Treatment of edema during pregnancy occupies an important place in obstetric practice, since impaired lymph circulation can cause serious disorders in the female body. And this, in turn, can pose a threat to the health of the unborn baby. Only a small percentage of women are able to go through the entire period of gestation without swelling of the arms or legs; for most pregnant women this problem remains relevant.
Swelling during pregnancy can be external and hidden, of the upper and lower extremities, nasal mucosa, eyes or any other location. Treatment will help remove swelling and restore the woman’s well-being without harm to her and the child.
In most cases, if your legs swell during pregnancy, the reason lies in the physiological changes in the female body; but what to do when swelling is a sign of gestosis? After all, late toxicosis poses a threat not only to the mother, but also to the child.
The consequences of such a pathology can be severe, so it is necessary to carefully monitor all changes occurring in the body.
Late toxicosis can lead to the following serious conditions:
You can get rid of edema during pregnancy by correcting your drinking regime, taking diuretics, and taking medications. If swelling occurs, consult a doctor, because it can appear not only due to increased load on the lower extremities, but also indicate the development of pathology in the internal organs.
Edema in women often appears during pregnancy, as soon as the fetus begins to grow rapidly and put pressure on the internal organs of the expectant mother, so it will be quite difficult to get rid of pastiness if you do not know the true cause of this condition. This is why urine and blood tests are performed.
Serious edema during pregnancy is subject to drug therapy, but only a doctor can tell how to treat it. You should not risk your own health and the development of your child by listening to the advice of friends or neighbors who took some pills and eliminated swelling in their feet.
During pregnancy, many medications are prohibited due to their negative effects on the fetus, so before taking any medication, be sure to consult with a gynecologist about its safety.
There are many causes of swelling of the extremities, so the choice of drugs will depend on them.
Initially, doctors recommend starting treatment with herbal remedies.:
To relieve spastic contractions of blood vessels and smooth muscles, pregnant women are recommended to use Magne-B 6 , Drotaverine, and also Eufillin, which is often prescribed not only in the form of tablets, but also by drip. The drug has antispasmodic and diuretic effects, ensures the removal of urine and excess salt accumulation in the body, and reduces the tone of the vascular walls.
When taking Eufillin on an empty stomach, adverse reactions may occur:
Eufillin is contraindicated for people suffering from hypotension, gastric ulcers, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, as well as epileptic seizures.
Medicines should be used only as prescribed by a gynecologist and only in situations where it is impossible to cope with edema without the use of medications.
Developing swelling of the legs in pregnant women causes discomfort and makes it difficult to carry out daily activities, so expectant mothers are often interested in what to do to combat pastosity. When laboratory test data do not exceed the norm and there are no signs of high blood pressure, then swelling can be dealt with using folk remedies.
However, there is no universal recipe that would help remove unpleasant symptoms, because one woman experiences an improvement in her health, while another, on the contrary, does not feel the result of treatment with this method, or even complains of a loss of strength that occurs after taking the folk remedy.
Therefore, it is necessary to use grandma’s methods of combating edema with caution, listen to your body, and if negative consequences appear, immediately stop using the product.
Recipes that can help cope with swelling during pregnancy:
Baths with cool water and sea salt help with swelling of the legs. It relieves fatigue, enhances lymph circulation and relieves congestion in the muscles of the lower extremities.
Nutrition plays an important role in the functioning of the excretory system, because some substances and products are capable of retaining fluid in tissues, while others, on the contrary, have a diuretic effect, which is why water leaves the body faster.
Previously, gynecologists advised women how to get rid of edema during pregnancy - to limit fluid intake as much as possible.
However, many years of practice have confirmed that even if a pregnant woman drinks less than a liter of water per day, the swelling of the limbs will not go away. But kidney function will be disrupted. But we are talking specifically about clean water, which is necessary to maintain metabolism at a high level.
The nutrition of pregnant women is subject to the following principles:
In order to prevent a condition where a pregnant woman’s legs swell, the first thing to do is to create optimal conditions for rest during the day, as well as follow simple doctor’s recommendations regarding preventive measures against the occurrence of signs of gestosis.
Edema is not only an aesthetic problem for women. They can disrupt blood circulation in the lower extremities, which can lead to the appearance of varicose veins.
Follow these simple tips to avoid swelling:
If you adhere to these rules, you may never know what edema is throughout your entire pregnancy. If the measures taken are ineffective, contact your gynecologist.
Edema during pregnancy accompanies a large number of women, so the relevance of the question of how to treat it remains high. Swelling of the extremities may indicate not only fluid retention, but also the development of severe toxicosis in the later stages. Therefore, if lymph stagnation occurs, consult a doctor about this problem to determine the cause of this condition.
