How to Make an Herbal Remedy for Edema

Edema is the swelling of the body, particularly the legs, ankles and feet, due to too much water retention in the body's tissues. Edema can be caused by pregnancy, sunburn, some medications, eating too much salt or other serious conditions such as heart failure, kidney or liver disease. While the cause of your condition should be discussed with your doctor, there are herbal remedies you can use at home to help reduce edema and relieve the discomfort and pain it causes.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tsp. fresh taraxacum (dandelion)
• Cucumber
• 2 tsps. comfrey
• 2 tsps. coltsfoot
• Soft, clean towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Reduce salt and fat in your diet by including more raw foods. The most important ingredient in herbal remedies is lots of water and fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating fresh raw fruits and vegetables can help your body to eliminate salt and toxins that are causing edema. Salt is often the culprit in edema, as it causes water retention in the body, so trying to eliminate salts and eating fresh foods will greatly reduce your symptoms.

• 2

  Take two cups of dandelion tea daily, a natural diuretic that can help to reduce the swelling of edema. Dandelion is also highly nutritious, as its leaves are high in vitamins A, C, D and B as well as zinc, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, choline, calcium, boron, copper and silicon. Boil 1 cup of water and remove from heat before adding 1 tsp. of fresh dandelion. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes, then strain the herbs and drink.

• 3

  Eat one fresh whole cucumber daily. Many herbal remedies include fresh cucumber, as it has many healing properties. Cucumber will help to eliminate toxins from the body, and reduce water retention caused by edema.

• 4

  Make an herbal poultice from comfrey and coltsfoot that you can apply directly to the effected area. Boil four cups of water and remove from heat. Add two teaspoons of comfrey and two teaspoons of coltsfoot and allow to steep for five minutes. Strain the herbs, soak a towel in the water and apply to the affected area for 20 minutes three times a day.