Abstract: Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Zigan Bushen Lishui prescription combined with conventional Western medicine therapy in patients with cirrhotic ascites and observe its effect on ascites recurrence rate. Methods A total of 210 patients with cirrhotic ascites admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were enrolled between June 2022 and June 2024. They were assigned to either the Western medicine group (receiving standard Western therapy) or the integrated Chinese-Western medicine group (receiving standard Western therapy plus the Zigan Bushen Lishui prescription), by using a random number table, with 105 cases in each. All patients were treated for 6 weeks and then followed up for 9 months. The clinical effect, scores of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, liver function, levels of inflammatory factors, depth of ascites, abdominal circumference, fasting weight and recurrence were compared between groups. Results After 6 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate in the integrated Chinese-Western medicine group was higher than that in the Western medicine group (P＜0.05). The scores of TCM syndromes, levels of liver function indices aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBil), and levels of inflammatory factors C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the integrated Chinese-Western medicine group were lower than those in the Western medicine group (P＜0.05). After 1, 6 weeks of treatment, ascites depth and abdominal circumference in the integrated Chinese-Western medicine group were lower than those in the Western medicine group (P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference in fasting weight between groups (P＞0.05). After 3, 6 and 9 months of follow-up, the recurrence rates in the integrated Chinese-Western medicine group were lower than those in the Western medicine group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Zigan Bushen Lishui prescription can effectively improve the treatment response rate, alleviate TCM symptoms, enhance liver function, and reduce the recurrence rate in patients with cirrhotic ascites.