Our legs are an indicator that reflects the internal state of the body. The feet bear daily stress. Excessive weight, work that requires you to stand or sit for hours, bad habits. In men, after a long period of time driving, in women, after wearing high-heeled shoes, their feet are at risk. Food, lifestyle, and illness inevitably affect the health of the feet and become the cause of illness.
A common leg disorder known is swelling. The unpleasant sensation is accompanied by heaviness towards the end of the day. Sometimes your feet hurt, turn red and peel. Edema is a symptom of a disease of the internal organs.
Swelling of the legs does not always symbolize illness. The reason is a long flight. Or unexpected long-term standing leads to swelling of the legs. Such lesions disappear without treatment.
If your legs swell for no apparent reason, often accompanied by heaviness and redness, it’s time to visit a doctor and start treatment. Patients consider edema to be an inevitable phenomenon; they come to the appointment when the skin at the site of edema turns blue, the edema becomes hard to the touch or becomes covered with trophic ulcers. There is already a serious complication against which intensive therapy is used. Don’t delay going to the doctor, find out why the swelling appeared. After early diagnosis, the disease can be cured faster if the cause is known.
The causes of edema are varied. Take the sign as a signal from your internal organs. Don't ignore. The main causes of swelling of the legs:
The cause of edema is often a symptom of a disease of the internal organs. Examinations for swelling of the legs:
The attending physician will refer you for diagnosis, do not neglect the study. The sooner you find out the organ that has caused an internal failure, the sooner treatment will be prescribed, and the sooner you will get rid of swelling in your legs.
A number of drugs are aimed at treating edema. Doctors prescribe tablets for swelling of the legs - the drug Furosemide. The medicine belongs to the group of diuretics. Presents granules for suspension, solution for intravenous administration and tablets.
Furosemide is prescribed to relieve edema syndrome. The drug is not new; it has been used for many years to treat edema. Furosemide is a strong drug, a diuretic, and acts quickly. Sometimes swelling needs to be removed quickly - when we are talking about cerebral edema.
It is recommended to take furosemide carefully; the body quickly gets rid of excess fluid that stagnates in the tissues. But along with the fluid, useful salts, calcium and magnesium leave the body. If there is no need to get rid of edema as soon as possible, doctors will recommend taking mild diuretics - hydrochlorothiazide.
Furosemide helps against severe swelling of the legs, reduces the load on the heart against the background of heart failure caused by the expansion of large veins. There is a risk of allergies. Furosemide has a number of contraindications. You should not take the drug for treatment on your own, without a doctor’s prescription.
If diseases of the internal organs have not been diagnosed, there are no allergies, swelling periodically appears after salty food or a long flight, there are known ways to relieve swelling of the legs without taking pills:
Foot health depends on lifestyle. Watch your diet, do not eat highly salty, fatty and sweet foods. Drink more clean water, do not abuse sugar-containing drinks, it is better to drink more green tea in the first half of the day. Watch your weight, if you are prone to obesity, stick to a diet.
Lead an active lifestyle. Walk more in the fresh air during the day, do gymnastics or swimming. Don't let the blood stagnate in your legs, stretch your legs, do squats and self-massage at the end of the day. Wear compression stockings to relieve swelling. If work does not allow you to move a lot, compression hosiery will help support the blood vessels, relieve stress on them, and help against swelling in the legs. Lingerie is available for men and women - choose and apply your own option.
If swelling in the legs begins to appear frequently, do not delay visiting the doctor. In the initial stages of the disease, serious treatment will not be required. The patient is given clear instructions on what medications to take, how often, and measures are named so that swelling of the legs does not bother them.
Edema itself is not a disease, but a symptom of a disease or a manifestation of the physiological state of the body. In case of pathological edema in the legs (see symptoms of pathological edema), one should not treat the swelling of the legs, but rather treat the diseases that caused the edema. However, it is certainly useful to know and learn on your own how to alleviate the condition and relieve swelling in the legs .
Firstly, you need to remember that any medicinal creams, ointments, procedures, drugs for edema are designed to remove accumulated excess fluid naturally (i.e. through the excretory system), by improving blood circulation, lymph circulation, interstitial exchange and stimulating urination. Associated effects: strengthening the walls of blood vessels, pain relief, anti-inflammatory effect.
Non-pathological hydrostatic edema is swelling that appears due to overexertion of the legs or in hot weather in healthy people. Why do my feet swell in the heat?
If you are at home, choose the most suitable way for you to relieve fatigue and swelling from your legs :
If you are at work, try to limit physical activity on your legs, if conditions allow, take a short break to spend some time with your legs elevated, periodically do calf exercises and a light massage.
Wear special compression hosiery (stockings, tights), which puts moderate pressure on soft tissue, helping to retain fluid in the vascular bed.
