My Kidneys have been damaged by the contrast used in scans,

Hi! Thanks for asking your question here at Just Answer. I do hope that you get my response. I feel compelled to provide you with a different answer than the previous one.

As a doctor of Chinese medicine I can assure you that there are quite a few formulas that will help your body regain some of its ability to properly process fluids. The issue is identifying the right one.

But first, from a western perspective, if the fluid is accumulating in your abdomen and is free-floating, it can be drawn off with a needle, and you should ask your Western physician about this procedure as it increases comfort and your ability to breathe properly. It is a very common procedure done for ascites. [Ascites is what this condition is called.] If the fluid is not accumulating that way, but instead is intracellular (each of the cells is plumped up individually) this type of procedure can't be done and this is where Chinese medicine will help.

Unfortunately it would be irresponsible of me to recommend a specific formula to you over the internet. To recommend a safe and effective formula you need to see a Chinese practitioner in person. The practitioner will do a thorough physical intake, asking about all aspects of your health, not just the liver cancer and kidney issue. They will look at your tongue, take your pulse, and then develop a Chinese style diagnosis that will guide the choice of formula.

Chinese diagnoses may sound very odd but they mean something very specific to the Chinese practitioner, just as a western diagnosis does to a western physician. Potential diagnoses for ascites might be things like: "Spleen Qi and Yang deficiency," "Kidney Yang deficiency," "Phlegm and Damp accumulation" or several others. Each diagnosis would call for a different herbal formula, so getting the right diagnosis from a practitioner is very important since the wrong formula can do more harm than good. Once you have the right formula, results can be very positive.

[Bear in mind that the Chinese words "Kidney" and "Spleen" etc. do not refer to your physical organs but instead to a group of functions in the body - so don't let the sound of the diagnosis worry you!]

I urge you to find a good acupuncturist who is also an herbalist to help you. There are quite a few Chinese herbalists who concentrate specifically on oncology, and asking about their experience with cancer might be one of the questions you ask as you look for a good fit.

I wish you the best of luck in pursuing treatment. And I hope you have not minded getting a second opinion.