Lesser Known Therapies for Patients with Kidney Disease

The kidneys do a lot of work for the body: filtering blood as it does its circuits, regulating blood pressure, synthesising hormones. So when kidneys begin to fail, tackling the problem can be difficult. Left untreated, toxins begin to build up in the blood. Organs begin to malfunction. Ultimately seizures begin to occur and death may result. Treatments such as dialysis have been life-giving to many patients. Yet other, lesser-known, therapies also support the overall heath of the kidneys.

The paper, 'Dialysis free protocol for some end stage renal disease patients' describes how medical practitioners in Iran managed kidney disease in some patients with serious kidney disease where dialysis was not feasible. They used a combination of a low-protein diet, a toxin-binding agent (several tablespoons of activated charcoal powder dissolved in water consumed at mealtimes), and specific probiotics to keep kidney parameters stable in patients with heavily damaged kidneys.

Renedyl is a brand of probiotic tablets for kidney disease patients. It delivers specialised bacteria to the gut. These bacteria have been specially bred in a urea-rich environment and are extremely good at digesting nitrogenous waste products. Consuming these probiotics converts the gut into a sort of adjunct kidney.   

Oxidised starch is another material known to support failing kidneys. Oxidised starch is a modified form of edible starch. When eaten, it absorbs urea-like wastes through the intestines - a function typically performed by the kidneys. Interestingly, oxidised starch is an used as an additive in processed foods and even has its own additive code: E1404.