Ascites
Overview | Possible Causes | Care and Treatment | HOME REMEDies | When to Call the Doctor | References
Overview
Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is called ascites.
Ascites is common in people with cirrhosis and it usually develops when the liver is starting to fail. In general, the development of ascites indicates advanced liver disease and patients should be referred for gastroenterologist for treatment and for consideration of liver transplantation.
Possible Causes
- High pressure in liver blood vessels: Ascites result from high pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension).
- Low levels of Albumin in blood (Hypoprotenaemia): Low levels of protein, especially albumin in the blood can lead to accumulation of fluid in the tummy. It may be due to poor intake of protein in diet or liver failure.
- Diseases that can cause severe liver damage can lead to ascites. These include:
- Chronic hepatitis C or B infection
- Alcohol abuse over many years
- Fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH)
- People with certain cancers in the abdomen may develop ascites. These include cancer of the appendix, colon, ovaries, uterus, pancreas, and liver.
- Other conditions that can cause this problem include:
- Clots in the veins of the liver (portal vein thrombosis)
- Congestive heart failure
- Pancreatitis
- Thickening and scarring of the sac-like covering of the heart (pericarditis)
Care & Treatment
The condition that causes ascites will be treated, if possible.
Treatments for fluid build-up may include lifestyle changes:
- Avoiding alcohol
- Lowering salt in your diet (no more than 1,500 mg/day of sodium)
- Limiting fluid intake
You may also get medicines from your doctor, including:
- "Water pills" (diuretics) to get rid of extra fluid
- Antibiotics for infections
Other things you can do to help take care of your liver disease are:
- Get vaccinated for diseases such as influenza, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, and pneumococcal pneumonia
- Talk to your doctor about all medicines you take, including herbs and supplements and over-the-counter medicines
Procedures that you may have are:
- Inserting a needle into the belly to remove large volumes of fluid (called a paracentesis)
- Placing a special tube or shunt inside your liver (TIPS) to repair blood flow to the liver
If you have cirrhosis, avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn). Acetaminophen should be taken in reduced doses.
People with end-stage liver disease may need a liver transplant.
Home Remedies
1. Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) Bath For Ascites
Epsom salts detoxify the body and soothe the swollen legs that are usually seen during ascites. They reduce the swelling and relax you. The magnesium ions in Epsom salts can be absorbed through the skin and assist the body in many of its metabolic functions.
You Will Need:
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- A bucket of warm water
What You Have To Do:
- Add the Epsom salt to the water and mix well.
- Soak your feet in this water for 15 to 20 minutes.
How Often Should You Do This:
Do this every alternate night (or every night).
2. Fenugreek/ Methi Seeds For Ascites
When it comes to abdomen-related issues, fenugreek is surely one of the best forms of home treatment. It has hepatoprotective and anti-cancer effects. It reduces inflammation and helps in eliminating free radicals that are causing damage inside the body (Source) .
You Will Need:
- A handful of fenugreek seeds
- A bowl of water
- Strainer or muslin cloth
What You Have To Do:
- Soak the fenugreek seeds overnight.
- The next morning, mix the seeds and water and strain the liquid through a muslin cloth or strainer.
- Drink this liquid to keep yourself healthy.
How Often Should You Do This:
Drink fenugreek water every day in the morning.
3. Garlic Juice For Ascites
Garlic is easily available in every kitchen. People suffering from ascites can greatly benefit from this. The regular use of this simple ingredient can help to reduce the bloating and tenderness associated with ascites. Garlic is also said to possess anti-cancer properties (Source).
You Will Need:
- 3-4 cloves of garlic
- A small garlic press
What You Have To Do:
- Chop the garlic and use a garlic press to extract the juice.
- Drink half a tablespoon of garlic juice on an empty stomach.
- If you don’t have a garlic press, chop the garlic fine and swallow with a few ounces of water.
How Often Should You Do This:
Repeat this every morning.
4. Ginger For Ascites
Ginger, being a diuretic, removes excess water from the body through urine. It has potential as a home remedy for treating edema (Source). It also works as an antitumorigenic agent on the cancer-associated ascites tumor cells (Source).
You Will Need:
- 1/2-1 inch long piece of ginger
- A cup of hot water
- Honey
What You Have To Do:
- Crush the ginger slightly and put it in the cup of hot water. Steep for five to seven minutes.
- Strain the water and add a dash of honey.
- Drink this ginger tea while it is still warm.
How Often Should You Do This:
Drink a cup of ginger thrice a day after every meal.
5. Carrot Juice For Ascites
Fresh juices can really help to bring down the pain and swelling that comes with ascites. Carrot juice has mild diuretic effects on the body and helps regulate the digestion process. It also exerts a cleansing effect on the liver by aiding it to release excess bile and fats that have accumulated (Source).
You Will Need:
- 3-4 carrots
- Juicer
What You Have To Do:
- Extract the juice of fresh carrots and drink.
- You can add some ginger juice for flavor.
How Often Should You Do This:
Drink carrot juice once every day.
6. Castor Oil Pack
Castor oil is known to open the lymphatic vessels and allow greater lymphatic circulation. This reduces the inflammation and pain.
You Will Need:
- Castor oil
- Cotton flannel or undyed wool
- Plastic wrap
- Hot water bottle
- Container with a lid
What You Have To Do:
- Soak the flannel or undyed wool in castor oil in the container. Make sure it is saturated with the oil but not dripping.
- Place the pack on the affected area and cover it with plastic.
- Keep the hot water bottle on the pack and leave it on for 45 minutes to an hour.