For pathological edema caused by a particular disease, self-medication is not recommended. A set of measures aimed at treating the underlying disease and eliminating their manifestations should be prescribed by a qualified doctor.
The information here is provided for informational purposes only. When using traditional medicine recipes, it is also advisable to consult with your doctor.
To relieve renal and cardiac edema, one cannot do without taking diuretics and potassium supplements, which compensate for it during excessive urination. The dosage and dosage regimen must be prescribed by a doctor. But you should be aware that in case of renal failure, potassium supplements are contraindicated.
Cardioprotective drugs are prescribed to strengthen the heart muscle, because. its weakness causes heart failure and swelling in the legs.
When dealing with venous edema , the first remedy you should pay attention to is compression garments or bandaging with elastic bandages. This is a good prevention of the development of venous insufficiency; the main thing is to choose the right compression garments and learn how to use them correctly or bandage your shins correctly (without over-tightening).
To strengthen the walls of veins and blood vessels, and therefore to prevent the appearance of edema, phlebotonics drugs (escusan, detralex or analogues) are prescribed. The dosage and dosage regimen must be prescribed by a doctor.
Local venotonic preparations in the form of cream, ointment or gel (troxevasin, lyoton-gel, heparin ointment or analogues) are used locally. The cream and gel for varicose veins contain mainly components such as rutin and heparin.
Local use of venotonics is quite effective, both for swelling in tired legs and for venous pathology, because helps improve blood circulation, strengthen blood vessels , and resolve microthrombi. In addition, they have a cooling and analgesic effect. However, the effect of local drugs lasts for a short time.
To prevent blood stagnation, blood thinners (cardiomagnyl or analogues) are used. When the blood is less viscous, its outflow improves, which prevents stagnation and the appearance of edema.
In hot weather, in order to prevent the body from overheating, the circulatory system begins to function in a special mode, the blood vessels dilate. But dilated veins in the legs cannot fully cope with the outflow of blood, and stagnation of blood in the lower extremities causes swelling in the legs .
In addition, in the heat, sweating increases and salts are excreted in greater quantities. A lack of salts also affects the functioning of the veins, causing swelling in the legs.
Many doctors believe that the appearance of swelling of the lower extremities in the heat is a natural phenomenon that does not require treatment. Such swelling goes away on its own. General recommendations for alleviating the condition are rest, a light massage with venotonics or a compress, and warming up the legs.
Swelling of the legs may be asymmetrical, i.e. swelling on one leg is greater than on the other. This indicates that there are problems with the veins in the leg where the swelling is greater. Pay attention to this and consult a specialist.
Following simple rules will help you avoid discomfort and swelling on your legs in the heat
Traditional medicine offers many recipes for relieving swelling and preventing the occurrence of swelling of the legs: baths from medicinal plants, compresses, decoctions, massage and exercises against swelling in the legs.
When a person first sees swelling in his legs, the first thing he experiences is fear and a desire to get rid of it quickly.
Of course, edema often indicates severe heart or kidney disease, but before you grab medications or folk remedies for edema, you need to find out as accurately as possible why your legs swell, and for this it is wise to consult a doctor, and not rush to the Internet with a request “swelling of the legs, what to do.”
All swelling is divided into several groups depending on the reasons that cause them (see in detail the causes of swelling of the legs). The main approaches to treatment depend on this.
Until the moment when a person manages to get an appointment with a specialist, it is inappropriate to leave swelling unattended. However, this does not mean that you should immediately start taking diuretics, since uncontrolled use of these drugs is fraught with a number of side effects that are not inferior in severity to the edema itself.
But the simplest measures that help reduce or relieve swelling of the legs will not cause harm to health.
This method is good for eliminating edema resulting from venous stagnation or positional edema, when a person spends a long period of time in a forced position with his legs down or stands for a long time. To carry out drainage correctly, you need to raise your leg from heel to hip above the level of the body at an angle of thirty to forty-five degrees. To do this, you can lie down with a rolled-up blanket under your feet (this way, by the way, you can sleep all night without any problems) or sit down with pillows under your feet. Any amount of time, starting from half an hour, spent in this position can reduce swelling of the legs.
Another factor that can help in the fight against swelling in the legs is limiting the liquid you drink during the day (up to two and a half liters, including soup), not drinking at night and reducing salt intake. The fact is that table salt (sodium chloride) contains sodium, which, when retained in the body, draws water into the tissue and provokes swelling. It is enough to start by refusing to add salt to ready-made dishes, and gradually reducing the addition of salt when cooking.
Also, simple physical exercises can help with swelling of the legs:
Self-massage of the feet and legs can also be effective, which should be started from the tips of the fingers, kneading the soles of the feet, and done for 2-5 minutes, alternating stroking, rubbing and kneading. Yoga classes are also very effective, as they help improve blood circulation and massage internal organs, which has a positive effect on metabolism and the general condition of the body.
