Can taking traditional Chinese medicine lower creatinine levels?
Disease description:
Recently, during a routine checkup, I found my creatinine level to be somewhat elevated. A friend mentioned that taking traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could help lower it. May I ask the doctor whether taking TCM can reduce creatinine levels?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Guang
Taking traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can reduce creatinine levels to some extent, but it mainly serves as an adjunctive therapy. Some TCM herbs with functions of nourishing the kidneys, promoting diuresis, and clearing heat and toxins, such as Astragalus, Poria, Alisma, and Salvia Miltiorrhiza, may help improve renal blood circulation, reduce kidney inflammation, and promote waste excretion, thereby lowering creatinine levels to a certain degree. However, TCM treatment must be tailored to each patient's specific condition and constitution by selecting appropriate combinations of herbs.
For patients with elevated creatinine levels, in addition to TCM, other treatment approaches such as dietary adjustments, medication, and dialysis can also be employed. Combining these methods may better control the condition and reduce creatinine levels.
Although TCM may help lower creatinine, it does not imply that it can be used indiscriminately. Prior to taking TCM, consultation with a physician is essential to ensure safe and effective medication use. Additionally, individuals with underlying kidney disease or other health conditions must use TCM with caution to avoid adverse effects caused by inappropriate use.
