How To Cure Swollen Body, Face, Feet And Ankles? Ayurvedic cure of Edema

What is Edema?

In ayurveda, Edema is explained as Shoth-roga. Actually, it is a symptom of different diseases that always concerned to certain bodily organs such as kidney, liver, heart, lung, brain disorders and so forth. 

It causes anasarca (generalized oedema), feet, hands, or facial swelling (localized oedema) due to excessive fluid retention in body’s interstitial tissues that can affect any part of the body. 

Tissues scarification and pain may appear in ignored cases.

Usually 2 types of edema can be found, pitting edema (in this type of condition, a tiny dimple may appear after digital pressure) and non-pitting edema (no changes would be located after pushing with finger).

Major Causes & Risk Factors of Oedema / Water Retention

Hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure, veinous thrombosis, congestion or insufficiency, due to blod clot.

Kidney disease / kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome.

Too much consumption of alcohol and heavy smoking.

Sedentary practice.

Lymphedema or removal of lymph nodes by surgical method.

Cirrhosis of liver.

Pregnancy, menstrual problems, menopause, hypothyroidism, burns or scalds, brain tumor, head injury, allergy, hypoalbuminemia, sunny weather, protein deficiency, long term fasting.

Certain medications like oral conceptive (estrogen), steroids (prednisone, dexamithasone, betamithasone etc.) pioglitazone, ibuprofen, amlodipine etc.

Sedentary practices, or physical inactivity.

Genetic factor.

Side effect of certain medications - Contraceptive pills, cortico-steroids, iodine, histamines etc.

Other medical conditions such as lung disease, anaemia, liver disease, diabetes, brain tumor, thyroid problems and arthritis also lead to fluid retention.

Excessive consumption of salt.

Too much consumption of acidic or alkaline food.

Food poisoning.

Low calorie diet, spicy, heavy, improper, vitiated and incompatible foods.

Signs and Symptoms of Edema

Swelling or water retention in face, wrists, ankles, feet and hands and some times pains in swollen area. Dimples appears after digital pressure.

Bloated tummy or occasional abdominal pain, abdominal distention.

Joint stiffness.

Weight gain or weight fluctuations.

Nausea and / or vomiting.

Difficult eye-vision.

Occasional excessive sleep.

Weakness, tastelessness, uneasyness, sluggishness and restlessness.

Swollen eyelids when one gets up in the morning.

Coughing, coughing up blood, wheezing sound, lightheadedness, chest pain, fainting etc. in pulmonary edema.

Numbness, roughness, red or black discoloration.

Soft, black or yellow oedematous lesions or ulceration.

Dizziness or vertigo.

Fever due to sepsis, thirst, and severe burning.

Some classical ayurvedic remedies for Edema

Amavatavidhvansa

Arogyavardhini rasa

Dhanvantara Gutika

Jatyadi ghrita

Maharasnadi Quatha

Ajmodadi churna

Mahayograj guggulu

Muktashukti bhasma

Poonarnava-Mandura

Navayash Lauha

Nimbadi Taila

Shilajit

Shirishavaleha

Other Additional tips and preventive suggestions for Edematous patients -

Wear supportive or compressive bandage in case of ankle or feet swelling.

Walking, running, cycling or any kind of mild exercises may be beneficial for putting off excess water, salt, and systemic toxins through sweating and improving blood circulation.

Common salt should be decreased in foods to cure water retention.

Try to dicrease weight in case of obesity.

Thrapeutic massage of the affected part with grapefruit oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, oregano oil, sesame oil, mustard oil, juniper oil, or olive oil may be advantageous in situation of oedematous disorder as these are anti-inflammatory and muscle relexant oils.

Elevate legs during sleeping time with the help of pillow and usually do not sit or stand for an extended hours. Take short breaks, and, make a slight walk only to avoid feet swelling.

Limit the use of sugar, milk or other dairy products.

Potassium rich diet should be consumed as it help cure water retension. Banana, peaches, raisins, apricot, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, spinach, apples, oranges, are the richest way to obtain sufficient potassium.

Water based foods like green leafy vegetables, curry leaves, watermelon, carrots, watercress, cucumbers, apple, snake cucumber, tomatoes, oats,  artichokes, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage, brussels sprouts, grapes, lemon, beetroot should be taken.

Say no to alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, tobacco chewing, cigarrete smoking to correct water retention.

Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B-6, and B-complex, magnesium, calcium, manganese, selenium, potassium, iron, and zinc may be helpful in body swelling cases. 

Juices of fresh fruits like apple, cranberry, cherry, ananas, lemon, orange, grapefruit, grapes, carrots etc. should be in taken during swelling disorder.

Always drink a great deal of normal water (no less than 8-10 glass) to deliver maximum pee and flushing out systemic toxins to prevent and treat edema.

Avoid potato chips, processed foods, oily foods, junk foods, packaged foods, salty foods to prevent body swelling.

Immerse your full body or soak your feet in a warm water mixed with epsom salt or common salt to avoid body and feet swelling.

Do Yogasanas like Tadasana, Trikonasana, Urdhahastottasana, Bhujangasana, Chakrasana, Parshavkonasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Setu bandhaasana, to control edema.

How to treat edema with ayurvedic medicines -

There is no specific treatments available in Allopathic arrangement of medicines, so Ayurveda should be adopted to take care of edema or body swelling. 

Some important and simple herbal remedies are described below to deal with water retention and oedema  -

Gokshura - Bindii - Tribulus terrestris.

Erandamula - Castor - Ricinus communis.

Jiraka - Cumin - Cuminum cyminum

Haldi - Turmeric - Curcuma longa.

Sonth - Ginger - Zingiber Officinale.

Bibhitaki / Baheda - Terminalia bellirica

Haritaki - Black myrobalan- Terminalia Chebula

Alasi -  Flax Seeds - Linum usitatissimum.

Dhaniya - Coriander Seeds - Coriandrum sativum.

Dudhi - Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale.

Parsley - Petroselinum crispum.

Punarnava - Hogweed - Boerhaavia Diffusa.

Deodar Cedar/ Himalayan Cedar - Cedrus Deodara.

Chitrak - Ceylon leadwort - Plumbago Zeylanica

Trivrit - India Jalap - Operculina turpethum.

Saunf - Fennel - Foeniculum vulgare.

Kaali Maricha - Black pepper - Piper Nigrum.

Pippali - Long pepper - Piper Longnum.

Salai / Shallaki - Boswellia serrata.

Jamaica dogwood - Florida fishpoison tree - Piscidia piscipula.

Feverfew - Bachelor's buttons - Tanacetum parthenium.

Aloe vera - Aloe Barbadensis / Aloe Indica.

Pyaj - Onion - Allium sepa.

Lahasuna - Garlic - Allium sativum

Nimboo - Lemon - Citrus limon.

Shaljam - Turnips - Brassica rapa.

Ginkgo - Maidenhair tree - Ginkgo biloba.

Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum.

Jaitun - Olive Leaf - Olea europaea.

Celery Seed - Apium graveolens.

Pineapple - Ananas comosus

Kheera - Cucumber - Cucumis sativus.

Coltsfoot - Coughwort - Tussilago farfara.

Green tea - Camellia sinensis.

Comfrey / Komprey - Symphytum officinale.

Neem - Margosa leaves - Azadirachta indica.

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Written  by  Rajesh  Kumar

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