A lack of magnesium can lead to swelling of the legs, especially during pregnancy. Therefore, taking Magne B6, Magnelis B6, Magnerot, and multivitamins can significantly reduce swelling of the lower extremities. During pregnancy, you should not take magnesium supplements on your own; the dosage and course of treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor.
After a thorough diagnosis of edema has been carried out and its true cause has been identified, the doctor prescribes one or another treatment regimen. The duration of treatment directly depends on the origin of edema:
Such swelling is treated with postural drainage. Cold foot baths may also be effective. To do this, immerse your legs up to your knees in a container of cool water for fifteen to thirty minutes.
This is a more serious situation that requires a systematic approach. Since in this case the cause of swelling of the legs is a violation of renal filtration, the first step is to reduce the load on the kidneys. For this purpose, a diet is prescribed:
Further, depending on the reasons that caused the development of nephrotic syndrome, treatment of the underlying disease is prescribed.
The swelling itself is resolved by prescribing diuretics (furosemide, indapamide). If conservative measures are ineffective, dialysis is prescribed, that is, hardware blood purification, which replaces the natural function of the kidneys.
Cardiac pathologies that lead to swelling of the legs also require complex treatment. Treatment begins with a diet (restriction of water and salt load). You also need to adjust your weight and reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis by balancing vegetable and animal fats in your diet and taking anti-atherosclerotic medications (see statins for lowering cholesterol - vasilip, simvastatin, astorvostatin, rosuvostatin). Smoking, which constricts blood vessels, and alcohol, which has a direct toxic effect on the heart, are contraindicated.
Chronic heart failure is treated using:
Heart defects are subject to surgical correction; in case of weakness of the sinus node, artificial pacemakers are installed, and in case of ischemic disease and after heart attacks, coronary artery bypass grafting is used.
Venous edema is one of the most common types of leg swelling. Their cause may be hidden in varicose veins or vein thrombosis (see thrombophlebitis: symptoms, treatment).
In case of venous insufficiency, the first measures that help eliminate swelling are positional drainage and compression bandaging of the legs. Today, instead of bandages, specialized compression stockings are often used (see compression underwear for varicose veins). Both bandaging and stockings should be applied in the morning, without getting out of bed in a lying position, while the blood has not yet stagnated in the veins against the background of the day's load.
Since venous stagnation can be caused by increased intra-abdominal pressure, you should avoid lifting heavy objects and combat constipation. The diet for vein pathology should not contain spices, pepper, it is advisable to give up alcohol and smoking (see treatment of varicose veins at home).
Recommended medications include:
Lymphatic edema (lymphedema) is the result of impaired drainage through the lymph vessels. They accompany congenital anomalies or blockage of lymphatic vessels, malignant tumors. In this case, as a rule, one leg swells.
Contraindications to physical therapy are acute infectious and skin processes, tumors, and blood diseases. There are also surgical techniques for restoring lymphatic drainage pathways by creating anastomoses between the lymphatic and venous systems.
The legs of a pregnant woman bear a double load, so all the conditions are created for venous stagnation. The situation is aggravated by compression of the inferior vena cava by the pregnant uterus, as well as difficult ventilation of the lungs and increased demands on the heart. Therefore, often in healthy pregnant women, after a whole day, especially if it is spent on feet shod in narrow shoes, the feet or ankles of the feet swell. It is usually enough to lie down for a while with a blanket under your feet to let the swelling go down.
The situation becomes more serious when swelling in a pregnant woman is the result of gestosis or nephropathy (see gestosis during pregnancy). These situations require observation by a doctor and timely medication correction. Often such women are offered hospitalization in an obstetric hospital, which should not be neglected in order to maintain the pregnancy. After all, if a future mother’s legs swell, what to do should be decided by a competent doctor, who will be responsible for the baby’s health.
Diuretics, also called diuretics, are a group of medications that facilitate the removal of fluid from tissues and increase urine output. When treating swelling of the legs, these remedies are very important. They are divided into several classes depending on their chemical structure and on which part of the kidney they act more actively (see also folk diuretics).
The basis of the kidney is the nephron, which contains the vascular glomerulus, its capsule and a system of afferent and efferent tubules connected by a loop. The efferent tubule passes into the collecting duct, which flows into the renal pelvis. The glomerulus filters blood plasma and turns it into primary urine. Along the tubules, some of the water, as well as sodium, potassium and chloride ions, are partially reabsorbed.
Different classes of diuretics are preferred for different causes of leg swelling.
