Many people have swollen feet, and overweight people usually suffer from this disease.
Many people have swollen feet, and overweight people usually suffer from this disease. Most people mistakenly believe that this is a cosmetic problem that occurs due to drinking large amounts of liquid.
If your legs swell, it’s not without reason. Among the most common reasons are heat, tired legs, pregnancy, and the consequences of the habit of crossing your legs.
Legs swell mainly due to muscle insufficiency of the vein walls. This is facilitated by genetic predisposition, poor nutrition, and poor physical activity. Gradually, the vein becomes weaker and begins to cope worse with its job - returning blood to the heart.
The blood begins to stagnate, and the veins gradually stretch, as a result of which the legs swell and characteristic burning pain appears. Therefore, if your legs are swollen, this indicates that there is a problem in your circulatory system - venous insufficiency.
At first, the legs feel as if they are burning, the legs swell and hurt, walking becomes more difficult, the skin looks transparent and blue wreaths appear on the surface.
If venous insufficiency is not treated, it can develop into more serious problems, for example, phlebitis - venous thrombosis. Later complications such as venous eczema and hypodermatitis may appear.
Also, the causes of leg swelling can be flat feet, abnormal metabolism, lymph stagnation, heavy load on the legs and kidney problems.
If the swelling is mainly in the ankles, this is a good reason to consult a doctor, as these may be signs of a serious illness - heart failure. At a young age, swelling of the legs also causes vascular problems. And in older people, edema is most often caused by cardiac diseases.
Varicose veins can be recognized by the characteristic capillaries and wreaths on the legs; if swelling of the legs is accompanied by heaviness, this poses a particular threat to those who have a family history of this disease. It is better not to look for the cause of edema on your own and not to diagnose yourself, but to consult a doctor. It is advisable to consult a therapist, cardiologist and phlebologist.
To prevent swelling and heaviness in your legs, perform a set of exercises regularly.
Also, to combat swelling of the legs, it is worth purchasing special ointments: troxevasin, lyoton, heparin ointment. They contain the substances heparin and rutin, which strengthen the capillary system. Horse chestnut-based ointments are also good.
Review your diet, give up spices and salt. Watch your weight and try to exercise; water aerobics is perfect. Also stop smoking, as it negatively affects the walls of blood vessels, slowing down blood flow.
Swelling is an unpleasant process. They arise suddenly and prevent you from living a full life. Walking becomes an unbearable task, and rest does little to help cope with the swelling. Avoiding unpleasant symptoms, understand the causes of leg swelling.
In the process of normal life and physical activity of a person, an increased load is placed on the legs. Sometimes a healthy body can’t cope. Swelling in the lower legs occurs after certain activities or changes in lifestyle. Common triggers:
There are frequent cases of the development of edema after 60 years of age; this fact is explained by metabolic disorders in old age. The disease occurs suddenly and for a long time prevents a return to the usual rhythm of life.
The lower legs swell due to cardiovascular diseases. The legs swell symmetrically. Localization starts from the ankles and extends up to the hips. When you palpate the affected area, symptoms appear: the legs are cold, soft, and bluish in color. When you press on the swelling, a hole remains.
Edema is associated with heart failure, vascular aneurysm, myocardial infarction and other heart defects. If the swelling does not go away and is accompanied by other symptoms indicating diseases of the cardiovascular system, seek help from a cardiologist.
Edema due to poor circulation differs in characteristic symptoms depending on the disease. Varicose veins affect the lower legs - feet and legs, swelling occurs in the evening. Thrombosis is accompanied by asymmetric swelling of the ankles, pain in the calves, and elevated body temperature. Postthrombophlebitis syndrome leads to the formation of edema in the legs. After sleep, the symptoms subside, and in the evening the swelling appears again.
Increasing swelling of soft tissues is caused by lymphedema - a violation of the outflow of lymph. In addition to swelling of the extremities, the patient complains of weakness and malaise. The outflow of fluid in the lymphatic vessels is disrupted, the limb swells - right or left. The swelling occurs from below, starting from the ankle, gradually rising higher. The next morning the symptoms do not go away and intensify. If such sensations are familiar, seek help from a doctor; self-medication will not relieve swelling.
Often in women, the process of renal filtration of fluid is disrupted, and edema inevitably forms. Fluid in excessive quantities is retained in the soft tissues of the body, affecting the limbs - the bottom of the legs swells. Kidney diseases appear more in the morning and go away on their own in the evening.
If you suspect excessive fluid accumulation due to impaired kidney function, start taking herbal diuretics and drink more fluids. When kidney function is restored, the swelling will subside. For preventive purposes, visit a therapist, then a nephrologist.
