Oedema (Swelling, Water Retention, Edema)

OEDEMA (SWELLING, WATER RETENTION, EDEMA, PERIPHERAL OEDEMA)

Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH

Water retention (also called Oedema, Edema) is the accumulation of fluids (water) in body cells and tissues and in the circulatory system. Women usually experience this problem before their period or during pregnancy. It leads to swelling of hands, legs, ankles, and feet.

Oedema also effects bedridden people and those who are not physically active for a longer period of time such as during long flights.

When the smallest blood vessels, called capillaries begin to leak water into tissues, it causes puffiness and skin tightness.

There are two types of oedema, pitting and non-pitting.

If after applying pressure to the swollen area your finger leaves a mark, it is a pitting oedema. This type of water retention is caused by too much sodium in the body, sitting or standing for too long, or pressure from body weight.

Non-pitting oedema, on the other hand, does not leave a mark and should be regarded as more serious condition caused by kidney, heart, liver, or lungs problems.

POSSIBLE CAUSES

– Using too much salt and consuming foods high in salt (sodium) such as canned foods, processed meat, etc. Too much sodium causes oedema because sodium holds on to water and keeps it in the body.

– Dehydration (drinking insufficient amount of water and diet high in sodium and low in fruits and vegetables). As a result of dehydration your body may go into the “reserve mode” and start retaining water which leads to oedema as water can make the cells expand by up to 20 times. If our diet is high in sodium and at the same time we don’t drink enough water, our body will use its water reserves which results in water retention. Our cells can expand up to 20 times due to the water retention.

– Magnesium deficiency (very common today due to the soil depletion and refined diets).

– Vitamin B6 deficiency. Vitamin B6 is responsible for controlling a number of water balance aspects in the body, so if this vitamin is deficient, it can lead to oedema.

– Potassium deficiency. Potassium is critical for maintaining normal water balance in the body. Levels of this mineral drop by eating too much refined salt (sodium), and avoiding foods which are rich in potassium such as raw vegetable salads, baked in skin potatoes, watermelon or bananas.

– PMS (premenstrual symptoms) and low levels of progesterone. In this case oedema is caused by hormonal imbalance between progesterone and and changes.

– Pregnancy. During pregnancy uterus puts pressure on the major blood vessel responsible for returning blood from the legs to the heart. This pressure allow water get into surrounding tissues, leading to swelling in the legs and feet.

– Inflammation in legs or hands caused by allergies, arthritis, infection, cellulitis, broken bone or sprained ankle may cause swelling.

– Certain medications (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, blood pressure drugs, insulin, steroids, etc.) may cause oedema through leading to dehydration or renal dysfunction.

– Deficiency of albumin (protein that is made by the liver) in your blood as water leaks out of blood vessels more easily when there isn’t enough of this protein. Usually kidney and liver problems can cause low levels of albumin in your blood.

– Poor peripheral blood circulation. When veins are not able to carry enough blood between feet and heart your feet and ankles become swollen as blood accumulates in legs, forcing water out of blood vessels and into the surrounding tissue. This type of peripheral oedema can be caused by thrombosis (blood clot) or varicose veins.

– When the kidneys aren’t efficient in removing sodium and water from the body, it increases pressure inside blood vessels which can lead to peripheral oedema.

– In congestive heart failure the heart is too weak to pump blood around the body, it can cause fluid to leak out into the surrounding tissue and swelling in the abdomen or legs.

– Failure of the lymphatic system to drain fluids properly may lead to a non-pitting oedema.

– Liver disease (such as cirrhosis) can cause oedema (called ascites) in the abdomen.

– If pressure in the lungs gets high, as a result of certain medical conditions (like emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis), this can cause the legs and feet to swell.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT

– Conventional treatment for peripheral oedema includes diuretics (such as Lasix) which are prescribed to treat peripheral oedema or heart failure. Unfortunately, their chronic use causes side effects such as potassium deficiency.

– Since diuretics are not effective in treating a non-pitting oedema, doctors usually recommend elevating the legs and wearing compressive stockings to reduce swelling.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT

– Avoid foods high in salt (sodium) and instead of salt use only Celtic or Himalayan salt as unlike refined salt they can even help reverse the damage caused by the table salt.