The best products for swelling:
With edema, excess fluid accumulates in the soft tissues of the body. At first glance, this may not seem dangerous, but the regular occurrence of edema may indicate pathologies associated with the functioning of the heart and kidneys, and cirrhosis of the liver. Swelling also often occurs in pregnant women. If you do not encounter this problem very often, for example, after being in one position for a long time (sitting or standing), then most likely it is not associated with the development of any disease. When it comes to treatment at home, it is important to determine what exactly causes the fluid accumulation. To do this, it is better to consult a specialist, because if swelling is a consequence of a dangerous disease, then it is not them that need to be treated, but the cause that provoked its occurrence.
For swelling of the legs, alternately dousing the legs with cold and warm water, baths with added sea salt, and massage will help. Get into the habit of placing something under your feet while resting so that they are positioned a little higher.
There are many folk recipes based on herbs. During pregnancy, it is recommended to limit fluid intake, avoid tight shoes and clothing, and take diuretics. It is also recommended to avoid excessive activity and get plenty of rest.
Cranberry and lingonberry juice is a well-known and long-proven remedy for swelling. Thanks to the huge amount of beneficial substances contained in these berries, they are considered an almost miraculous remedy; they can be used even during pregnancy.
For example, you can buy ready-made lingonberry or cranberry juice. It tastes very sour, so it is much more pleasant to dilute it with water; some people add a little sugar to it - this does not affect the effectiveness. The juice should be drunk half an hour before meals, 2 tablespoons.
You can prepare a healthy drink yourself. In order to cook fruit juice, you will need to add a liter of water to a glass of berries and bring to a boil over low heat. If desired, you can add sugar to the fruit drink and let it sit under a closed lid for 2 hours. This recipe is also relevant for frozen berries, only you will need a little more of them - one and a half glasses.
You can also grind cranberries or lingonberries in a blender, pour boiling water over them and leave in a thermos overnight. In the morning you can treat yourself to a delicious compote with miracle berries.
Not only berries, but even lingonberry leaves have beneficial properties. To prepare a decoction of lingonberry leaves (you can buy it at the pharmacy), brew 1 teaspoon of the herb in a glass of boiling water.
There are also a number of contraindications to eating cranberries and lingonberries. Lingonberries are not recommended for people suffering from low blood pressure, as well as urolithiasis and pathologies associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Eating cranberries should be avoided by those who have suffered from liver disease, gastritis, and stomach ulcers. There is also a tonic effect of drinks made from these berries, which can be dangerous if there is uterine tone during pregnancy.
You can also use those plants that grow in your area for swelling. Parsley and dill are the most effective remedies that gardeners always have on hand.
Parsley infusion. To prepare an infusion of parsley, you need to take the root and greens of the plant, grind them in a meat grinder and pour boiling water over it. The recommended proportion is 1:2. Then the drink is left in a warm place for 8-10 hours to infuse. After which it is filtered and the juice of one lemon is added. The resulting infusion is taken three times a day before meals, a third of a glass. Duration of use is 3-5 days. You should not drink an infusion of lemon juice on an empty stomach, as this can negatively affect the gastric mucosa. The infusion can be used not only internally, but also in the form of lotions.
Parsley decoction. To prepare the decoction, take 800 grams of leaves, which must first be washed and then doused with boiling water. After the water has drained, the leaves are finely chopped and placed in a saucepan, poured with milk. The milk should completely cover the greens. Then the pan is placed in a not very hot oven so that the milk is melted but not boiled away. The finished product must be filtered and taken at intervals of 1-2 tablespoons every hour. This recipe is recommended even in cases where medications have not helped.
Parsley juice can be mixed with milk and kept in a hot oven for a while. This drink is consumed several times a day, one teaspoon at a time.
Parsley is contraindicated for pregnant women, as it causes severe contractions of the uterus. Contraindications include breastfeeding and age under two years. Parsley should also not be used by people who have nephritis.
Dill is another spice whose diuretic effect will help solve the problem of excess fluid accumulation in the body. It is usually not contraindicated for pregnant women. However, you need to remember that it stimulates muscle activity, which means it can lead to increased tone of the uterus. Therefore, those women whom the doctor tells about the probable threat of miscarriage should avoid taking the spice, but all others should not be overzealous.
The main contraindication to taking medicinal drinks that contain dill is low blood pressure. People suffering from hypotension may experience weakness and loss of strength.
To prepare a diuretic infusion, you will need to pour dill seeds (take 1 tablespoon of dry or 2 tablespoons of fresh seeds) with 1/2 liter of boiling water. It should be infused for an hour, and taken three times a day, a third of a glass, 25-30 minutes before meals.
You can also brew dill in a thermos. 1 tablespoon of seeds is poured into 300 ml of boiling water and infused. It is recommended to take 150 ml of this infusion for 3 weeks in the morning and evening. Then you should take a short break (3 days) and repeat the course.