Edema in women during pregnancy is rarely pathological if there are no other complaints. The symptom appears after 30 weeks: the bottom of the legs fills with an unpleasant sensation. In the morning after sleep, the swelling subsides, and by evening the legs swell again. Pay attention to any accompanying symptoms. If leg swelling is accompanied by increased weight gain and persists after rest, seek help from a doctor.
The cause of the pathology is the development of gestosis in pregnant women. A dangerous condition for the health of mother and child, edema is accompanied by hypertension, kidney dysfunction and nephropathy. If the doctor suggests hospitalization, do not refuse the necessary precautions.
With age, the body functions more slowly. Metabolism is disrupted, toxins take a long time to be eliminated from the body, provoke excess fluid accumulation in the body, and the lower legs swell. Treatment of the disorder in women and men after 60-65 years of age requires a comprehensive approach under the supervision of a physician.
Understanding and finding the cause of edema is a big step in the treatment process. If you leave symptoms to chance, you will miss a serious illness. Visit your primary care physician. The doctor prescribes the following types of examinations:
After diagnosis, the patient is referred to highly specialized doctors.
External signs of edema are treated during diagnostic procedures. First aid is based on relief of symptoms with the help of local medications. This type of treatment will not get rid of the causes of their appearance, but will improve the condition and reduce swelling. Doctors recommend reviewing your diet and eliminating the consumption of salty foods. By minimizing the amount of salt, its accumulation in tissues is reduced. The lower limbs will stop swelling. Drink enough water. It is recommended for an adult to consume at least 2-2.5 liters of water per day, not counting the consumption of liquid food.
External use of water will help get rid of swelling after a hard day. Swimming or just a contrast shower - choose the method that suits you. Special foot baths using decoctions of medicinal herbs and special oils are acceptable. Alternate the water temperature from warm to cold. Procedures in water dilate blood vessels and thereby reduce swelling. The use of massage with essential oils also helps to cope with the problem. It’s not difficult to do; you can simply knead the swollen tissues little by little.
After receiving the examination results, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment. Complex therapy is more often prescribed. Regardless of the cause of edema, the doctor will recommend following a diet aimed at limiting salt intake. You must strictly follow the instructions. Additionally, it will be recommended to wear special compression garments.
Drug treatment consists of local drugs: anti-inflammatory gels and ointments to eliminate blood clots and strengthen veins. More often, the doctor prescribes diuretics. These are herbal remedies or tablets that speed up the process of fluid filtration by the kidneys. You should not get carried away with such drugs because of the side effects.
Leg swelling is not a new disease. Many people have experienced this trouble and tried to fight it using a number of methods. In folk medicine, attention is paid to the use of medicinal herbs. The following recipes are useful for treating edema:
If your legs are swollen, it is permissible to take diuretics. Medicinal herbs that have a similar effect include: celandine, horsetail, linden, St. John's wort, lemon balm and other medicinal herbs.
In addition to recipes for internal use, there are tips for external use. Baths with chamomile decoction will relieve swelling in the lower legs and improve blood circulation. The use of raw potatoes is recommended - the tubers are grated on a fine grater, after which the pulp is distributed over the area of the swelling. Wrap with polyethylene and cloth for 2 hours. Replace the potato mixture with fresh one if desired, and place it on the bottom of the legs for another 2 hours.
Swelling quickly goes away even when using badyagi. Dilute dry powder or use ready-made ointment. Apply the required amount of product to the swelling and leave overnight. The effect will not be long in coming. You can make bandages as many times as needed.
For healthy feet, follow the simple rules of a healthy person. Proper nutrition will reduce the risk of swelling and prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases. Remember the doctor’s simple advice: exclude salty, fried and smoked foods from your diet - the result will be surprising!
Get treatment for chronic diseases on time. The lower legs often swell due to advanced health conditions. If the swelling is caused by diseases of the internal organs, begin treatment immediately. Take a multivitamin to maintain your well-being. Don't forget about useful physical activity. Walking in fresh air will have a beneficial effect on blood flow in your legs.
For women, it is worth mentioning the dangers of heels. If it is not possible to exclude them from your wardrobe, reduce the time you spend in such shoes to a minimum. Indoors, you can occasionally remove your shoes to give your feet a rest. Avoid prolonged sitting and do not cross your legs, this will bring you closer to the diagnosis of “varicose veins” and open a direct path to permanent swelling.
Most women experience swelling of the legs during pregnancy, especially in the later stages towards the end of the third trimester. In most cases, leg swelling is normal and is no cause for concern. In other cases, when swelling is associated with any disease, be sure to consult your doctor without delay.
Edema during pregnancy affects almost all pregnant women, starting around 22 or 27 weeks. More severe swelling of the legs, as well as the arms and face, may appear by the 35th week of pregnancy.
Swelling of the legs can vary depending on the time of day and season. As a rule, more severe swelling occurs in the evening and in the summer. Swelling also depends on weather conditions: on hotter days it is greater, on cool days it is less pronounced.
