Edema

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Other names for Edema

Dropsy (archaic)
Fluid retention
Hydrops
Swelling

Synopsis of Edema

Edema is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues, leading to noticeable swelling, most commonly in the feet, ankles, legs, hands, or face. It can be localized or generalized, and may occur suddenly or develop gradually depending on the underlying cause. Edema is not a disease itself but a symptom of various medical conditions or physiological processes.

Common causes include:

  • Venous insufficiency (poor blood return from the legs)

  • Congestive heart failure

  • Kidney disease

  • Liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis)

  • Injury or inflammation (e.g., from sprains or infections)

  • Allergic reactions

  • Pregnancy

  • Medication side effects (especially calcium channel blockers, NSAIDs, or corticosteroids)

  • High salt intake or standing/sitting for prolonged periods

Edema occurs when the balance of forces that control fluid exchange between blood vessels and surrounding tissues becomes disrupted. This can result from increased capillary pressure, reduced plasma protein levels, lymphatic obstruction, or increased capillary permeability.

Mild edema may be harmless and temporary, while persistent or widespread swelling could be a sign of serious illness and should be medically evaluated.

When to see a doctor:
Seek medical attention if swelling is severe, persistent, painful, associated with shortness of breath or chest pain, or occurs suddenly without an obvious cause.

Natural remedies for Edema

Elevation: Raising swollen limbs above heart level helps reduce fluid accumulation.

Compression Garments: Support socks or sleeves improve circulation and limit swelling.

Reduce Sodium Intake: Excess salt promotes water retention; limit processed foods and salty snacks.

Stay Active: Gentle movement and walking stimulate lymphatic and venous return.

Hydration: Drinking enough water helps balance fluid levels and supports kidney function.

Massage: Light lymphatic drainage massage can help shift excess fluid.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Edema

Abrus
Abuta
Achyranthes
Actaea spicata
Adzuki bean
Aerva lanata
Aescin
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
Akebia
Albizia
Albumin
Alisma
Allium tuberosum
alpinia galangal
amber
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Angelica
anthocyanins
apricot
Aralia
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
arjun tree
arjunic acid
Asam gelugor
asparagus
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
Baliospermum
bamboo
banana
banyan
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bearberry
Bergenia
berry
betony
big quaking grass
bilberry
bindweed
bioflavonoids
birch
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
Black Hellebore
blackthorn
Blepharis
blue flag
Boerhavia diffusa
bogbean
Bombax
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellic Acid
bottle gourd
bromelain
buchu
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butcher's broom
bасора
cabbage
cabbage leaf
cactus
calamus
Calotropis gigantea
Carthamus
Casearia esculenta
celery
Celosia
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chanca piedra
chen pi
chervil
chestnut
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chlorophytum
cinquefoil
citrus bioflavonoids
cleavers
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Collinsonia
commiphora
coriander
corktree
cornsilk
couch grass
cowslip
cucumber
Cucurbita
curcumen
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Cynomorium
dandelion
danshen
deer root
dioscorea
Diosmin
Dipsacus
dodder
Echinodorus
empresstree
enzyme blend
enzymes blend (proprietary)
Erythropalum scandens
escin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European five-finger grass
fang-feng
fernbush
Ficus simplicissima
fish protein
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavoglycosides
flavonoids
flavonols
flavonones
Flueggea suffruticosa
forsythia
four-leaved grass
fu ling
fungus
Gallesia
Gentiana macrophylla
Glechoma hederacea
Glycoside
golden shower tree
goldenrod
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
Guazuma ulmifolia
hawthorn
Heartsease
heather
Hedyotis
Hellebore
Hemidesmus
Hempnettle
hesperidin
Homalomena
horse chestnut
Horsemint
horsetail
hyacinth bean
Hyaluronidase
hydrangea
Hygrophila
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian kinotree
Indian sarsparilla
Japanese sophora
joe-pye
jujube
jungli-bean
juniper berries
knotgrass
Large-leaved linden
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Ligustrazin
Lilium polyphyllum
linden
Lindera
little ironweed
lodhtree
lophatherum leaf
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
luffa
Lysimachia
Manchurian thorn
maple
marigold
Meadowsweet
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microcos
Microtea debilis
Morinda
Moringa
mustard seed
Nardostachys
Nettle
Night jessamine
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
onion
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
Osthole
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
Palo Azul
Pansit-pansitan
papain
parsley
peach
pear
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Peptidase
Persimmon
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
Physalis angulata
Pimpinella
pine bark
pineapple
Plantago
Pluchea
Polygonatum
Polygonum
poplar
potassium
prickly ash
proanthocyanidins
procyanidol
protease
proteolytic enzymes
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pycnogenol
Pyrola
Pyrrosia
Qin Jiao
queen of the meadow
quercetin
rhubarb
rockweed
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Rumex acetosa
Ruscogenins
Ruscus
rutin
Rutosides
Sanguisorba
saponins
Sargassum
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
Scabrous Gentian
Scoparia dulcis
Scotch Broom
scrophularia root
seaweed
Self-Heal
Serrapeptase
serratiopeptidase
Servicetree
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
sheep's sorrel
shepherd's purse
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
siler root
silk tree
Silkmoth
Smartweed
solomon's seal
Southern Tsangshu
Spanish Needle
Spatholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Speedwell
Spiraea
Stone Root
Sumac
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
Swertia
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tamarind
Taraxacin
Taraxacum
Tayuya
Tea
Terminalia
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Tree of heaven
Triphala
Troxerutin
Trypsin
turmeric
Viola
Waterhyssop
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
White Heather
White oak
White Poplar
Winter Begonia
Wulinshen
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yellow Dock
Yellow root
Yerba buena
Yin Chen
Yuzu
Zedoary
Zingiberene
Zucchini

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