For swelling of the eyelids, lotions will help. To prepare a decoction for them, in addition to dill, you need to take mint. Mix a teaspoon of dill seeds with a tablespoon of finely chopped mint leaves, add a glass of water and boil for 10 minutes. After the broth has cooled, it is necessary to strain it and apply cotton pads soaked in it to the eyes, leaving for 5-10 minutes.
Rosehip is another plant known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It also helps with swelling. However, there is a fairly wide list of contraindications that you should familiarize yourself with before preparing a decoction from it. These include: stomach ulcers and gastritis, high acidity, damage to tooth enamel, heart disease and deviations from normal blood pressure, pathologies of the gallbladder and liver, a tendency to constipation and blood clots.
In order to prepare a truly healthy drink, you cannot boil the fruits. The optimal cooking method is to pour the berries into already boiling water and remove the container from the heat, closing the lid. The drink should infuse for about 3 hours.
To prepare the infusion, use: 1 tablespoon of fruit, pour 250 ml of boiling water, preferably leave for 6-8 hours in a thermos. Take half a glass of rosehip infusion before meals three times a day. If the taste seems too sour, you can add a little sugar or honey to the drink.
It is also possible to mix rose hips with other medicinal plants. For example, you can take equal quantities of rose hips, viburnum and hawthorn, calendula and linden flowers, blueberry, birch and plantain leaves. All ingredients must be crushed and mixed, and then take 2 tablespoons of the resulting mixture and pour boiling water (1/2 liter), leaving to infuse overnight. Take 3-4 times a day, a quarter glass, for 2-3 months.
In order to prepare a decoction of flaxseed, you will need 4 teaspoons of seeds and a liter of water. Boil the broth for 15 minutes, and then leave for about an hour in a warm place. Take it half a glass every 2 hours for 2 weeks. Thanks to this decoction, swelling can be removed not only on the legs, but also on the face. The taste of the drink is neutral, but the consistency can be confusing. The resulting product is similar to mucus; if taking it causes you negative feelings, it can be mixed with juice.
Flax seeds also have a laxative effect, so they should not be taken if inflammatory processes develop in the intestines. Women need to be especially careful when taking them. Flaxseed is contraindicated for women with endometritis, polycystic disease, and uterine fibroids. In addition, it is recommended to refrain from taking this drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As for men, those representatives of the stronger sex who are predisposed to prostate cancer should not take flax seed, since the seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid.
For edema caused by heart disease, you can prepare the following infusion. Mix 10 parts of rose hips with an equal amount of oat spikelets, flaxseed (5 parts) and chicory root (5 parts). All ingredients must be ground in a coffee grinder. 1 tablespoon of this mixture is poured into 250 ml of boiling water and left in a warm place (it is better to use a thermos) for 6 hours. After this time, the infusion should be filtered and consumed a third of a glass three times a day half an hour before meals.
In any case, the daily intake of flaxseed should not exceed 2 tablespoons.
Another remedy that avid gardeners always have on hand is cabbage. Moreover, for edema, it is recommended to use it even in fermented form.
If your legs are very swollen, then before going to bed you can take a special bath with warm water to which a decoction of seaweed is added. To prepare the decoction, pour 2 tablespoons of cabbage into a glass of hot water and leave to steep for 2 hours.
Also, to get rid of swelling, compresses with cabbage leaves are used. A leaf of ordinary white cabbage should be immersed in boiling water for a few minutes until it becomes soft. Then you can iron it with a hot iron. Instead, you can soak the leaf in olive oil for 1 hour. Just before applying the cabbage leaf to your leg, it is recommended to squeeze a little lemon juice on it or lightly sprinkle it with baking soda. It will help even without preliminary preparation - it can be applied to the desired area simply by making a few cuts. A cabbage leaf coated with honey will help even better.
This compress can be made before bed and left until the morning, securing the sheet with a bandage or gauze. In the same way, you can use not a whole leaf, but only its thick veins, after rolling them out with a rolling pin. Cabbage leaf can be used to eliminate swelling not only on the legs, but also on the face. In this case, it will be more convenient to grind the leaf into a pulp and apply it in this form.
Cabbage juice can also be used to remove fluid from the body.
Lemon contains ascorbic acid, which helps fight swelling.
For swelling on the face, you can wipe the skin with lemon. If the swelling is very strong, then it is recommended to cut the lemon into circles and cover your face with them, leaving for 10-15 minutes. This should be done only on cleansed skin, removing all remnants of cream or decorative cosmetics.
Of course, lemon can be taken orally. This should be done with extreme caution in case of ulcers and gastritis, diseases of the pancreas and high blood pressure. Pregnant women can also use it, however, in moderation. Not very sweet tea with lemon will help.
To prepare a remedy for eliminating swelling, you need to take the zest of one lemon, dry it and grind it into powder. It should be taken half a teaspoon 30 minutes before meals three times a day, washed down with water and honey.
