Edema herbs
Natural remedies for water retention, bloating, and swelling
Treating edema with teas and extracts
If you have edema, or suffer from water retention, your ankles may swell and you may feel bloated.
Parsley, dandelion, lavender, hawthorn, bilberry, echinacea, burdock, corn silk, ginger, and juniper are herbs that help get rid of excess fluid in the body.
These herbs may be used in tea or purchased as extracts. You can also add dandelion leaves to salads, use burdock like a vegetable, and eat a few juniper berries to get these healing herbs into your system.
Do you eat a lot of salt?
If your ankles swell, it may be too much salt in your diet. The quickest remedy is to cut out added salt. Try to avoid salty foods like pretzels, potato chips, and salt-cured meats.
Edema is a problem often caused by eating too much salt and not drinking enough water. Be sure to stay hydrated. Cutting back on fluid intake is not a solution!
More symptoms of edema
Other symptoms include swelling of the hands, feet, and stomach. Edema is actually a symptom of underlying causes and is not considered a disease.
Edema may be a symptom of many serious conditions including congestive heart failure.
Some cases of edema require emergency care.
Causes of chronic or severe edema must be addressed before considering any herbal treatment. This is especially important if you experience sudden swelling, swelling in just one leg, or pitting (after pressing on the area it remains indented).
In these cases, please seek professional advice as soon as possible or even consider a visit to the emergency room.
Quick tips
If you have edema, you should try to find out the cause. If you are overweight, then try to loose a few pounds. If you are on your feet all day, put your feet up when you get home. If you sit at a desk, get up and move around every hour.
Cooler temperatures also seem to help reduce swelling. In the heat of summer, edema may get worse. Try cool showers, herbal baths, and cold compresses if you don't have air-conditioning.
Other causes of edema
Edema, water retention, and swelling can be symptoms of something more serious.
Persistent edema can be linked to kidney, bladder, urinary tract, liver, or circulatory problems.
Edema is often a symptom of urinary tract problems such as kidney stones and bladder infections. If so, there are many herbs for urinary health.
If your liver is the cause, you may need to see a healthcare professional.
If you think it is your heart, please get help as soon as possible.
More causes of edema and water retention
Edema can be caused by oral contraceptives, hypothyroidism, adrenal exhaustion, protein and B vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes, climate changes, allergies, poor circulation, potassium depletion, drug reactions, obesity, constipation, or lack of exercise.
Medicinal herbs can help heal these underlying problems.
Use diuretic herbs with caution.
Corn silk tea is a powerful diuretic. All diuretics can cause imbalances in the body affecting the available salts and minerals required for good health.
Never use strong diuretics if you have heart or liver problems, unless advised to do so by your healthcare professional.
Corn silk tea to treat water retention and edema
A simple recipe for corn silk tea is as follows:
- Steep 1 tablespoon of dried silks in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes.
- Take three times a day, but not before bedtime or you will be getting up throughout the night.
Herbal tea recipe for edema and the urinary tract
An excellent herbal blend consists of 2 teaspoons of dandelion root, ½ teaspoon of nettle leaf, ½ teaspoon of oat straw, ½ teaspoon of fennel seed, and ½ teaspoon of dried corn silks. Add to one pint of boiling water, turn off heat, and steep for 20 minutes.
Drink up to two cups per day to relieve occasional fluid retention.
There are many ways to help edema.
Add fresh vegetables to your diet and drink plenty of water to avoid edema. Adding fresh salads with cucumbers, parsley, celery, and alfalfa sprouts to the diet is a great way to avoid bloating, and water retention.
Avoid caffeine, and drink eight glasses of water a day. Potassium supplements may be required.
Relieve edema with saunas and exercise.
Water retention may also be relieved by taking 20 minute saunas. Saunas help rid the body of toxins. They also help increase metabolism which improves circulation.
Other things to try include getting some form of daily exercise (swimming is perfect), elevating the head and shoulders when sleeping, and elevating the legs when resting.
What about remedies for bloating?
Bloating is usually caused by gas and can be relieved by taking a spoonful of fennel seeds. Persistent bloating or painful bloating can be something more serious. Please see your healthcare professional in these cases.
Scientific studies
Trials show that a blend of Chinese herbs known as Gwack Ryung Tang, can help heal persistent edema. Ginger, angelica, pine, cinnamon, and other herbs are included in the blend.
This treatment helps when other drugs and remedies do not help.
*Always consult with a health care professional before taking any herbal remedy especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking other medicines.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6799692/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/water-retention/faq-20058063
Blessings to you and yours!
Thanks so much for reading my blog. Jan.
*Note - the information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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