How to Treat Edema Naturally

Edema is a condition that causes fluid buildup in certain areas of the body, including ankles, legs, neck, face and arms. Even swelling in the eyelids and hand veins may occur. Additionally, your blood pressure may be higher and pulse may become elevated. While conventional treatments, such as diuretics, might be prescribed by your doctor to get rid of excess fluid in the body, there may be some side-effects. If you want to use alternative remedies to help treat your edema, there are several options. Always make certain that you inform your doctor, however, before using any of them.

Things You'll Need

• Herbs

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Instructions

• 1

  Modify your diet. Watch your salt intake, cut back on sugary foods and dairy products, stay away as much as possible from fatty foods. Increase your intake of fiber and protein-rich foods, like skinless chicken and turkey.

• 2

  Take a load off your feet. You may find that elevating your legs and feet may help bring down some of the swelling.

• 3

  Rub some warm mustard oil over the affected parts of your body, especially your feet, to help bring down swelling.

• 4

  Take alfalfa tablets daily, around 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams worth. It helps to detoxify you body effectively. Make sure that you don't take them all at once, but divide up the doses, to avoid stomach upset or diarrhea.

• 5

  Try herbs that help eliminate excess fluid. These include corn silk, parsley, dandelion, uva ursi, pau d'arco, hawthorn berry, butcher's broom, juniper and horsetail, which work as natural diuretics. Before taking these, however, you need to consult with your doctor, to make sure that there are no interactions with any prescription drugs you are currently on.

• 6

  Sip some coriander seed tea. Boil some in a cup of hot water and, after straining it, slowly drink it. You should do this daily to diminish edema in your feet.

• 7

  Consider using ayurvedic remedies to help get rid of fluid buildup. These include behera, chirchita and kateli. It is best to go to an Ayurvedic practitioner, however, to see if these are the best treatments for you and to get Ayurvedic remedies that are safe. If you are already on a prescription diuretic, you need to call your doctor before taking these Ayurvedic herbs, to see if there could be interaction issues.