For most women, swelling goes away after childbirth within the first two weeks.
Many pregnant women ask the question “Why do my legs swell during pregnancy?” There is nothing criminal about this. Swelling occurs due to an increase in the amount of fluid. About 25 percent of the weight gained during pregnancy is the result of fluid retention. This certainly causes anxiety and discomfort for women, but it is necessary. This accumulated fluid plays an important role during childbirth.
First, the fluid softens the body, allowing it to expand as the baby grows.
Secondly, it helps prepare the pelvic bones and tissues for childbirth.
Usually only the legs swell: legs and feet. In some cases, the face and hands may swell. Normal swelling during pregnancy should build up slowly, not suddenly. Sudden swelling, especially in the face and hands, can be a sign of preeclampsia, a dangerous disease in which blood pressure rises sharply and blood supply is disrupted. Typically, this condition can appear after the 20th week of pregnancy.
In addition, the growing uterus puts pressure on the veins of the pelvis, causing blood to pool in the large vein on the right side of the body, which carries blood from the lower extremities back to the heart. The pressure of the growing uterus slows down this process, resulting in swelling in the legs and feet. The appearance of such swelling of the legs most often occurs in late pregnancy in the third trimester.
Other causes of swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet may be a lack of potassium, consumption of salty foods, canned and smoked foods, and high consumption of caffeine.
As mentioned above, high temperature and humidity can also cause swelling of the legs.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is not dangerous and is normal in most cases, especially in late pregnancy.
However, if your legs, arms, or face become puffy and the swelling does not subside at night, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Severe swelling, as mentioned above, can be a symptom of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia affects kidney function as well as the central nervous system. Symptoms of preeclampsia are a sharp increase in blood pressure, swelling of the legs, arms, face, excessive weight gain (more than 450-500 grams per week), and the presence of protein in the urine.
More severe cases of preeclampsia can cause blurred vision, headaches, irritability, and abdominal pain.
Swelling in just one leg or pain in any part of the leg could be a sign of a blood clot.
The presence of red streaks and spots on the legs may be a sign of infection.
Swollen red feet may be a sign of poor circulation or diabetes.
Other symptoms may indicate heart or kidney failure. In any case, if sudden severe swelling appears, you should immediately consult a doctor.
It is not possible to completely relieve swelling during pregnancy. As you already understand, this is a normal occurrence for every pregnant woman. Of course, if the swelling is not associated with more serious diseases.
It is possible to alleviate the condition caused by swelling of the legs. Here are some tips to help improve swelling and relieve discomfort caused by swelling.
If you have to spend a lot of time standing or sitting, take five-minute breaks every hour to rest. If you have a sedentary job, take a walk. When standing, sit down and it is advisable to place your feet on some elevation to improve blood circulation.
Elevate your legs whenever possible. At work, you can put a special stool under your feet or place a stack of books.
Stretch your legs whenever possible: extend your heel first and gently flex your foot to stretch your shin.
Move your feet in circles and curl your toes.
When sitting, do not cross your legs or place one on top of the other. These positions impair blood circulation in the legs.
Try sleeping on your left side. This position improves kidney function and swelling subsides by morning.
Wear comfortable shoes without high heels, preferably with widening inserts, so that they can stretch as swelling increases towards the end of the day.
Do not wear knee socks or socks with a narrow elastic band.
You can wear special tights, stockings or knee socks with a supportive effect that support the leg muscles.
Drink enough water. It may seem strange, but this helps the body retain less fluid.
If possible, walk and go swimming. There are special water aerobics exercises for pregnant women. If there are such courses in your area, sign up for them. Such water activities help reduce the discomfort caused by swelling.
Avoid eating salty, canned, smoked foods.
Avoid stuffy, humid rooms.
Avoid wearing tight clothes, especially those that are tight around the hips.
Apply cool compresses to tired, swollen feet.
For severe swelling that is not accompanied by any disease, after consultation with your gynecologist, you can drink tea with diuretic herbs, do a light massage of the legs and feet, baths with essential oils or Epsom salts.
Swollen legs are not only an unpleasant appearance, but also an indicator of disturbances in the functioning of the body, and sometimes a sign of a variety of diseases. Swelling of the feet occurs in both women and men. Both young and old people are equally susceptible to it.
Edema is fluid accumulated in the tissues, which for some reason has not been removed from the body. In the normal state, the smallest capillaries absorb completely all the fluid from the intercellular space, after which it continues its path through the veins.
The operation of the capillary network is influenced by many factors:
The slightest changes in the smooth functioning of blood vessels and the chemical composition of the blood lead to stagnation of fluid, and, therefore, the formation of edema.
The cause of edema can be either physiological (that is, temporary and caused by external factors), or pathological - it can be a symptom of a disease.
