Some people used to use natural treatment for edema in an emergency before seeing a doctor. Is it enough or not?
In this article, you will learn more information about natural treatment for edema.
What's Edema and what are the possible causes
Edema is an expansion of interstitial fluid in organs or tissues that causes swelling.
The most affected part of the body is the feet due to the effect of gravity, but it also affects the arms, face, hands, and abdomen.
There are many causes of edema:
As a side effect of Pregnancy, this type may be relieved by natural treatment for edema.
- Signs of chronic disease such as liver disease, heart problems, kidney disease, diabetes, and cirrhosis.
- Allergy and inflammatory disease.
- Head injury.
- Hypoalbuminemia.
Types of Edema
Peripheral Edema
Edema occurs in the extremities of the body, especially the lower limb, this is the most common type of edema.
Pulmonary Edema
Fluid retention in lungs. Mostly, this is associated with congestive heart failure.
Cerebral Edema
Edema in the brain results in swelling due to brain injury, strokes, tumors, or infection.
Macular Edema
Fluid obstruction in the macula of the eye is usually accompanied by uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension.
Best natural treatment for edema
Keep hydrated as possible
The easiest natural treatment for edema is to drink more.
When your body is dehydrated, it will retain water instead of excrete it through urine or sweat.
You have to drink at least 8 cups of water.
Soak your legs in a cool salt bath
Using salt baths can be a good natural treatment for edema.
Therefore, there is not enough evidence that this, salt can reduce inflammation and swelling.
Try to soak your feet for 15_20 minutes in a cool salt bath.
Use pressure
If edema affects the legs, wearing compression stockings might help.
As compression stockings squeeze your legs gently to move blood up.
This prevents edema from extending.
Moving
Doing exercise is the best natural treatment for edema.
Exercise helps muscles to act well, which increases blood flow through the body toward the heart.
You should avoid sitting or standing for a long time.
You can change your position each hour. Sit up and down, flex your knees and ankles.
Massage
Massage the fastest natural treatment for edema. Massage can relieve symptoms of Edema within a few minutes, especially lymphatic massage.
Massage your feet towards the heart with slight pressure.
This can help move out lymphatic fluid from this area and relieve swelling.
Raise your feet
An effective natural treatment for edema is to raise your feet for 30 minutes to an hour.
Raising your feet encourages fluid drainage toward the heart.
Change your diet and lifestyle
Someone may ask what the relationship is between dietary diet and edema.
As with other chronic conditions, dietary and lifestyle changes have a good effect on edema relief. So, changing your dietary lifestyle is one of the natural treatments for edema.
Overall healthy diet will control symptoms of edema.
Some tips will be especially helpful for edema treatment.
Potassium-rich foods
Low Potassium levels increase blood pressure and water retention, which leads to edema.
You need to get more Potassium in your food.
We suggest to you this food that is rich in potassium: banana, sweet potatoes, salmon, avocado, orange juice.
Notice: If you have any medical conditions especially, kidney disorders talk to your healthcare provider before adding Potassium-rich foods to your diet.
Magnesium-rich foods
Water retention is one of the signs of Magnesium deficiency.
You need to get more magnesium in your food.
We suggest foods that are rich in magnesium, including almonds, brown rice, potatoes, dark leafy vegetables, and legumes.
Lower sugar intake
Sugar can increase inflammation in the overall body. This may lead to lymphedema and edema.
Lower sugar intake has significant evidence for reducing inflammation.
Lower sugar intake, Lower level of inflammatory marker.
You can replace soda with sparkling water. Also, you should reduce fast food.
Decrease sodium intake
High sodium levels increase blood pressure and water retention.
You should keep your sodium intake less than 2300 mg daily.
If you have high blood pressure you must lower than this.
Increase Omega-3 fatty acids intake
It's necessary to add Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.
It can help to reduce inflammation and protect the body.
Omega-3 fatty acids-rich foods are salmon, mackerel, sardines, cod liver oil, chia seeds, and walnuts.
Herbal supplements
Herbal supplements can be used as a natural treatment for edema too.
Some herbs can act as diuretics like dandelion root, ginger, parsley, hawthorn, and juniper.
Notice: you must talk to your healthcare provider before using any herbal supplements.
Control your weight
There is a direct relationship between obesity and edema.
Overweight is a great risk factor causing edema.
High body weight affects blood circulation, leading to swelling of the lower extremities.
It also pressure on the feet causes pain, so moving becomes difficult leading to an increased risk of swelling.
You must decrease your weight by doing exercises or a healthy diet low in fat.
When to see a doctor?
Mild edema can be treated by natural treatment for edema. However, it sometimes isn't effective.
You should see a doctor if you notice other symptoms accompanied by edema such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and some changes in consciousness.
This condition might be a sign of serious complications such as heart disease, liver disorders, or kidney failure.
Your doctor may prescribe diuretics to reduce fluid retention.
Summary
In conclusion, Edema is an accumulation of fluid in tissues causing swelling.
Edema is not serious all the time but sometimes can be a sign of severe disease.
Edema can be relieved by itself, but using a natural treatment for edema that help more quickly.
In some cases, edema may accompanied by other symptoms. In this case, you should see a doctor.
There are some natural treatments for edema as drinking more water, raising your feet up, a salt bath, a healthy diet, herbal supplements, massage, exercise, and pressure. All those can relieve edema.
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