What is Ascites? – Types, Symptoms, Causes and Herbal Remedies
Abstract
It frequently happens because of cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, kidney failure, and infections. Mild ascites may not show any symptoms but if you are experiencing the fullness of the abdomen, weight gain, swelling in the ankles, nausea, or shortness of breath you have landed on the right page. Here we have discussed ascites in detail, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and its Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda, our age-old science, has wonderfully treated ascites with remarkable results. Read on to know more.
Introduction
Ascites is a condition in which there is an accumulation of free fluid in the peritoneal or abdominal cavity, which gives a feeling of fullness and rapid weight gain. This free fluid leads the belly to swell and is called a ballooning belly. Ascites is a further complication of non-hepatic or hepatic disease. Mild ascites is hard to notice whereas severe ascites cause distension of the abdomen.
TYPES OF ASCITES
Ascites is categorized mainly into two types depending on the protein content in the fluid:
- Exudate: Exudate has a protein content of more than or equal to 2.5g/dl.
- Transudate: Transudate has a protein content of less than 2.5g/dl.
The other, more useful way to categorize ascites is by using the SAAG
- (SERUM ASCITES ALBUMIN GRADIENT)
CAUSES OF ASCITES
Cirrhosis of the liver is the most common condition that can cause ascites. Other conditions that cause ascites can be heart failure, kidney failure, infections (such as tuberculosis ),or
cancer.
How does cirrhosis cause ascites?
When a patient has cirrhosis, his liver doesn’t function normally as it should. The abnormal liver function combines with portal hypertension to cause ascites. This portal hypertension is the high pressure in portal veins (the veins that supply blood to the liver). This abnormally high pressure in portal veins causes fluid to leak out of the veins into the belly and collect there as a fluid.
RISK FACTORS FOR ASCITES
Conditions causing cirrhosis of the liver puts a patient at a greater risk of developing ascites. These conditions are Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, Autoimmune hepatitis, Alcohol use disorder, Genetic liver diseases that may include Wilson disease and alpha
1 antitrypsin deficiency, and hemochromatosis. Some of the other conditions that can cause ascites are cancers of the abdominal or pelvic organs, infections, congestive heart failure, and kidney failure.
SYMPTOMS OF ASCITES
Depending upon the cause of ascites, symptoms may develop gradually or suddenly. Mild fluid in the abdominal cavity is usually asymptomatic, that is without any symptoms but as the collection of the fluid increases, it thereby causes:
- swelling in the abdomen
- sense of fullness
- Bloating
- weight gain
- nausea
- indigestion
- shortness of breath
- back pain
- fatigue
- swelling in ankles.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE ASCITES????
Multiple steps are involved in the diagnosis of ascites. The patient’s complete medical history followed by a thorough abdominal examination/physical examination is carried out by a medical practitioner to look for any signs or symptoms. a patient’s history and physical examination help determine a diagnosis. Blood tests and imaging tests are likely needed. Tests to confirm the diagnoses are Ultrasound or CT scans in which the abdominal area can be seen deeply and detailed. CBC is carried out to look for the infections and organ functions that might lead to ascites. The second most important test is paracentesis in which the fluid accumulated is analyzed for signs of cancer, infection, portal hypertension, and other conditions.
CLASSICAL TREATMENT
- Nidana parivarjana (avoiding causative factors): This is a complete diet restriction to minimize the symptoms along with medicines.
- Agni Dipti (provocation of digestion)
- Apyam Doshaharnam and sroto shodhan (removal of the fluid accumulated)
- Nitya virechana(daily therapeutic purgation)
HERBAL REMEDIES FOR ASCITES BY PLANET AYURVEDA
PLANET AYURVEDA provides the best and most effective treatment by the touch of herbs for the treatment of ascites. As the diseased liver is the main cause of ascites, The Planet Ayurveda provides a complete ASCITES CARE PACK which is a combination of herbal remedies for liver health. Remedies that are herbal and with the non-touch of artificial ingredients. chemical and preservative-free herbal remedies are used worldwide to treat diseases.
This ASCITES CARE PACK consists of
- PUNARNAVA CAPSULES
- WATER EX-TABLETS
- RENCURE FORMULA
- LIVER DETOX CAPSULES
- JALODARARI RASA
PRODUCT DETAIL
1. Punarnava capsules
This ayurvedic remedy has a great tendency to control water retention in the abdomen as it is prepared from the standardized extract of Boerhaavia diffusa . It possesses diuretic properties that flush out the toxins from the abdominal cavity, through urine by increasing its flow.
Dosage: 2 capsules to be taken two times a day after meals with warm water.
2. Water ex-tablets
These water ex-tablets consist of natural herbs like gokshura (Tribulus Terrestris), Varuna (crataeva nurvala), etc which have the properties of fluid expulsion from the body and reduce inflammation caused by any infection.
3. Rencure Formula
It consists of palash (butea monosperma), gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), punarnava (boerhavia diffusa),varun (crataeva nurvala) etc. This formula has tremendous effects on kidney disease which can be a leading cause of ascites. It maintains the normal
functioning of the kidneys.
Dosage: 1 capsule is to be taken twice after meals with water.
4. Liver Detox Capsules
This combination of herbs helps in the detoxification of the liver byremoving harmful toxins that cause fluid to accumulate. The herbs in this formulation are kaansi (Cichorium intybus), kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), makoy (Solanum Indicum), etc.
Dosage: 1 capsules to be taken two times a day after meals with warm water
5. Jalodarari ras
These herbal tablets have been prepared with the combination of pippali (piper longum), maricha (piper nigrum), jaiphala (Croton tiglium), Haridra (Curcuma longa), etc. This combination of herbs serves as an anti-inflammatory agent and eliminates accumulated fluid.
HOME-BASED MANAGEMENT OF ASCITES
Ascites can be well managed at home along with these herbal remedies. Managing the diet with low salt intake can be beneficial. By Quitting alcohol and smoking the disease can be limited to a greater extent. A healthy lifestyle with exercising can prevent further liver
disease.
CONCLUSION
ASCITES mainly affects patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Another systemic disease can also lead to ascites. Important diagnostic tools are scans and blood tests. A physical examination plays an important role in diagnosis. PLANET AYURVEDA medicines are significantly effective in ascites under the guidance of well-experienced doctors. Management of diet and healthy lifestyle can add more value to the early recovery. Ayurvedic treatment is followed by the internal purification process, herbal remedies, a special diet, and meditation. The primary basis of Ayurveda is the interconnection between
