What Chinese herbs are good for chronic glomerulonephritis?
Disease description:
My grandfather has suffered from chronic glomerulonephritis for many years. Now, due to his advanced age, he would like to try conditioning with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Could you please advise what kinds of traditional Chinese herbs are effective for treating chronic glomerulonephritis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Chronic glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease with a long course and diverse symptoms. Below are some suggested treatment plans:
1. Damp-heat descending type: Characterized by frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, and slippery-rapid pulse. Ba Zheng San (Eight-Principle Powder) with modifications may be selected to clear heat and drain dampness, using herbs such as Plantago Seed, Poria, and泽泻 (Alisma Rhizome), among others.
2. Spleen and Kidney Qi deficiency type: Characterized by fatigue, pale complexion, poor appetite, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, pale tongue with thin white coating, and weak-thready pulse. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Spleen-Qi Tonic Decoction) or Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) with modifications are recommended to tonify the spleen and kidney, using herbs such as Ginseng, Astragalus, Atractylodes, and Poria, among others.
3. Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency type: Characterized by dizziness, tinnitus, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, five-palm heat (palms, soles, and chest), red tongue with little coating, and thready-rapid pulse. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Six Formula) with modifications may be selected to nourish Liver and Kidney Yin, using herbs such as Prepared Rehmannia, Chinese Yam, Cornus Fruit, and Tree Peony Bark, among others.
4. Kidney, Liver, and Spleen Yang deficiency type: Characterized by obvious edema, accompanied by cold intolerance, cold limbs, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, and other symptoms. Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney Qi Pill) or Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan (Preserve Life Kidney Qi Pill) with modifications may be selected to warm and tonify Kidney Yang and promote diuresis and reduce edema. Commonly used herbs include Aconite, Cinnamon Bark, and Achyranthes Root, which have functions of warming Yang to dispel cold, and promoting diuresis to remove dampness.
