Chronic Kidney Disease-Prime&Naturals

Most cases of chronic kidney disease are not first noticed because of obvious discomfort. They are often identified through gradual changes in test results.

Common situations include:

Health checks showing reduced kidney function markers, such as eGFR
Urine tests showing protein in the urine or other abnormalities
Results that continue to fluctuate across tests, or gradually decline over the years
No obvious swelling or discomfort in the early stage
No clear day-to-day symptoms, despite persistent abnormal test results

From a clinical perspective, the key issue in chronic kidney disease is not whether a person can “feel” a problem.

The more important questions are whether kidney function is continuing to decline, and whether there are risk factors that may lead to further deterioration.

1. How does modern medicine understand chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, refers to abnormalities in kidney structure or function that persist for more than three months.

The main indicators include:

Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR
Persistent protein in the urine or other urinary abnormalities
Structural changes seen on kidney imaging

CKD is classified into different stages according to the level of kidney function, from stage 1 to stage 5.

Early CKD often has no obvious symptoms. In later stages, it may cause:

Swelling
Fatigue
Reduced appetite
Electrolyte or metabolic abnormalities

Common causes include:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Chronic nephritis
Long-term medication-related or metabolic burden

Clinical focus: chronic kidney disease is usually a long-term progressive condition. Early recognition and control of risk factors are central to slowing its progression.

2. Common management approaches in modern medicine

The main goal in managing chronic kidney disease is to slow progression.

Control of underlying conditions

Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are important factors affecting kidney function.

Dietary management

This may include adjustments to protein intake, salt intake and fluid intake, depending on the person’s condition and medical advice.

Medication

Medicines may be used to help protect kidney function or control protein leakage in the urine.

Regular monitoring

eGFR, urinary protein and electrolyte changes are monitored over time to follow the course of the disease.

Further treatment when needed

In advanced stages, dialysis or other kidney replacement therapies may be required.

Clinical focus: the aim is to stabilise kidney function and avoid rapid progression from an early stage to a more advanced stage.

3. How does Chinese Medicine understand this condition?

In Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are regarded as the foundation of congenital vitality. They govern water metabolism and store essence, and their function is closely linked with the Spleen’s role in transformation and transport, as well as the movement of Qi and Blood.

Chronic kidney disease is often understood as a long-term pattern of root deficiency with excess manifestations.

It may be viewed from three main aspects:

1) Kidney deficiency as the root

Deficiency of Kidney essence and Kidney Qi may affect fluid regulation and the body’s repair capacity.

2) Spleen deficiency leading to dampness

When the Spleen’s function of transformation and transport is reduced, fluid metabolism may become sluggish, allowing dampness to accumulate and adding to metabolic burden.

3) Accumulation of damp turbidity and blood stasis

When metabolic waste is not cleared smoothly, damp turbidity may accumulate internally. Qi and Blood movement may also become obstructed, affecting kidney nourishment and functional stability.

As the disease course becomes longer, Qi and Blood deficiency, as well as internal depletion of Yin, may also develop.

Overall, the core mechanism is Kidney deficiency as the root, Spleen deficiency with damp retention as the basis, and gradual accumulation of damp turbidity and blood stasis leading to ongoing decline in kidney function.

4. Pattern assessment at prime&naturals

Clinical assessment focuses on clarifying three main directions:

The main driver of kidney function decline — deficiency, dampness or blood stasis
Whether changes in fluid metabolism are occurring together with reduced stamina
Whether the condition has entered a longer-term state of depletion and reduced recovery capacity

On this basis, common Chinese Medicine patterns include:

Kidney Qi deficiency pattern

Common experience: fatigue, lower stamina and mildly abnormal test results
Clinical features: symptoms may not be obvious, but functional changes have already begun
Key issue: reduced Qi transformation and regulation

Spleen and Kidney deficiency pattern

Common experience: swelling, poor appetite and weaker digestion
Clinical features: both fluid metabolism and digestive transformation are affected
Key issue: damp accumulation adding to the burden on the kidneys

Damp turbidity retention pattern

Common experience: a heavy body sensation and sluggish metabolism
Clinical features: reduced elimination and metabolic efficiency
Key issue: retained damp turbidity affecting overall regulation

Blood stasis obstructing the channels pattern

Common experience: slower recovery and reduced stamina
Clinical features: function gradually becomes less stable
Key issue: impaired Qi and Blood movement affecting kidney nourishment

Qi and Yin deficiency pattern

Common experience: reduced stamina, dry mouth or marked fatigue
Clinical features: longer disease course with reduced recovery capacity
Key issue: long-term depletion with insufficient repair capacity

Pattern differentiation helps determine whether the current priority should be tonifying deficiency, resolving dampness, or improving circulation and metabolism.

5. Treatment approach at prime&naturals

The focus is not on short-term changes in test numbers, but on stabilising kidney function and slowing progression.

Step 1: Stabilise the trend of functional change

The aim is to reduce ongoing decline or the degree of fluctuation in kidney function.

Step 2: Strengthen the kidneys’ underlying function

Support Qi transformation and repair capacity to help maintain basic kidney function.

Step 3: Improve dampness and metabolic burden

Regulate Spleen transformation and transport to reduce internal accumulation of damp turbidity.

Step 4: Promote Qi and Blood circulation

Support kidney nourishment and overall functional stability.

Step 5: Build a stable long-term framework

Help the body maintain balance in daily life and reduce the risk of further deterioration.

Clinical focus: the aim is to slow progression and keep kidney function within a relatively stable range, rather than allowing rapid decline.

6. When may Chinese Medicine support be considered?

If a doctor has already assessed the condition and ruled out acute kidney injury or any situation requiring urgent treatment, further support may be considered in the following situations:

1) Health checks show persistent abnormal kidney function markers

This suggests that functional change has become an ongoing trend.

2) Test results gradually decline or fluctuate repeatedly

This may reflect reduced stability of kidney function.

3) Swelling, urine volume changes or changes in urine appearance occur

These may suggest that fluid regulation is being affected.

4) Chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes are also present

These are important risk factors for worsening kidney function.

5) There are no obvious symptoms, but abnormal test results persist for several months or longer

This is common in the early stage and is a suitable time to consider early supportive adjustment.

Chronic kidney disease is usually a long-term progressive condition. Its speed and stability are closely linked to fluid metabolism, Qi and Blood movement, and the body’s overall regulatory capacity. When these areas become more stable, kidney function is more likely to remain within a relatively manageable range.