- Remove the pack and wash the area.
- You can store the pack in the container in the refrigerator and reuse it.
How Often Should You Do This:
Do this whenever you experience pain.
7. Massage For Ascites
Massages feel heavenly, don’t they? A proper abdomen and back massage can really prove beneficial for those suffering from this liver disease. It helps to get rid of the gas, giving instant relief. It also mitigates the strain on the abdomen by helping the lymph to enter the venous system again (Source).
You Will Need:
Castor oil
What You Have To Do:
- Have a massage therapist gently massage the abdomen and the back with the oil.
- Massage for 15 to 20 minutes.
- You can use any other oil in place of castor oil as well.
How Often Should You Do This:
Repeat this daily.
8. Radish
Radish is considered to be good for the liver because it acts as a natural detoxifier (Source). Radish is considered one of the key elements in treating ascites, especially in cases due to liver problems. You can also put radishes in your salad or eat them raw as well.
You Will Need:
- Fresh radishes
- Juicer
What You Have To Do:
- Juice enough radishes to get a 4 ounce glass of fresh juice. If the juice proves too strong, dilute half and half with water.
- Drink this juice to get relief from ascites.
How Often Should You Do This:
Consuming a glass of radish juice once or twice a day can provide relief.
9. Bitter Gourd
Regular consumption of bitter gourd root juice gives instant relief from ascetic soreness. It is beneficial for treating liver disorders because of its tonic and antibilious properties (Source).
You Will Need:
- Bitter gourd
- A glass of water
What You Have To Do:
- Peel the bitter gourd and remove the seeds.
- Cut it into small pieces and grind to a paste. Extract the juice from this paste.
- Dilute about 30ml of the bitter gourd juice with water and drink it.
How Often Should You Do This:
The patient needs to consume this at least thrice a day for rapid relief.
10. Onions
Onions are considered to be diuretic and eliminate toxins and excess fluids from the body (Source). If eaten continuously for a couple of days, onions can offer relief from the symptoms associated with ascites.
You Will Need:
Onions
What You Have To Do:
Add onions to your meals and salads or eat them raw.
How Often Should You Do This:
Include onions in your daily diet as it helps in getting rid of the fluid build-up.
11. Punarnava Herb
This Ayurvedic remedy is also referred to as Hogweed. It is one of the world’s best-known liver healers and is commonly used to treat ascites and dropsy. It has diuretic and expectorant effects on the body (Source).
You Will Need:
- Punarnava root
- A glass of lukewarm water
What You Have To Do:
- Grind the herbal root to get a fine powder.
- Take about 3g of this powder with a glass of lukewarm water.
How Often Should You Do This:
Take this thrice a day.
12. Dandelion Tea For Ascites
Dandelion root, also known as gravel root, is a natural diuretic. It helps to reduce the excess fluid in the abdomen. It also aids digestion and has anti-inflammatory effects on the cirrhosis-affected liver (Source).
You Will Need:
- 1 oz dandelion root
- 1 pint of boiling water
- 1 teaspoon honey
What You Have To Do:
- Steep the dandelion root in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Strain the decoction and let it cool down.
- Add the honey to a cup of this herbal tea and drink it.
How Often Should You Do This:
You can drink up to three cups of dandelion root tea in a day.
13. Horse Gram Soup
Soup made from horse gram has proven to be effective in treating ascites. When taken in proper proportions on a daily basis, it shows its effect instantly as it is a diuretic and a tonic. Compared to other diuretics, horse gram contains lesser sodium and eliminates the excess fluids that have accumulated in the abdomen (Source).
You Will Need:
- 1/2 cup horse gram
- 4 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 chopped tomato
- A few coriander leaves
What You Have To Do:
- Boil the horse gram for 10 to 12 minutes in a pressure cooker.
- Roast the black peppercorns, garlic, and tomato in a saucepan for a few minutes.
- Add about half of the boiled horse gram to this and mix well. Let it cool.
- Once cooled, grind it to make a paste.
- To this, add some fresh coriander leaves and the remaining boiled horse gram.
- Give it a gentle stir and cook for three to four minutes.
- Have a cup of this soup while it is warm.
How Often Should You Do This:
Have a cup of horse gram soup every day.
14. Buckthorn Roots
Buckthorn root have diuretic and laxative agents that help treat ascites effectively (Source).
You Will Need:
- 1 teaspoon buckthorn root powder
- A glass of lukewarm water
What You Have To Do:
Ingest the buckthorn root with water, preferably in the morning hours.
How Often Should You Do This:
Repeat this every morning.
Caution
Do not use this remedy if you are pregnant.
15. Milk Thistle
Milk thistle contains a compound called silymarin that acts as an antioxidant by combating free radicals and lipid peroxidation and also prevents the binding of toxins to the liver cells (Source).
You Will Need:
- 1-2 teaspoons of milk thistle
- 1 cup of hot water
What You Have To Do:
- Add one to two teaspoons of milk thistle to a cup of hot water.
- Allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Strain the tea and drink it up.
How Often Should You Do This:
Repeat this every morning.
When to Call the Doctor
If you have ascites, call your healthcare provider right away if you have:
- Fever above 100.5°F (38.05°C), or a fever that does not go away
- Belly pain
- Blood in your stool or black, tarry stools
- Blood in your vomit
- Bruising or bleeding that occurs easily
- Build-up of fluid in your belly
- Swollen legs or ankles
- Breathing problems
- Confusion or problems staying awake
- Yellow color in your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