Among the main pathologies that contribute to the development of swelling of the lower extremities are the following:
In addition to the diseases listed above, swelling of the lower extremities in the feet and ankles can be caused by the following factors:
As we have already found out, the feet swell for various reasons. But their manifestations are usually very similar. The main sign of swelling of the feet is visible marks from the elastic bands of socks on the ankle.
Varicose veins are usually characterized by asymmetrical swelling: they occur on one leg affected by varicose veins, and not both at once, and, as a rule, cause significant discomfort and pain.
Thrombophlebitis is also characterized by swelling of only the affected leg. In addition, pain and burning occurs in the limb, as well as redness of the skin around the problem vein.
Swelling that occurs with heart failure usually appears on both feet. If you press on the swollen surface, noticeable pits remain.
In case of kidney disease, edema is accompanied by a very pale skin color, and swelling accompanying thyroid disease is usually characterized by elasticity and density
It is important to remember that it is impossible to cope with swelling that occurs due to illness on your own, and to solve the problem it is worth visiting a doctor. A home search for the reasons why your feet swell can result in complications and very long treatment.
First of all, you need to contact a specialist and determine the cause of the swelling that has developed. Once the diagnosis is made, it will be clear what to do next.
Since swelling of the legs is an excessive accumulation of fluid, then, in addition to treating the underlying disease (if it turns out that the swelling is pathological), the doctor may prescribe diuretics and/or preparations that help remove it from the body.
It is important to remember that a healthy person does not need to reduce the amount of fluid consumed in order to avoid physiological edema (the norm is on average 1.5-2 liters per day).
Insufficient water consumption can provoke the body to make “reserves” of it, which will only increase swelling and lead to even greater problems.
Attention! If kidney disease and other pathologies are detected, the drinking regime should be discussed with a doctor.
Comfortable shoes will help eliminate foot swelling and prevent its recurrence. Remember, this does not include high heels and excessively flat soles! If possible, try to take off your shoes several times a day and do foot exercises.
Do not overuse salt, salty and smoked foods, prepared foods and fast food. Unsalted food is much healthier for the body.
Remember that when consuming ready-made meals and semi-finished products, a person consumes much more salt than normal, so try to cook for yourself. This way you will know exactly how salty your food is.
If possible, walk barefoot more at home and outside, especially on grass, sand, and small pebbles. This is an excellent stimulation of the circulatory and lymphatic systems of the lower extremities.
You can alleviate the condition of swelling of the feet, as well as prevent their reappearance, with a simple massage, stroking the feet with noticeable pressure in the direction from the toes to the heels and ankles.
Afterwards, if possible, you can lie down for a while on a bed or sofa with your legs thrown up on the wall (or high pillow) - this will help the drainage of excess fluid from the limbs.
Also, a contrast shower, a cool foot bath with salt and simple gymnastics help with swelling:
Treatment of swelling of the legs according to recipes from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH”.
Swelling of the legs - causes - treatment - folk remedies. From a conversation with a doctor
In summer, with the onset of warm days, women often experience swelling of their legs, especially in the evening. What to do, what is the reason, how to relieve swelling of the legs with folk remedies? The head physician of the Moscow Medsi clinic, Zulfiya Guseinovna Guseinova, answers all these questions.
Causes of leg swelling in summer
Leg swelling is closely related to the amount of fluid you drink. In the summer we drink more, so swelling may appear.
Swelling of the legs in women is also directly related to hot weather, because under the influence of the sun their hormonal levels are activated, which causes fluid retention in the woman’s body.
What to do to avoid leg swelling in the heat? It’s not so much to drink less, but to limit foods that can cause increased thirst: If you sharply reduce the flow of fluid into the body, water, on the contrary, will be deposited in the tissues as a reserve, which will cause swelling of the legs.
To avoid excessive thirst, reduce the consumption of salty, spicy, fatty foods, sweets, spices, and give up carbonated drinks.
If swelling of the legs first appeared without the above-mentioned visible reasons, then the causes of the swelling need to be clarified. Examinations required: ultrasound of the kidneys, thyroid gland, examination of the vessels of the lower extremities, ECG. If swelling of the legs occurs in women, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist.
Many people know why their legs swell in their case. The reasons may be the following:
1. Diseases of the cardiovascular system
2. Kidney pathology
3. Varicose veins.
Swelling of the legs from these reasons occurs all the time, and not just in the summer.
What to do if your legs swell. How to relieve swelling of the legs.
Until the diagnosis is clarified, diuretics can be used to treat swelling of the legs. But we must remember that they are quite powerful, and they also increase the excretion of beneficial microelements from the body, especially potassium. The diuretic drug hypothiazide is used once and not more than 12.5 mg.