Lemon juice can be mixed with the juices of other vegetables. Mix half a glass of carrot juice with the same amount of cucumber juice and add the juice of 1 lemon. The prepared drink must be drunk in three doses a day, diluted with warm water in a 1:1 ratio.
There is another recipe: mix 1 glass of viburnum and rowan juice with the juice of one lemon (half a glass), add 100 grams of honey and 3 tablespoons of phytolysin (this is an extract of several plants that can be purchased at the pharmacy). The resulting drink is taken one tablespoon after meals three times a day. Please note that the prepared product should only be stored in the refrigerator, and the shelf life should not exceed 2 days.
You can simply eat lemon, but always with the peel.
An ancient Chinese recipe has been preserved that will help remove swelling. According to it, you need to mix three lemons (without peeling them) with horseradish (125 grams) minced through a meat grinder. The resulting product is used for 2-3 weeks twice a day - morning and evening, 15 minutes before meals, a teaspoon.
Lemon infusion will also help. You need to chop half a lemon and 2 tablespoons of nettle root, add 2 tablespoons of oats (not flakes, but grains), add 1.2 liters of water and bring to a boil. After this, reduce the heat and cook for 20 minutes. You should drink the resulting decoction throughout the day instead of water.
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Pumpkin is another way to get rid of puffiness. It should be noted that pumpkin porridge or any other method of heat treatment of vegetables will reduce its effectiveness to nothing. It is necessary to consume raw pumpkin pulp or juice.
Pumpkin has a very high diuretic effect, but, at the same time, does not irritate the kidney parenchyma. In addition, it helps remove salts from the body.
You should drink half a glass of pumpkin juice per day. You should drink it 1 tablespoon throughout the day.
You can make porridge from raw pumpkin. To do this, you will need to grind 1 kg of vegetable in a meat grinder along with 3 sour apples and add a glass of raisins. The resulting mixture must be stirred and stored in the refrigerator. Take a few tablespoons of it before each meal. People who suffer from edema caused by cardiac pathologies should pay special attention to pumpkin, as it contains iron, potassium, magnesium, which are essential for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. The vitamin E content helps improve blood circulation, having a positive effect on the condition of people with heart failure.
The use of pumpkin juice has virtually no contraindications. Only people who are allergic to carotenes will have to avoid consuming it. It should not be used for acute stomach disorders.
Making pumpkin juice yourself is very simple - just peel the vegetable, removing the peel and seeds. Preparing juice in a food processor will take a matter of seconds, and if you don’t have one, you can grate the pumpkin and squeeze the pulp through cheesecloth. To make the drink tastier, add sugar, honey or lemon.
Cucumbers have a strong diuretic effect, so their regular use will reduce the risk of developing edema and help fight existing ones. Due to their potassium content, cucumbers have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland, heart and vascular condition. Cucumbers owe their diuretic properties to their high potassium content. Cucumber juice helps cleanse the body and prevents salt deposition.
To prepare a decoction of cucumbers, finely chop 100 grams of vegetables, to which add 200 ml of boiling water. The drink is prepared over low heat for 5 minutes. You need to take it half a glass half an hour before meals 3-4 times a day.
For swelling on the face, you can use the old proven method - add cucumber slices or grate the vegetable on a fine grater and make a paste from it. A mask with cucumber, aloe, almond oil and starch will also help relieve puffiness under the eyes. First you need to mix 1 tablespoon of aloe juice, 2 teaspoons of cucumber juice and half a teaspoon of almond oil. Starch is gradually added to this mixture until the mass thickens to a cream. This mask must be kept on the skin for 10-15 minutes, after which the face is rinsed with cool water.
For pregnant women suffering from edema, cucumber juice is a real panacea. As for the consumed amount of juice of this vegetable, you can take up to 1 liter per day, but you should not take more than 100 ml at one time.
Like any product, even a seemingly harmless cucumber has certain contraindications. Those who suffer from nephritis, kidney failure, and kidney diseases should avoid this vegetable. Those who have gastritis, enterocolitis, or exacerbation of ulcers should treat the product with caution.
Another drink that contains cucumber is Sassi water. Along with the diuretic effect, it helps eliminate bloating and accelerates metabolic processes. To prepare this drink, you will need: the juice of one lemon (or the whole lemon), one cucumber, 10 mint leaves, a teaspoon of grated ginger and two liters of water. It is recommended to cut off the skin of the cucumber, as harmful substances accumulate in it. Lemon, on the contrary, is best used with the peel containing essential oils that are beneficial for the body. Cucumber and lemon are cut into slices, grated ginger and chopped mint are added. The drink should infuse in a glass container in the refrigerator for at least 10 hours. All prepared water must be drunk within 24 hours; it should not be stored longer.
