Seham Saeed, Farida Islahudin, Mohd Makmor-Bakry, Adyani Md Redzuan

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been defined by the presence of kidney damage with or without reduced kidney function. It is often coexisting with other conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the general population is common, including those with chronic illnesses such as CKD. There are various types of CAM such as acupuncture, massage, and relaxation response/guided or integrative imagery, meditation, and herbal supplements. At present, there exist limited systematic surveys on the prevalence of CAM use among CKD patients, and much research is needed to be done regarding the safety and efficacy issues. This article has provided a general overview on CAM, factors affecting the usage, and issues pertaining to its use in CKD patients