[Herbs from Iranian traditional medicine for reinforcement of kidney and prevention of renal atrophy]

Background: Renal disorders including renal failure are common complications which affect the whole body system. The treatment methods in modern medicine seem to be inadequate in a large number of cases. Regarding the increasing interest of the community towards traditional and complementary medicine, the potential of Persian medicine [PM] in management of renal diseases, could be put to test in research programs in order to find possible effective treatment. Objective: The aim of this study is to introduce materia medica which are commonly used in PM for the purpose of protection and functional empowerment of the kidneys against destructive factors

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Methods: This research is a literature-based study on effective material medica used in the treatment of two significant renal disorders; renal weakness and renal atrophy [Hozal]. Six pharmaceutical references of Persian medicine from different historical periods were searched by certain keywords related to renal weakness and renal atrophy

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Results: Fourteen materia medica related to the prevention or treatment of renal weakness and fifteen for renal atrophy were found. Poppy [Papaver somniferum]. Amber and shellac are the most repeated medicines in the treatment of renal weakness; whereas fig [ficus carica], banana [musa sapientum] and hazelnut [corynus avelana] are mostly_repeated for either prevention or treatment of renal atrophy

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Conclusion: Medicinal plants represented by Persian medicine references could be a basis for experimental and clinical researches for drug development in the field of prevention or even treatment of acute or chronic renal failure