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The main functions of the kidneys are the removal of metabolic waste matter, of any toxic material and excess of water, minerals, and bio-chemicals in order to keep their blood levels within on optimal range. This is done by filtering the blood and concentrating the waste in the form of urine. In addition, the kidneys produce hormones, which affect the salt balance and red blood cell production.
A common kidney disorder is the formation of kidney stones. These are mostly composed of calcium salts and to a lesser degree of uric acid. Stones can partly block the flow of urine and this may result in infections as well as accumulation of waste matter in the blood. The passing of large stones through the urethra can be extremely painful and is called kidney colic.
Stone formation as well as bacterial infections or accumulation of toxic material may lead to acute or chronic inflammation of the kidneys, also called nephritis or Bright's disease. Symptoms are a rise in blood pressure, back pain, fatigue, being listless and loss of appetite. Later oedema may develop; one may feel dizzy and nauseated. Albumin, a protein compound, will be passed in increasing quantities with the urine.
If the condition continues to deteriorate, uraemia or renal failure develops. High concentrations of waste matter accumulate in the blood and all of the mentioned symptoms become more severe. If nothing is done about it, death will eventually occur. The conventional medical treatment is the removal of these waste materials by filtering the blood through an external membrane, a dialysis machine or artificial kidney. When the condition deteriorates still further, a kidney transplant is attempted.
The disadvantages and dangers are that dialysis takes a long time; 4 - 12 hours twice a week, and beneficial ingredients, such as zinc may be lowered while harmful ones, such as aluminium may accumulate. Kidney transplants have the major disadvantage, apart from the risk of the operation itself, that the lifelong requirement to take immune-suppressive drugs weakens the immune system and predisposes to chronic and severe infections as well as cancer.
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