Home remedies for ascities include garlic, gram, bitter gourd, fenugreek, radish, melon, onion, sleep, etc. Ascities is termed as peritoneal fluid excess, peritoneal cavity fluid and hydro peritoneum. It basically deals with the accumulation of the fluid in the abdominal or peritoneal cavity. Some of the major reasons, which play a vital role behind causing ascities, are alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatic vein obstruction. Kidney and heart failure also cause excess accumulation of fluid. In addition to it, ascities can also be caused by cancer involving tuberculosis and abdominal cavity.
Ascities is that condition of body in which, fluid is accumulated in the cavity of abdomen. The stomach gets swollen. There is a heavy and uneasy feeling. The legs are swelled up. Even breathing is not normal, which causes rapid palpitation. The main symptoms of ascities are:
- Accumulation of the fluid in the abdomen
- Distension in the abdomen
- Umbilicus eversion
- Shifting of dullness of percussion
- Portal hypertension
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Breath shortness
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy
- Swollen ankle
- Rapid gain in weight
Natural treatment of ascities differs on the basis on its cause. Salt restricted diet and bed rest are some of the main features of the treatment. In addition to them, diuretics or drugs are also utilised as they play a pivotal role in excreting more water from the kidney. The process of therapeutic paracentesis is used to remove the fluid. On the other hand, large volume paracentesis is used for draining larger amount of fluid from the patient’s body. Short duration of hospital stay is required for such treatments. Taraxacum officinale, the herbal diuretic is used for curing ascetics, as it not only drains excess fluid, but also provides potassium to the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, the use of a thin needle or tube to remove excess fluid from the abdomen can provide temporary relief from ascities. Some remedies and diet tips are given below:
- Garlic: It plays a pivotal role in curing ascities. Take 125 ml of water. Mix in half teaspoon garlic juice. Drink the garlic mixture regularly for days.
- Gram: Take 25 gm gram. Boil it in one fourth litre water. Let the water reduce to half. Strain the liquid. You will have to drink this for at least 3 weeks.
- Bitter Gourd: It provides the needed relief from ascities. Extract 25 ml juice of bitter gourd. Drink it thrice after mixing with water. Juice of bitter gourd can be taken empty stomach also.
- Radish: It is very beneficial in the treatment of ascities. Mix the juice of the leaves of radish plant with water.
- Fenugreek Seeds: Soak the fenugreek seeds overnight. Strain and drink that water in the morning.
- Avoid drinking excess water: Milk can be given to the patient replacing water, when thirsty. In take of more water during the case of ascities adds to swelling and weight gain.
- Therapies: Some therapies are helpful to cure this disease which are patoladhya ghrit, punarnave chum, and punarnava kwath and shilajatwadi vati.
- Punarnava or Boeharia Diffusa Powder: This powder is also beneficial in Ascites. It helps in draining the added fluid.
- Onion: It has diuretic goodness. So, include it in your diet. It helps in draining excess accumulated fluid through the means of urine.
- Fluids: Carrot juice and buttermilk are benefiting in this disease. They have a vital role in restoring energy in the body, along with not adding to the accumulated fluid levels.
- Melon: Eat melon daily in a lavish portion to stay healthy and fight ascities. It also helps in digestion and restoring the fluid balance and homeostasis.
- Alcohol: Stay away from alcoholism. It is the one and only cause behind the 83% of the total patients suffering from this disease.
- Active Life: Exercise helps your abdominal muscles in building process. This also protects the fluid accumulation.
- Sleep: Do not sleep during the day. Maintain a fixed time to go to the bed at night and wake up early in the morning. This plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the body.
- Helpful Diet: This includes buttermilk, camel milk, soup of horse gram, old rice, salads with dry radish, garlic, asafoetida and honey.
- Harmful Diet: Avoid taking too much starch like rice and wheat. Salt is very harmful for the patient of ascites.
- Herbs: Arjuna or white murdah has diuretic properties. Heenga or asafoetida dissolved in hot water is used to foment the abdomen. Himsra or caper brush should be taken as directed. Kakamachi or black nightshade is used in the ayurvedic treatment of Ascites. Kateli or kantakari is used to treat dropsy along with ascites.
A doctor should be visited, if there is single doubt that you are suffering from ascities. Nevertheless, these home remedies can be practised on a regular manner to prevent the disease. Proper diagnosis in the case of ascities is a must. At times, it’s needed to consult your doctor, even before trying any of these home remedies and foods. You should keep in mind that there are so many minute details of each patient, which should be taken care of before prescribing the remedies.
This article was contributed by Seema Adnani
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References: National Cancer Institute and Research from Catholic University.