Nowadays, a diuretic drug, veroshpiron, is used much more often for swelling of the legs. It is classified as potassium-sparing; it is used daily at 25 mg, but not more than 7-8 days.
Diuretics for swelling are best used in accordance with a person’s biological rhythm, which is 5-6 in the morning for the kidneys, and strictly on an empty stomach. But before you grab the pills, use diuretic herbs to treat edema: bearberry, corn silk, lingonberry leaf, ready-made kidney mixture. All these folk remedies can be bought at the pharmacy. Infusions of diuretic herbs can be taken for 1-2 months.
External remedies will also help relieve swelling of the legs: Lyoton 1000 gel and Troxevasin ointment. These remedies are especially good if the cause of swelling is varicose veins of the legs.
What to do if your legs are swollen and painful. Why does swelling occur?
Because swelling compresses not only blood vessels, but also nerve endings, which is why pain appears. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments will help relieve pain from swelling of the legs: diclofenac, ketanol. Apply the ointment to your feet with light movements from bottom to top. If the pain during swelling is very severe, take an anesthetic orally, or better yet, an antispasmodic - papaverine or no-shpu.
In the summer heat, it is useful to take vascular drugs in a course lasting 1-2 months: Detralex, Troxevasin, Trental, Ascorutin.
Recommendations for summer residents. Folk remedies for swelling of the legs.
The reason for swelling of the legs in summer residents is mainly vascular pathology, since women and men in the country spend a lot of time in static, uncomfortable positions. This inhibits the outflow of blood from the blood vessels of the lower extremities. The veins and femoral arteries become compressed. To prevent this from happening, it is better to work while sitting on a low stool.
Every half hour you need to take a short break, stretch your muscles, and walk around the area. Every 2 hours, take a longer break and do leg exercises: rise on your toes, pull your toes towards you, swing your legs, shake your feet. The calf muscles will begin to contract and push the venous blood back into the channel, there will be no stagnation of blood and swelling.
Contrast baths and cool showers for your feet are very useful. When watering your beds, don't forget to water your feet. This promotes a sharp contraction of muscles and blood vessels, excess fluid is removed from the body, which helps relieve swelling of the legs.
Instead of tea, drink a decoction of parsley; it has a mild diuretic effect and many other benefits. It is also very useful to eat fresh cucumbers from the garden; they quench your thirst well and help relieve swelling.
Do not wear socks with tight elastic bands, otherwise your feet will swell greatly in the evening and cramps may occur. And be sure to wear compression stockings for varicose veins. (HLS 2013 No. 11, pp. 12-13)
Swelling of the legs with varicose veins - a compress of heparin ointment
When work in the garden causes your legs to buzz, your legs to swell, or your veins to swell, heparin ointment will help relieve these phenomena. A tube of 25 g is enough for 5 procedures. You need to smear the leg in the sore spot with this ointment, wrap it in plastic, bandage it and put a stocking on top. After this, lie down and rest for 2 hours. At first there may be severe pain, but you have to endure it. One day treat one leg, the second day the other. When the tube runs out, take a break for a week. Then repeat the treatment. (HLS 2005 No. 13 p. 28)
Flaxseed decoction for swollen legs
The woman had severe swelling of her legs. A decoction of flaxseed helped get rid of them. She brewed 4 tbsp. l. flax seeds with 1 liter of water and boiled for 10 minutes. Having wrapped the pan with the broth, I left it for 1 hour. I drank without filtering 100 ml every 2 hours. There were 6-8 doses per day. After 2 weeks, the swelling of the woman’s legs completely disappeared. (HLS 2013 No. 17 p. 30)
Treatment with infusion of parsley and lemon
The woman managed to relieve swelling in her legs using a folk remedy. She minced about 200 g of parsley along with the roots. I poured 1 glass of this mixture into two glasses of boiling water, wrapped it up and let it sit until the morning. In the morning, I strained the infusion and added juice squeezed from one lemon.
I drank the medicine 1/3 cup 2 times a day, morning and evening. After 2 days of taking it, take a 3-day break. Continue treatment of edema with this remedy until it disappears completely. (HLS 2011 No. 10 p. 32)
If your feet are swollen, cucumber will help.
For swelling of the legs, take fresh cucumber juice. Drink 1/3 glass 2-3 times a day. You can't add salt. (HLS 2011 No. 16 p. 31)
Treatment of leg swelling with comfrey
A Healthy Lifestyle reader overheard two women talking at a bus stop about how comfrey helps a lot if your legs are swollen and painful. After that I prepared a healing tincture. I washed and crushed the roots well, filled 1/3 of a liter jar with them, and filled them to the top with vodka. Comfrey must be infused for at least 3 weeks. During this time, the tincture will darken, and the roots will also turn from white to brown.