– Take at least 200 mg of good magnesium such as magnesium citrate two times a day before breakfast and before bed. Studies proved that daily supplementation with magnesium reduced oedema in woman suffering from PMS (premenstrual symptoms).

– Take 50-100mg of vitamin B6 with breakfast. Research gave evidence that women whose oedema was associated with PMS, experienced significant improvement after taking vitamin B6 supplements.

– Also high strength Vitamin B complex (50-100mg each) works well in reducing swelling. Take one especially after breakfast.

– Treat PMS using Agnus castus (Vitex) and other remedies (read more >).

– Potassium reduces water retention by lowering sodium levels in the body. To increase potassium avoid salt (sodium), and consuming foods which are rich in potassium such as raw vegetable salads every day, potatoes (baked in skin), watermelon or bananas.

– Citrus Bioflavonoids and Rutin are important for the health of the small blood vessels and help reduce their permeability (one of the causes of water retention and swelling).

– Drink 8-10 glasses of distilled or at least filtered water a day (3 times 3 glasses between meals). Avoid coffee or soda drinks as they may dehydrate the cells even more.

– Avoid processed foods.

– Dandelion root and/or leaf tea is an excellent and well-known natural diuretic. In addition, it also helps liver to eliminate toxins that contribute to inflammation. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that when fresh leaf dandelion extract was ingested by volunteers, it caused a significant increase in the frequency of urination.

DENDALION FOR SWELLING, OEDEMA, WATER RETENTION, EDEMA

– Apart from dandelion the following herbs (in the form of teas, capsules or tinctures) are very beneficial in decreasing water retention: Horsetail, Corn silk, Nettle.

– Eat parsley rot both raw and cooked. Parsley is a well-known natural diuretic, which means it stimulates production of urine by the kidneys, thus drawing out excess water and reducing peripheral oedema. Pregnant should rather avoid too much parsley to prevent complications.

– To keep your bodily fluids pumping back to your heart, you need to exercise as many times during the day as possible, even if it is only 5-10 minutes.

– Grapefruit and fennel essential oils help to reduce water retention because they work as natural diuretics and they reduce inflammation. You can use both oils to stimulate blood circulation and relieve swelling associated with peripheral oedema. Mix 4 drops of grapefruit essential oil or fennel oil with one teaspoon of base oil such as coconut oil. Massage the mixture into the area affected with oedema at least two times a day until the swelling has gone down.

– A gentle massage toward heart will improve blood and lymph circulation and reduce oedema.

– To reduce water retention in your legs, elevate both legs whenever possible in order to relieve pressure.

– One of the best natural remedies from God’s pharmacy to treat swelling is activated charcoal. With charcoal you can also effectively treat many health problems including:

Let me share with you a few statements written by Ellen G White in 19^th century about amazing healing properties of charcoal:

“I have ordered the same treatment for others who were suffering great pain, and it has brought relief, and been the means of saving life. My mother had told me that snake bites and the sting of reptiles and poisonous insects could often be rendered harmless by the use of charcoal poultices. When working on the land at Avondale, Australia, the workmen would often bruise their hands and limbs, and this in many cases resulted in such severe inflammation that the worker would have to leave his work for some time. One came to me one day in this condition, with his hand tied in a sling. He was much troubled over the circumstances; for his help was needed in clearing the land. I said to him, “Go to the place where you have been burning the timber, and get me some charcoal from the eucalyptus tree, pulverize it, and I will dress your hand.” This was done, and the next morning he reported that the pain was gone. Soon he was ready to return to his work.” LLM. 366.004

“Brother Palmer’s little son, who is eighteen months old. For several days he has had a painful swelling on the knee, supposed to be from the bite of some poisonous insect. Pulverized charcoal, mixed with flaxseed, was placed upon the swelling, and this poultice gave relief at once. The child had screamed with pain all night, but when this was applied, he slept. Today she has been to see the little one twice. She opened the swelling in two places, and a large amount of yellow matter and blood was discharged freely. The child was relieved of its great suffering. We thank the Lord that we may become intelligent in using the simple things within our reach to alleviate pain, and successfully remove its cause.” PC.015.004 (Paulson Collection of E. G. White Letters)