as they may develop kidney disease if the supplement or product is not suitable for them. For those with existing health problems, this could eventually worsen their health and lead to further complications.
