Is Traditional Chinese Medicine Effective in Treating Uremia

Traditional Chinese medicine can be used as an auxiliary method to alleviate symptoms of uremia, but it cannot replace modern medical treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation. Uremia is a terminal manifestation of chronic kidney failure, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment mainly works by improving the circulation of qi and blood, regulating fluid metabolism, reducing complications, delaying disease progression, and improving quality of life.

1. Improving the circulation of qi and blood

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that uremia is related to spleen kidney yang deficiency and qi blood stasis. Huangqi injection combined with Danggui Buxue Tang is commonly used with modifications. Huangqi injection can promote the generation of red blood cells, and Danggui Buxue Tang contains ingredients such as Danggui and Rehmannia glutinosa, which can help improve renal anemia. It is necessary to use erythropoietin in conjunction with Western medicine to avoid discontinuing anti anemia drugs without authorization.

2. Regulating Fluid Metabolism

Zhenwu Decoction is commonly used to control edema and contains beneficial water components such as Poria cocos and Atractylodes macrocephala, which can assist in reducing mild to moderate edema. However, severe edema still requires the use of diuretics such as furosemide tablets, and traditional Chinese medicine cannot replace dialysis dehydration. During use, daily monitoring of weight changes is necessary to prevent electrolyte imbalances.

3. Relieve Complications

Dahuang Fuzi Tang can alleviate uremic skin itching, and its content of emodin has detoxifying effects. For severe skin itching, antihistamines such as cetirizine hydrochloride tablets should be used in combination. Traditional Chinese medicine enema using formulas such as rhubarb and oysters can temporarily reduce blood creatinine, but cannot reverse kidney function damage.

4. Delaying disease progression

Cordyceps sinensis preparations such as Bailing capsules may protect residual kidney function through anti fibrotic effects, and should be taken continuously for 3-6 months to take effect. Research has shown that it can slow down the rate of creatinine increase, but it is ineffective after complete loss of renal function. Regular follow-up of renal function indicators is required during the medication period.

5. Improve the quality of life

acupuncture and moxibustion at Zusanli, Guanyuan and other acupoints can improve the symptoms of anorexia and fatigue, and moxibustion at Shenshu helps regulate immune function. These methods need to be operated by professional traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and treated 2-3 times a week. They can be used as adjuvant therapy during dialysis, but cannot change the prognosis of the disease.

Patients with uremia should strictly follow the traditional Chinese and Western medicine combination plan of regular hospitals when using traditional Chinese medicine treatment, and it is forbidden to stop dialysis or immunosuppressants without authorization. Diet should control protein intake at 0.6-0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, with priority given to high-quality proteins such as eggs and fish. The daily water intake should be 500 milliliters of the previous day's urine output, and avoid high potassium fruits such as bananas and oranges. While maintaining regular dialysis three times a week, gentle exercises such as Baduanjin can be combined to improve cardiovascular and pulmonary function, but the intensity of exercise should not cause asthma. All use of traditional Chinese medicine must be evaluated by a nephrologist to prevent worsening of electrolyte imbalance or drug accumulation poisoning.