Dairy products significantly reduce the risk of swelling: kefir, milk, yogurt and cottage cheese. A cottage cheese-apple fasting day is the first recommendation of a specialist when edema occurs in pregnant women, but this method is suitable for everyone. You should consume 300-400 grams of cottage cheese per day, alternating it with apples (600-800 grams). In case of severe swelling, this diet must be followed for 5 days. If it is difficult to maintain such a diet, then you can make a casserole from the same amount of cottage cheese.
Apples help with swelling not only raw, but also baked. The benefits of these fruits are obvious: they are good for those who suffer from gastritis, urolithiasis, vascular problems, these fruits normalize cholesterol levels (Antonovka is recommended), and have a laxative effect.
You should eat apples on an empty stomach, regardless of whether you eat them raw or baked.
For people prone to edema, nutrition plays a special role. The body must receive proteins in the required quantities; eggs, sour cream, milk, fish, and cheese must be included in the diet. Also on the table there should be foods containing potassium, since it is its lack that often provokes the appearance of edema. These include: apricot, orange and tangerine juice, rice, parsley. Melon and watermelon (as well as cucumbers ) contain a lot of liquid and potassium, so they are recommended products for getting rid of swelling. Juices in general have a diuretic effect; the greatest benefits will come from freshly squeezed juices of beets, celery, pumpkin, apples and carrots. Drink juices in small sips, slowly, holding them in the mouth for a few seconds. It is also useful to drink herbal infusions. Among herbal drinks, green tea, lemon balm tea, decoction of caraway seeds, and hawthorn have proven themselves well. You can drink regular black tea, diluting it with milk or water with lemon juice.
Many people know that salt retains water in the body, but not everyone is ready to completely eliminate it from the diet. It will be enough to reduce its consumption to 1-1.5 grams per day. It should be borne in mind that salt is contained in many foods, even in bread its content is quite high. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid a variety of sausages, sausages, meat and fish in canned form. Everything fatty, salty, and spicy should disappear from the refrigerator. If it is very difficult to do without salt, add a little lemon juice to your food. Along with this, you will have to give up fatty desserts, cream and mayonnaise, and alcoholic beverages. Sugar, honey and syrups should also be kept to a minimum. In addition, you should avoid nuts, caviar, sauces and fatty cheeses, and any products that have preservatives added.
When self-treating and using diuretics, you must remember that there is a possibility of dehydration, as well as a malfunction of the water-salt balance.
For edema due to diabetes, heart disease, and excess weight, an oat diet is recommended. Oatmeal is cooked without adding oil or salt. A person should eat about 500 grams of this porridge per day. You can drink herbal teas and decoctions throughout the day.
The best options for a decongestant diet would be curd and rice days.
Experts often recommend a kefir diet. You are allowed to drink 1.5 liters of fermented milk drink per day. Kefir should be chosen with a minimum percentage of fat content. One fruit or vegetable will help to diversify your kefir day a little.
It is also recommended to arrange a fish fasting day. Of course, you should choose low-fat fish. For 5 meals there are 500 grams of boiled fish. As a side dish, you can steam vegetables or eat them raw.
If kidney and heart function are impaired, a rice diet can be used. It involves 100 grams of boiled rice per day, which must be distributed over several meals. You should wash down the rice with dried fruit compote (apples, prunes, pears are suitable) in the amount of 6 glasses per day.
Many people cannot imagine their life without meat. Therefore, a meat diet is perfect for them. You can eat 400 grams of boiled beef per day. Do not add salt or seasonings during cooking. Boiled beets or carrots will go well with this meat.
There is a suitable diet for those who love to eat. You can eat 500 grams of various dried fruits per day: apricots, raisins, dried apricots, prunes. The entire volume should be divided into 5 meals. You can drink compote from the same dried fruits, weak tea or warm water.
The best products for those looking for a way to get rid of swelling are chard, green tea, and parsley. Chard (chard) contains a huge amount of potassium, which counters the sodium that retains liquid. Green tea contains caffeine, which has a diuretic effect. Parsley contains substances that retain potassium in the body.
Of course, it’s not easy to stay on one diet for a long time, but it’s not necessary. You can alternate the listed options, thereby not getting depressed from having to limit yourself to the same product.
In fact, it is not difficult to note that all of these tips coincide with the basics of proper nutrition. Therefore, we can conclude that people who lead an active lifestyle and adhere to a proper diet are much less likely to experience edema. Another logical conclusion is that if you have coped with excess fluid accumulation in the body with the help of a diet, you should continue to eat, observing these simple truths. Therefore, these tips will not do any harm. However, I would like to note once again that radically changing your diet in case of serious illness or pregnancy without consulting a doctor is, to say the least, unwise.
Author of the article: Nina Vladimirovna Sokolova, naturopathic doctor, herbalist