An Ayurvedic Approach to Vrikka Rog: Case Study of Chronic Kidney Disease Management in a Pediatric Patient
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/IRJAY.2026.90307Keywords:
Ayurveda, Panchkarma, Mutraghata, Mutrakshaya, Mutravaha srotas, Shaman Chikitsa, Shodhan and Vrikk RogAbstract
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), described in Ayurveda as Vrikk Rog and Mutravah Srotas Vyadhi, is attributed to the vitiation of Vata and Kapha doshas, along with the disturbance of Rakta and Medadhatus. This case study presents a 12-year-old male diagnosed with CKD, managed at the Jeena Sikho Lifecare Limited Clinic in Bhagalpur through a personalised Ayurvedic regimen. Treatment included specific Ayurvedic formulations, dietary modifications, and dosha–balancing interventions targeting Apana Vata and urinary obstructions. The patient demonstrated progressive clinical improvement, with notable relief in symptoms such as shoth (oedema), Mutravikara (urinary difficulty), Klama (fatigue), and respiratory discomfort. Laboratory findings corroborated clinical recovery, including a significant reduction in serum creatinine. Ayurvedic management, focusing on detoxification, metabolic correction, and rejuvenation, was found effective in improving both subjective well-being and objective health markers. This case supports the potential role of integrative Ayurvedic approaches in the supportive management of pediatric CKD.
Downloads
References
Maringhini S, Zoccali C. Chronic kidney disease progression—A challenge. Biomedicines. 2024;12(10):2203. doi:10.3390/biomedicines12102203.
Hill NR, Fatoba ST, Oke JL, Hirst JA, O'Callaghan CA, Lasserson DS, Hobbs FDR. Global prevalence of chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0158765. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158765.
Jha V, Garcia-Garcia G, Iseki K, Li Z, Naicker S, Plattner B, et al. Chronic kidney disease: Global dimension and perspectives. Lancet. 2013;382(9888):260-272. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60687-X.
Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). KDIGO 2012 clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int Suppl. 2013;3(1):1-150.
Korsa A, Tesfaye W, Sud K, Krass I, Castelino RL. Risk factor-based screening for early detection of chronic kidney disease in primary care settings: A systematic review. Kidney Med. 2025;7(4):100979. doi:10.1016/j.xkme.2025.100979.
Pattaro C, Teumer A, Gorski M, Chu AY, Li M, Mijatovic V, Garnaas M, Tin A, Sorice R, Li Y, et al. Genetic associations at 53 loci highlight cell types and biological pathways relevant for kidney function. Nat Commun. 2016;7:10023. doi:10.1038/ncomms10023.
Ramezani A, Raj DS. The gut microbiome, kidney disease, and targeted interventions. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014;25(4):657-670. doi:10.1681/ASN.2013080905.
Tögel FE, Westenfelder C. Mesenchymal stem cells: A new therapeutic tool for acute kidney injury. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2010;6(3):179-183. doi:10.1038/nrneph.2009.229.
Chate SB, Ranade A. Ayurvedic pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease: A critical review. Int J Creat Res Thoughts. 2024;12(11). Available from: https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2411055.pdf
Tiwari H, Dang P, Badyal S, Dhawan P. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis in Ayurveda parlance—A review. Int Ayurvedic Med J. 2024;8:138-145. doi:10.46607/iamj06p8022024.
Vaughan-Shaw PG, Saunders J, Smith T, King AT, Stroud MA. Oedema is associated with clinical outcome following emergency abdominal surgery. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2013;95(6):390-396. doi:10.1308/003588413X13629960046552.
Farncombe M. Dyspnea: Assessment and treatment. Support Care Cancer. 1997;5(2):94-99.
Madhukar LS, Nivrutti BA, Bhatnagar V, Bhatnagar S. Physio-anatomical explanation of Abhyanga: An Ayurvedic massage technique for healthy life. J Tradit Med Clin Naturop. 2018;7(1):252.