The result of treating edema with comfrey exceeded all expectations - the swelling subsided, the legs stopped hurting. Previously, the woman could barely walk, but now she walks quickly to the dacha without difficulty. She rubbed the tincture on her legs and feet (HLS 2011 No. 17 p. 9)
Treatment of swelling of the legs with dill seed
The woman read this folk remedy for edema in the Healthy Lifestyle Bulletin.
1 tbsp. l. pour 300 ml of boiling water with a heap of dill seeds. Drink 150 g of infusion in the morning on an empty stomach, drink 150 g in the evening before bed. Course 21 days.
The woman took two courses like this. For the third course, she took only 150 ml of infusion just before bed.
The result is this. She has been diabetic for 11 years. Her legs were like those of an elephant, she could barely walk. After the treatment, the numbness and swelling disappeared, and the veins stopped hurting. He continues to drink dill water to prevent swelling. (HLS 2008 No. 16, p. 31)
The woman's legs began to swell frequently. She stopped eating salty foods and began to drink less, but there were no results. A friend suggested using Kalanchoe tincture to treat swelling; she needed to rub her feet.
To prepare the tincture, mash the leaves into a paste. Fill the jar halfway and fill it to the top with vodka. Leave for 3 days, do not strain. The woman rubbed her legs at night, after a week they became the same size. (HLS 2008 No. 17 p. 30, 2001, No. 1, p. 6)
If your legs are swollen and covered with a blue network of veins, you need to regularly rub them until the swelling and blueness completely disappear with a tincture of fresh Kalanchoe leaves with vodka. !/Fill 4 bottles with leaves scrolled in a meat grinder and fill to the top with 60-70% alcohol. Leave for 2-3 weeks, strain and use (2006 No. 3 p. 3)
Treatment of swelling of the legs with knotweed decoction
After surgery, a woman developed swelling in her legs. It was possible to relieve swelling with the help of a decoction of knotweed. 3 tsp. herbs should be brewed in 0.5 liters of boiling water. After 4 hours, strain and drink 1/4 cup 4 times a day. It is better to drink through a straw to save your teeth. (HLS 2004 No. 17 p. 26)
How to relieve swelling with burdock
The man managed to relieve swelling of his legs with the help of burdock leaves. He applied them with the light side to his shins and wrapped them with an elastic bandage on top. Kept it for 3 hours. After three procedures, the swelling decreased, and after ten, it disappeared completely. And now they have been gone for a whole year. This is how burdock leaves helped. (HLS 2010 No. 17 p. 30)
The woman’s legs began to swell, she tied burdock leaves with the rough side to the skin, and managed to cure her legs in several procedures. (HLS 2009 No. 18 p. 32)
If your leg is swollen, there is pain, lameness, pick burdock and plantain leaves, chop them finely, add black bread, a little salt, grind everything into a paste, add Vishnevsky ointment. Fold this mass into a cloth and tie it to the sore spot. (HLS 2010 No. 1 p. 36)
Ointment for the treatment of swelling
The woman had severe swelling of her legs, long-standing, terrible. A simple ointment helped relieve the swelling. She prepared it like this: she melted a piece of wax the size of a matchbox, added 1 glass of unrefined sunflower oil and half the yolk of a pre-boiled hard-boiled egg.
She smeared this ointment on her leg up to the knee, wrapped it in strips of a torn sheet, then put on a stocking. Conducted 17 sessions. (HLS 2005 No. 24 p. 26)
You can get rid of swelling of the legs by finding out the cause of their appearance. How to remove swelling will depend on this. To relieve swelling of the legs, you must follow the recommendations of your doctor, but in folk medicine there are many ways to get rid of it. If swelling is the result of a disease, then complex therapy is needed. In other cases, the problem can be dealt with using home methods.
Swelling of the legs occurs due to water retention in the tissues. This can happen for various reasons. Sometimes the feet can swell in completely healthy people due to long standing, hot weather, uncomfortable shoes, or excess water consumption. In this case, you can easily relieve leg swelling at home without the use of medications. In other cases, swelling in the legs is a signal of pathological changes in different systems of the body.
To remove swelling in the legs, you need to know the reason for their appearance, then the treatment will be correct and effective. There are many reasons, but the most common are the following:
These diseases and swelling must be treated, as they can provoke serious complications such as venous thrombosis, dermatitis, venous eczema and pulmonary embolism. For treatment, compression hosiery, special exercises, massage, medicine for swelling of the legs and even surgery are used.
In heart failure, the legs swell in the afternoon, and the swelling spreads mainly to the ankles. If this type of edema appears, you should immediately consult a doctor who will help get rid of swelling in the legs with the help of diuretics (veroshpiron) and cardiac glycosides.
A group of rarer causes include:
Leg swelling is the result of the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues and is very easy to identify. To do this, you need to press your finger on the lower part of the leg; if there is a depression that does not immediately level out, you can talk about swelling.
