Kidney main functions:

· To regulate water: control the body’s fluid balance by removing excess water and retaining water when the body needs more

To remove waste: regulate substances in the blood and body fluid.

To produce hormones: Healthy kidneys help produce hormones that circulate in the bloodstream and control things like blood pressure, diabetes

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

·        Both kidneys are damaged and lose their ability to keep an individual healthy.

·        Dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to stay alive.  In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD)

·        Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a family history of kidney failure, and being age 60 or older. 

Acupuncture for CKD:

·        Help augment organ function by dredging channels and smoothing the Qi, or energy, in the body.

·        Improve renal function

·        Reduce urine protein levels and improve estimated GFR

·        Controls hypertension

·        Relieves pain