Apple Juice and Olive Oil
★★★★★
Asparagus or Vtamin B6
★★★★★
Avoid Nitrates
★★★★★
(Minnesota)
09/19/2014
Thanks for the follow up!! Good job!!
(Memphis)
05/11/2016
★★★★★
(Vancouver, British Columbia)
09/07/2017
★★★★★
Thanks so much for your post Janet! OMG, what was I thinking? Bacon and pepperoni sticks have now been banished. It will give me a good excuse to order waffles with strawberries and whipped cream next time I'm out for breakfast. he, he.
(Nc)
07/13/2020
For what it's worth, nitrates also occur 'naturally' in many foods. I put 'naturally' in quotes because the source is often chemical fertilizer which causes the nitrate levels to be unnaturally high. Celery is a prime example. You'll notice that instead of sodium nitrite they are now often putting celery juice in processed 'uncured' meats. That is because celery juice is high in nitrates, and then bacteria in the mix converts the nitrate to nitrite, and there you have the preservative created naturally - but it is nitrate and nitrite nonetheless.
So, if you are avoiding nitrates (as my wife tries to do) you might want to research which foods are likely to contain high nitrate levels (celery, watermelon, and others). The difficult part is that it often depends on how they were fertilized, so the numbers usually cover a wide range.
(Seattle)
06/15/2021
With all due respect to Janet, nitrates don't cause edema or swelling. In fact, they're used to TREAT those conditions.
I suspect that the reason her swelling diminished was because the foods she mentions --deli meats, cold cuts, ham, bacon, hotdogs -- are all EXTREMELY high in sodium. Cutting out those salty foods, if you could call them 'foods', will definitely help reduce edema and swelling.
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
Also a lady mentioned going grey, well try taking tablespoon black strap molasses 3 or 4 times daily with hot water & milk is what I do it cured my nose bleed years ago and now it is curing my edema in my feet ankles & leg and my hair. I noticed more blond as it used to be and I read people with gray hair getting black hair again. I also use Alovera gel in my hair.
Blackstrap Molasses
★☆☆☆☆
I'm a Man. 66 yrs now. I'm in Philippines and so not the same is always available here. I have been a black strap molasses user for about oh 7 yrs and for a daily nose bleeding problem which it cureed very well. by a tblspn a day with a mug of hot water, sometimes I add milk.
But I've had a swelling edema problem in my feet & ankles & legs for 5 yrs already & have worn compression socks which I hate and they don't solve the problem anyways. I have upped my molasses intake to at least 3 tblspns daily for aprox a wk now and don't see the results I hear people write about yet I'm very hopeful. With this The molasses does not say black strap though, Is that a problem?
(Us)
05/13/2014
Yes, it must be natural blackstrap molasses, which has many more nutrients that have been lost in filtering to get refined molasses.
Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
(Iowa, US)
12/24/2014
I have seen this molasses post in a few places elsewhere. And always without evidence. I seriously doubt consuming SUGAR would resolve edema. if anything it would make it far worse.
(Tulsa)
02/10/2015
It's not the sugar that is a concern. Blackstrap molasses has a very low glycemic index and has many minerals needed by the body. Without proper minerals the body is unable to properly assimilate vitamins. it's Also a good source of calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamin b6. It's an excellent alternative for use as a natural sweetener.
(Thomasville, Ga)
05/25/2015
Should only use unsulphured blackstrap molasses which is the third boiling of cane sugar with magnesium, potassium and other minerals.
(Charlotte, Nc)
08/09/2015
★★★★★
I have tried the Black Strap Molasses remedy and with less than a week, my edema in my ankles and lower leg have gone away!!! One TBS in the am and in the pm.
(Florida)
07/19/2017
UNSULPHURED BLACK STRAP MOLASSES isn't good as a sweetener. When I was 19 I took 1 T. in hot water w/ milk for a month. My blood count went from 8 to 13 in a month!!! Lots of minerals
EDEMA: It may help edema since it helps your blood & perhaps circulation. GET OFF SALT & SUGAR, KIDNEYS DON'T LIKE THEM!