Physical activity is recommended for almost all people suffering from swelling of the legs. The exception is for pregnant women in their final stages. They need more rest, even if their legs swell. In this case, it is better to put your legs higher. The rest are advised to move more (within reasonable limits for everyone) in order to “disperse” the blood and speed up the movement of lymph. All this will help remove excess fluid from the tissues and swelling in the legs.
If the problem is not related to any internal disease, which is the root cause of edema and requires drug treatment, then edema can be relieved with simple exercises. Familiar exercises for swelling of the legs from childhood, such as “bicycle” or “birch tree,” will help everyone well. If a person has a standing or, conversely, sedentary job, then he should periodically “roll” from heel to toe. This will improve blood flow and disperse stagnant fluid.
Many women have learned the hard way that tight shoes and high heels can cause swollen feet. Therefore, if you like wearing such shoes, then a heel of no more than 5 cm will be better for your feet.
There are so-called compression garments (tights, stockings, knee socks) that prevent the stretching of veins, prevent the outflow of fluid from the venous bed into the tissue, and remove swelling. They put it on in the morning, before getting out of bed and at the same time massaging their legs. You can get up only after 15 minutes.
Underwear can be replaced with elastic bandages, which are used to tightly bandage the legs. The effect is the same, but less aesthetically pleasing. For pregnant women, an additional wardrobe item should be a prenatal bandage, which will relieve pain in the lower back and lower extremities.
You can cure leg swelling by changing your lifestyle. For example, by improving your diet. This is effective for various reasons. Proper nutrition will help stabilize your weight, and this in turn will reduce the overall likelihood of edema. After all, it is obese people who are at risk.
A salt-free diet will help fight leg swelling. Salt promotes water retention, and, accordingly, the formation of swelling. Therefore, it is better to reduce its consumption. To make it less “painful”, use seasonings that will improve the taste of dishes even without salt.
You should also adjust the amount of protein consumed. It is not without reason that swelling can appear during fasting. This should not be done if your legs are swollen. A lack of proteins in the body causes the walls of blood vessels to become more permeable to fluid. Therefore, girls who want to lose weight should remember this. Otherwise, as the weight goes away, swelling will come, which can be cured if you eat properly and nutritiously.
People suffering from swollen limbs should also get into the habit of sleeping with their legs elevated above the level of their heart. To do this, you can place a cushion or pillow under your feet. This will promote venous drainage from the lower extremities.
Non-medical means of combating swelling in the legs include massage. Massage for swelling of the legs is best done after contrast baths, along the lymphatic drainage - from bottom to top. Massage should be done with a hard towel from the toes up every day. Massaging the feet can be done more intensely, but when massaging the knees and hips, you need to be gentler. When the skin turns red, you can finish the massage, then spread the skin with vegetable oil or foot cream.
In case of edema, special attention should be paid to the drinking regime. Don’t think that you can avoid the problem by reducing the amount of water you drink to a minimum. If there is not enough water in the body, the viscosity of the blood increases and its flow slows down, which contributes to the appearance of swelling. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the optimal volume of fluid consumed. Both an excess of water and a lack of it have one result - the formation of edema.
Water will help cure swelling, acting not only from the inside, but also from the outside. Swimming has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the lower extremities. Contrast baths, preferably with sea salt, will also help to quickly relieve swelling. You can also make baths with infusions of medicinal herbs: oak bark, willow branches, calendula leaves, rowan, wormwood.
If swelling of the legs is a symptom of a disease of the heart, kidneys, or other organs, then it must be removed with the help of diuretics (diuretics) - furosemide, veroshpiron, hypothiazide. Your doctor should determine which pills to take. Pregnant women and the elderly need to be especially careful with them. They should be taken with caution, as some diuretics can wash potassium out of the body and cause acid-base imbalance in the body. Along with diuretics, you need to include a large amount of potassium-rich foods in your diet.
There are plants that have a pronounced diuretic and can relieve swelling in the legs. Therefore, it is possible to treat the disease with natural diuretics. These include: watermelons, bearberry leaves, flax seeds, parsley, juniper berries and other plants.
If the cause of edema is varicose veins, then they can only be removed with special medications - venotonics (Detralex, Phlebodia, Venarus, Vasoket and others). They strengthen blood vessels and improve microcirculation.
Complex therapy for this disease also includes ointments that help, in particular, reduce swelling. These are drugs based on heparin or horse chestnut. The rutin and heparin they contain strengthen capillaries and relieve swelling. The most commonly used cream for leg swelling is heparin-based: Trombless, Lyoton 1000, Lavenum. But all of them should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.
If these remedies cannot get rid of swelling of the legs, then surgery will most likely be needed.
