Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines To Cure Ascites

Ascites

Ascites are generally defined as the build-up of fluid in the abdomen. In normal conditions, the peritoneal fluid is up to a specific quantity; just enough to provide the necessary protection. But in extreme cases, the fluid builds up to such a large extent that it causes severe abdominal distention. The condition is quite painful and the person suffering from it finds it extremely inconvenient to even move around. This is happening in Ascites also. Ascites itself is a symptom of several serious problems. The presence of ascites may indicate liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, heart failure, pericarditis, etc. Drinking too much alcohol is one of the most common causes of Cirrhosis of the liver. Different types of cancer can also cause this condition.

In Ayurveda, this condition is under the category of Udara Roga. Among Tridosha, the aggravated Vata gets accumulated in Udara between Twaka (skin) and Mamsa (muscle tissue) leading to Shotha (swelling); this is being termed as Udararoga. Vata is one of the prime causative factors in the manifestation of Udara Roga. In Ayurveda Medical Science Ascites is termed as Jalodara. Diet restriction is an important feature of the management of this condition.

Symptoms Of Ascites

Ascites are often painful and typically cause a person to feel a feeling of fullness, a ballooning belly, and fast weight gain. Other symptoms often include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea.
• Swelling in legs and ankles.
• Indigestion.
• Vomiting.
• Heartburn.
• Loss of appetite.
• Fever.
• Hernia.

Causes Of Ascites

The general causes of Ascites are the following:

• Liver Disease

  Any disease that causes liver damage can make you more likely to get ascites. They are Liver Cirrhosis and Veno-Occlusive disease.

• Malignancy

  The term "malignancy" refers to the presence of cancerous cells that can spread to other sites in the body or invade nearby and destroy tissues. Some of the Specific Cancers that cause Ascites are Liver Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and Peritoneal metastasis.

• Hypoalbuminemia

  Low albumin condition is called Hypoalbuminaemia. The specific diseases that are caused by ascites under the category of this condition are Nephrotic syndrome, Protein-losing enteropathy, and Malnutrition.

• Hepatic vein obstruction

  This is another cause of Ascites.Specific disease under this condition Budd-Chiari Syndrome. It is a disorder characterized by narrowing and obstruction of the veins of the liver (hepatic veins).

• Chronic Inflammation

  This is another reason for Ascites. The specific diseases under this category are pancreatitis, Appendicitis, and infectious peritonitis. .

The main causes of Ascites are Liver Disease, Malignancy, Hypoalbuminaemia, Hepatic vein obstruction, and Chronic Inflammation.

Ascites Risk Factors

Common risk factors for Ascites include:

• Viral infections like hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
• Alcohol misuse.
• Cancer in organs in the belly area.
• Kidney failure.
• Congestive heart failure.

Ayurvedic Management Of Ascites

Ayurvedic management with drugs such as provocation of digestion, daily therapeutic purgation, a stimulant for hepatic function, and only milk diet that acts as an effective treatment to manage Ascites. They are explained below:

• Nidana Parivarjana

  It means avoidance of causative factors. In this Diet, water intake was completely restricted and the patient was given only a milk diet.

• Agni Dipti

  Agni Dipti is the provocation of digestion. Mandarin is the chief reason for any type of Udara Roga. For this condition, Trikatu Churna is given to the patient for 6 days and Pachana Churna is given for 15 days.

• Apyam Dosha Sharanam and Sroto Shodhana

  It is the process of removing accumulated fluid. This process removes hot, sharp, and dry guna. It also removes Strotosanga (obstruction) of channels and helps in Samprapti Vighatan (breakdown of pathogenesis). Simultaneously, there was the removal of Apya Dosha (water retention) also.

• Nitya Virechana

  It is also called daily therapeutic purgation. Virechana is a detoxification therapy that brings out the toxins accumulated in the body. It is a highly effective ayurvedic remedy in ascites (Jalodara) as it acts as a purgative therapy. In this therapy, the patient is made to consume purgative herbs after cleansing their system through vomiting. This induces the excretion of toxins including the fluid retained in the abdominal cavity.

• Arogyavardhini Vati and Sarpunkha Swarasa

  Arogyavardhini Vati is very beneficial for liver disorders. It maintains liver function and promotes balance as well as a healthy digestive system. Sharpunkha is the drug of choice in spleen and liver diseases. It corrects the working of the digestive system. It improves the functioning of the liver. It has hepatoprotective activity.

• Punarnavadi Kwatha and Punarnavadi Mandura

  Punarnavadi Kwath is used in the treatment of Udara Roga and it also reduces Shotha (swelling). The patient who had shown the symptoms of Jalodara, Kwatha is prescribed which had shown significant results in all symptoms. .

Some of the Ayurvedic Management that is beneficial for Ascites are Virechana, Nidana Parivarjana, Apyam Doshaharanam, Sroto Shodhana, Arogyavardhini Vati, Sarpunkha Swarasa, Punarnavadi Kwatha and Punarnavadi Mandura, etc.

Preventive Measures To Cure Ascites

Some of the preventive steps that are useful for the treatment of Ascites are:

• Stop drinking alcohol.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Stop smoking.
• Limit salt in your diet.
• Practice safe sex to decrease your chance of getting hepatitis.
• Do not use recreational drugs to decrease your chance of getting hepatitis.

Herbal Remedies To Cure Ascites

Some of the herbs that are useful for Ascites are:

• Gokhru

  Gokhru is a very effective ayurvedic remedy for ascites because it has anti-inflammatory properties. These properties reduce swelling of the abdomen. It also acts as a diuretic, increasing urine secretion from the body that helps flush out the toxic fluid accumulated in the abdominal cavity.

• Triphala

  Triphala is a very effective detox ayurvedic herb for ascites. It carries laxative properties and thus, helps to remove the fluid from the body. Due to its gentleness, it also regulates bowel movement and relaxes the liver muscles.

• Punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa)

  This ayurvedic herb is very effective in controlling the swelling and fluid retention in the abdomen. Due to its anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties that relax the liver walls and also flush out toxins from the abdominal cavity by increasing the flow of urine in the body.

• Shilajit

  It is a very energetic and nutritive Ayurvedic medicine for ascites, it is very helpful in restoring the immunity of the body. It checks for fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. It also cures fatigue or weakness due to ascites. It gives relief in bloating too.

Ascites can make eating, drinking, and moving around difficult. It can also make it hard to breathe. The Ayurvedic Herbs that are very useful for Ascites are Shilajit, Triphala, Punarnava, and Gokhru.

Conclusion

The information about Ascites is taken from different Ayurvedic resources. Please consider the opinion of a qualified Ayurvedic doctor, before experimenting with Ayurvedic treatments and herbs for this condition.