PUNARNAVA AS NEPHROPROTECTIVE DRUG IN THE TREATMENT OF KIDNEY DISEASE

Singh Pooja*, Pal Satendra, Tiwari R.C., Dikshit Manisha, Singh Anoop Kumar and Sharma Ved Bhushan

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is an ancient traditional approach to medicine in India. In Ayurveda, we got innovative research thought from 1st chapter of Charak Samhita. Punarnava mentioned as vishghna dravya [antitoxic drug] in shusrut samhita kalp sthana. Boerhavia diffusa Linn [family –Nyctginaceae] is the botanical name of Punarnava. The meaning of punarnava is the rejuventation or regeneration of the body’s cells. Punarnava can rejuvenate dying cells and help to revive the dying organs of the body. Nowadays, the use of herbaldrugs for the treatment of various diseases is developing all over the world. Punarnava is used in various Kidney disorders like CKD. Chronic kidney disease is a condition that causes a gradual loss of kidney function. Modern management strategy involves dialysis and renal transplantation requiring high costs and difficulty, so very few patients can receive sufficient renal care for financial reasons. Hence it is necessary to explore safe and cost-effective treatment. Punarnava used as Ekala dravya in the treatment of kidney disease on the basis of its antitoxic and rejuvenation properties. Punarnava, having diuretic properties (Mutravirechan), removes contaminants from the blood through the urine and acts as a Vishghna dravya (anti-toxic drug). In many clinical case studies, the use of punarnava shows that kidney damage can be either partially or completely reversed and the frequency of dialysis may be reduced or may not be necessary. Thus, all of these cases studies show that Ayurvedic medicine has the potential lto make an important therapeutic contribution all stages of chronic kidney disease.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Punarnava, Vishagna dravya, chronic kidney disease, Ekala dravya chikitsa.