ITCHING in UREMIA or Cronic KIDNEY FAILURE: Natural Care
Itching that occurs in chronic renal failure (uremia) is a very disabling symptom.
Now we will see treatments with natural products for uremic itching, its causes
and used therapies.
WHAT is UREMIC ITCH
It affects over 50% of patients, whether they are treated with extracorporeal or
peritoneal dialysis. It greatly affects quality of sleep. Patients with itchy uremic
report that they cannot sleep at night and consequently experience drowsiness
during the day. Uremic itching, especially when it's untreatable, is a symptom
with devastating impact on the psycho-physical state of patient.
It can be followed by lack of strength, state of restlessness up to depression and is
associated with increased risk of death.
Uremic itching is one of the most frequent, frustrating and potentially disabling
manifestations of skin disease in chronic uremic. This disability can be resolved with
use of natural remedies for uremic itching.
WHAT are the CAUSES of UREMIC ITCH
There is a link between nerve pathways that cause itching and those responsible
for pain. In fact, as for pain, a group of type C fibers responsible for conduction of this
stimulus was identified for itching. They are able to activate medullary neurons which
then transmit signal to thalamic area.
Type C nerve fibers are present in the deep layers of epidermis or in the dermo-epidermal
junction of skin, where they interact with mast cells. They influence production of
itching by releasing vasoactive peptides like histamine, IL-2, some proteases and
TNF. Natural remedies for uremic itching are possible and desirable in the exclusive
interest of patients.
HOW UREMIC ITCHING IS TREATED in the TRADITIONAL WAY
Therapies usually used initially use polymethylmethacrylate membranes during dialysis.
Then, skin emollients or capsaicin creams are used (which cannot be applied to large
surfaces due to irritating effect). Subsequently, systemic treatments are carried out with
use of ultraviolet B rays (with potential carcinogenic effect on the skin).
Not so with natural solutions for itching in kidney failure.
Anticonvulsant drugs like gabapentin can also be used with possible side effects:
1) Neurotoxicity up to coma.
2) Agitation.
3) Exophthalmos.
4) Psoriasis.
5) Pancreatitis).
Moreover, results are unsatisfactory if, as already talk, more than half of the patients
continue to have itching, in addition to the heavy side effects.
WHAT are the NATURAL TREATMENTS for UREMIC ITCHING
But, natural cures for uremic itching can be performed due to their effectiveness and
absence of side effects thanks to action of natural products like Calendula Officinalis
and Rhodiola rosea which have an anti-inflammatory, anti free radical and soothing
action.
There are also other natural substances (flavoproteins and other coenzymes such as NAD
and NADP) that contribute to the restoration of mast cell metabolism with the rebalancing
of the physiological release of vasoactive peptides, the functionality of the immune system
and the consequent disappearance of itching. Therefore, natural solutions are not only
possible but advisable in the exclusive interest of patients.