Methods for renal neuromodulation

A method for treating a human patient with a diagnosed condition or disease associated with cardio-renal function, the method comprising:

• positioning an energy element in a renal vasculature of the patient and in a vicinity of post-ganglionic neural fibers that innervate a kidney of the patient;
• and
• at least partially ablating a renal nerve of the patient via the energy element,
• wherein at least partially ablating the renal nerve results in a therapeutically beneficial reduction in blood pressure of the patient.

A method for therapeutic renal denervation of a human patient having a diagnosed condition or disease associated with central sympathetic overactivity, the method comprising:

• positioning a thermal element in a renal vasculature of the patient and in a vicinity of post-ganglionic neural fibers that innervate a kidney of the patient;
• and
• at least partially ablating the neural fibers of the patient via the thermal element,
• wherein at least partially ablating the neural fibers results in a therapeutically beneficial reduction in central sympathetic overactivity of the patient.