Traditional healers suggest using a variety of remedies for swelling in the legs that can quickly relieve the patient of this problem at home. Their effectiveness can only be verified in practice. Although some recipes for edema sound quite extravagant. For example, those that use turpentine. And before you rub freshly grated garlic on your swollen legs to relieve swelling, you should also think about it. After all, if there is damage to the skin, then the sensations will be far from pleasant.
The most harmless folk remedy to help get rid of swelling of the legs is to rub them with ice prepared from decoctions of medicinal herbs: horsetail, chamomile, sage and others. Or wrapping with birch leaves. To do this, leaves are poured into canvas bags so that they evenly envelop the swollen legs. Or you can simply treat it with a compress of them.
In folk medicine there are a lot of remedies for swelling of the legs. They can be divided into 3 groups:
Warm foot baths will help cope with swelling caused by fatigue. For their preparation, chamomile flowers, sage, horsetail are suitable, which in the amount of 100 grams should be poured into 1 liter of hot water, boiled for 20 minutes, left for 40 minutes, strained. Dilute the finished product with 4 liters of water.
A bath of black elderberry solution will help when tired legs are swollen and burning. Rubbing your feet with ice will also help relieve fatigue. It is better to make ice from herbal infusions.
Gymnastics will help restore blood circulation in the legs, and it will also strengthen them. Important! You should not warm or rub your feet if you have a disease such as thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.
When pain appears in swollen legs, rubbing with olive oil and salt will help. To prepare this mixture, you need to completely dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in the oil. Lemon juice with vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio has the same property.
For this disease, it is better to use mumiyo. It should be mixed in an amount of 0.3 grams with milk, to which 1/20 of honey should be added, consumed 2 times a day, 25 days. Rest for 10 days and repeat the course.
Warm foot baths prepared from a decoction of oak and willow roots (50 g/10 liters of water) help very well against swelling with varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. When the solution temperature reaches 38 degrees, continue treatment for 30 minutes.
A decoction of flax seeds will help relieve swelling of the legs. To prepare you need 4 tsp. seeds, pour a liter of water, boil for 15 minutes, wait an hour for it to brew in a warm place. To make it more enjoyable, you can add fresh fruit juice. Drink half a glass of hot drink every 2 hours, 8 times a day. The result can be observed after 2 weeks of treatment.
For edema caused by liver disease, when there is poor circulation, the following herbs will help. You need to take spring adonis (20 g), horsetail (30 g), yarrow (30 g), celandine (20 g). Pour 2 tsp. add 200 ml of hot water to this mixture, heat for 15 minutes using a water bath. Cool, strain, squeeze. Add enough boiled water to the resulting amount of infusion to make 200 ml. Drink half a glass half an hour before meals, 2 times a day.
For swelling of the ankle caused by heart disease, an infusion of birch buds will be useful. To do this, you need to pour 100 ml of alcohol (70%) into 20 grams of kidneys. Leave for 3 weeks, squeeze, filter. Pour into a darkened container and place in the refrigerator.
An infusion prepared from fresh birch leaves (50 g), rose hips (25 g), and field steelhead root (25 g) will help relieve swelling of the ankle in case of vascular and heart failure. Add a glass of hot water to 2 tablespoons of the mixture, place in a water bath for 20 minutes, there is no need to heat the water, cool for 40 minutes, and squeeze. Add enough boiled water to the resulting decoction to make 200 ml. Drink 50-70 ml 3 times a day.
Also, for edema, watermelon is a good natural diuretic. It will remove excess fluid and provide it with easily digestible sugars. Daily intake of watermelon = up to 2.5 kg.
If swelling occurs due to kidney disease, grape juice is a very good remedy. You need to start drinking with 100 ml an hour before meals 3 times a day, after 1.5 months a single dose should reach 2 glasses.
Swelling caused by heart disease is well relieved by pumpkin. It removes chloride salts from the body and increases urine production (diuresis) without irritating the kidneys.
A very good diuretic, which in addition strengthens blood vessels and the heart, is cucumber juice. Its daily dose is 100 ml.
One of the most powerful natural diuretics is parsley juice. It is used for kidney diseases and dropsy. This remedy will help quickly relieve swelling from the legs and relieve swelling. Before use, it is better to dilute it with juice from carrots, lettuce, celery or spinach.
Garlic pulp can be used to treat swelling of the legs. To do this, you need to grate the garlic, cool it and spread it on the swelling, rinse it off after 30 minutes.
You can avoid swelling if you follow some recommendations:
Before you begin to fix the problem, you need to determine its origin. After all, swelling can be symptoms of such dangerous diseases as arthritis, diabetes, and hormonal changes. Therefore, it is still better to consult a doctor before trying any treatment methods on yourself. He will conduct an examination. Will reveal the reason for the appearance. If necessary, medications will be prescribed, compression stockings for venous insufficiency or diuretics for heart failure.