Rawat V, Kumar V, Verma S. Role of Shirodhara by Brahmi Taila in essential hypertension: A conceptual study. World J Pharm Med Res. 2020;6(10):154-158.
Sharma B, Shukla GD, Sharma P. Management of chronic kidney disease by Ayurveda with special reference to Basti. Int Ayurvedic Med J. 2020;8(9):4426-4430.
Gupta AK, Gupta T. Standard operative procedure and probable mode of action of Shiropichu. World J Pharm Med Res. 2020;6:291-293.
Nikam MU. Shiroabhyanga: A review. Aayushi Int Interdiscip Res J. 2021;8(1).
Acharya M, Chaudhary G, Singh SP, Singh M, Richa D. Clinical evaluation of chronic kidney disease management: Integrating lifestyle modification and Ayurveda. Int J AYUSH. 2024;13(10):12-25. doi:10.22159/prl.ijayush.v13i10.1152.
Garud S, Chaudhary A, Kotecha M. Pathya-Apathya—A peculiarity of Ayurveda. Int J Ayurvedic Herb Med. 2017;7(4):2635-2642. doi:10.18535/ijahm/v7i4.01.
Hospital & Institute of Integrated Medical Sciences (HIIMS). What is DIP diet? How does it help cure kidney disease? Available from: https://hiims.in/blog/dip-diet-for-kidneys/. Accessed 2026 May 23.
Suman, Joshi NK. Millets: Forgotten grains with potential health benefits in Ayurveda with special reference to Kodrava. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci. 2024;9(7):230-236. doi:10.21760/jaims.9.7.35.
Raut RG. Analytical study of Balaashwagandha Taila. Int J Ayurveda Allied Sci. 2014;3:171-176.
Parmar D, Rathva D, Pal P, Upadhyay S, Upadhyay U. A review on Brahmi oil. J Res Pharmacogn Nat Med Prod. 2021;3(1):1-13.
Bhowmik D, Sampath KKP, Srivastava S, Paswan S, Sankar A. Traditional Indian herb Punarnava and its medicinal importance. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2012;1(1):52-58.
Prajwala B, Raghu N, Gopenath TS, Basalingappa KM. Guduchi: Its medicinal properties. J Plant Physiol Pathol. 2019;7(3):2.
Deo YK, Reddy KRC. Critical review on pharmacological properties of Brahmi. Int J Ayurvedic Med. 2013;4(2):92-99.
Bhola S, Rao MP. Are Rasapanchaka physical effects or pharmacological effects? A detailed review. World J Pharm Res. 2016;5:404-415.
Mishra S, Dash R, Kumar S. Chronic kidney disease in light of Ayurveda: A literary review on Vataj Pandu. Int J Ayurveda Pharma Res. 2024;12:65-68. doi:10.47070/ijapr.v12i4.3193.
Borkar P, Yadav V, Tiwari RR, Samarth RM. A systematic review of potential candidates of herbal medicine in treatment of chronic kidney disease. Phytomedicine Plus. 2022;2(4):100361. doi:10.1016/j.phyplu.2022.100361.
Patel M, Patel M, Patel K, Wischnewsky M, Stapelfeldt E, Kessler CS, Gupta SN. Deceleration of disease progress through Ayurvedic treatment in nondialysis stages IV–V patients with chronic renal failure: A quasi-experimental clinical pilot study with one-group pre- and postdesign and two premeasurements. J Altern Complement Med. 2020;26(5):384-391. doi:10.1089/acm.2019.0419.
Yan Z, Wang G, Shi X. Advances in the progression and prognosis biomarkers of chronic kidney disease. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:785375. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.785375.
Patankar S, Gorde A, Patankar S, Raje R, Devanpally C, Ausekar P, et al. A prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group comparative clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination of herbal oral capsule and rectal medication to improve gut health of type 2 diabetic patients having chronic kidney disease. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2025;16(2):100992. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.100992.
Al Khodor S, Shatat IF. Gut microbiome and kidney disease: A bidirectional relationship. Pediatr Nephrol. 2017;32:921-931.
