Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Improve Chronic Kidney Disease? A Complete Overview of Kidney Function, Proteinuria, and Dialysis Risk
Chronic kidney disease（CKD）is becoming increasingly common. The three main concerns for many patients are:
- Will kidney function（eGFR）continue to decline?
- Can proteinuria be improved?
- Can dialysis be delayed?
Recent studies suggest that Chinese herbal medicine, when used as an adjunctive treatment alongside Western medical care, may help slow kidney function decline and reduce proteinuria [1-4].
1. Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Improve Kidney Function（eGFR）?
Several clinical trials have shown:
- Rehmannia-6-based formula: Reduced annual eGFR decline by approximately 2.7 ml/min/1.73m² [1]
- Chaihuang Tongluo Oral Liquid: Significantly improved the slope of eGFR decline（p<0.001） [2]
Key point: Kidney function does not necessarily stop declining; rather, the rate of decline may become slower.
Chart description: The clinical trial of Chaihuang Tongluo Oral Liquid showed that it may help slow kidney function deterioration and reduce proteinuria（please insert image: chaitongluo-ckd-egfr-study-2025.jpg）
2. Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Improve Proteinuria?
Proteinuria is an important marker of kidney disease progression.
- Improvement at 3 months: approximately 43%
- Improvement at 6 months: approximately 51%
Serum creatinine also decreased, suggesting a reduction in kidney burden [3].
3. Can Chinese Herbal Medicine Delay Dialysis?
Current research suggests that:
Chinese herbal medicine + Western medical treatment, compared with Western medical treatment alone, may:
- Reduce urinary protein
- Reduce creatinine
- Slow the progression of kidney function decline
These factors are closely associated with delaying progression to the dialysis stage [4].
4. Why May Chinese Herbal Medicine Help the Kidneys?
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects [5]
- Anti-renal fibrosis effects [5]
- Regulation of the gut-kidney axis（reducing uremic toxins）[5]
- Repair of the intestinal barrier [5]
5. How Safe Is It?
Studies show:
- Overall safety is good
- Adverse effects were similar to those in the control group [1][3]
6. Clinical Observations and Recommendations
Clinical observation:
In outpatient clinical practice, many patients have indeed shown improvement in glomerular filtration rate（eGFR）after taking Chinese herbal medicine.
Recommendation:
Patients with chronic kidney disease may consider integrative treatment combining Chinese and Western medicine to achieve better disease control.
7. FAQ
Q1: Can Chinese herbal medicine replace dialysis?
No. Chinese herbal medicine is mainly used to slow deterioration, not to replace dialysis.
Q2: Can declining kidney function be reversed?
Some patients may show improvement, but in most cases, the main goal is to slow disease progression.
Q3: Will proteinuria definitely improve?
Not everyone will have complete resolution, but in many cases, proteinuria may decrease significantly.
References
- Add-on Rehmannia-6-Based Chinese Medicine in Type 2 Diabetes and CKD: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. CJASN. 2023. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.0000000000000000
- Efficacy and Safety of Chaihuang Tongluo Oral Liquid in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease. Phytomedicine. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2025.000000
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Wenshenyang Decoction for CKD. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.000000
- Traditional Chinese Medicine for Diabetic Kidney Disease: Meta-analysis of 44 RCTs. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.00000/full
- Traditional Chinese Medicine in CKD Mechanisms. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.00000/full