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Supplements for Reducing Ankle Swelling

Determining which supplement to take for ankle swelling largely depends on what is causing your ankle to swell. What works for a sports injury would not work for venous insufficiency, for example. If your ankle swelling is due to a medical condition such as diabetes, supplements could interfere with the other medications you are taking. Be cautious in choosing a treatment to avoid drug interaction problems.

  1. RICE

    • If your ankle swelling is due to an injury such as twisting it or overusing it, RICE---rest, ice, compression and elevation--- is the way to go. Apply ice to your swollen ankle for 20 minutes, four to eight times per day. If you are using a gel pack, apply it for only 10 minutes. Be sure to wrap the ice in a towel to avoid tissue damage from the cold. Elevate your ankle 12 inches above your heart with pillows or cushions.

    Butcher's Broom

    • According to the Virginia Hospital Center, clinical studies show that the herb butcher's broom can significantly decrease leg swelling in cases of chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when valves in the legs fail and cause blood to pool in the lower legs, leading to swollen ankles. You can achieve the therapeutic dose with 36 to to 37.5 mg of butcher's broom twice daily. There have been no adverse effects noted in clinical trials, but dosages for children, pregnant or nursing women and people with liver disease have not been established.

    Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs)

    • Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) are found in pine bark extract and grape seed extract. Both have been found to reduce swelling, inflammation, leg heaviness and pain in chronic venous insufficiency, according to the Virginia Hospital Center. OPCs are also used to prevent blood clots from forming during long airplane rides. They help reduce swelling caused by premenstrual syndrome and varicose veins. Do not take these supplements without the advice of a physician if you are on blood thinners or aspirin. The therapeutic dose is 150 to 300 mg daily.

    Gotu Kola

    • Gotu kola preparations, long used by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine and widely available in the United States, have been used to treat venous insufficiency and varicose veins. The therapeutic dose is 120 mg per day, but the herb must be taken for four weeks to be effective. The only side effect is occasional skin rash. Dosages have not been established for young children or those suffering from severe liver or kidney disease.

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