I have been adding blackstrap molasses to my coffee for months now. I like the taste. Will increase to twice a day to see if it makes my ankles go down.
(Vancouver, British Columbia)
11/07/2017
According to Dr. Berg, a potassium deficiency can be the cause of edema for some. Blackstrap molasses is high in potassium so that could be the reason it worked for you. We are all a little different and what works for one may not work for all. For this reason it is wise to try different cures and hopefully we will find something that works.
Butcher's Broom
★★★★★
Butcher's Broom
★★★★★
Butcher's Broom
★★★★★
I've been suffering off and on with swollen feet/ankles for many years. Most of the time it has passed within a short amount of time with little effort (such as drinking more water and elevating my legs/feet on pillows). Recently the swelling came on after being laid off from work for a couple months - spending too much time at my computer! I tried the pillows several times to no avail. Every time I put on shoes and took a walk to help circulation, the swelling in my feet would simply move up worse into my ankles. I researched online and in the many books I have for herbal remedies and came to the conclusion that Butcher's Broom was the most recommended of anything. I went and got some at my local natural food store and took the regular dose (two 500 mg) and within just a couple of hours I realized I could once again see the veins on the tops of my feet and the swelling had reduced by at least half. I could feel a huge difference and the relief -both physical and mental- was immense.
Calcium and Magnesium
★★★★★
Step 2 -Add a magnesium supplement of 200 to 400 mg per day to your diet. The Mayo Clinic reports that extra magnesium may reduce water retention. However, the clinic does advise that magnesium will cause problems for those diagnosed with heart or kidney disease.
Step 3 -Purchase a multivitamin that contains 1,200 mg of calcium and 200 mg of magnesium as an alternative. Check the labels of the vitamins to ensure they offer both minerals in the proper quantities. Do not take two pills to get the right dosage of calcium and magnesium. If necessary, purchase separate supplements of these two minerals to add to what is available in the multivitamin. The Harvard School of Public Health also recommends extra vitamin D for overall health to possibly prevent some of the illnesses that may cause edema.
I tried all other ways to cure edema. The above really worked for me.
(Edmond, Ok)
06/11/2017
Just a heads up, the calcium to magnesium ratio should be as close to 1:1, as possible.
Cayenne
Immediately fallowing an injury place a strong magnet over the area for several minutes and continue the therapy several times daily for a few days. This will greatly reduce pain & swelling.
(Tennessee)
09/08/2014
Hi Kt,
I was out of town yesterday and am just now seeing your post. Yes, cayenne should be fine- it does work well for normalizing the blood. Turmeric also should be fine and may help the inflammation.
If you have a fresh onion, a fresh onion, cut up and put into a towel over the area as a poultice, may help. We have used this to prevent "goose eggs."
A charcoal poultice may also reduce the pain and swelling. It would be a very safe thing to try, if you are still in pain.
I will be away from home all day again today but will check this evening to see if I have heard from you.
I hope you are feeling better, soon.
Love,
MtM
(Usa)
09/08/2014
Thanks for the information Timh...we don't have any magnets handy and besides, I couldn't touch it. I had to remove my below-the-ankle sock because of the pressure, swelling was throbbing. It was the ankle on the inside. Sometimes as I walked, I kept kicking myself.
Thank you MtM...I took the cayenne about every two hours and after the third dose I took turmeric, ginger and black pepper. I had to prop a pillow under my calf when I went to bed so it wouldn't touch anything.
Today it is better...still a knot and wide-spread bruise. Still taking the cayenne, etc. I've been taking vit.C too. I take that all the time anyway. Do you think that would cause too much conflict, because of taking the cayenne? I see you must have read my Sept. 2 post? Love, KT
(US)
09/09/2014
Have you looked into the DMSO stuff to reduce the swelling? == Noprescriptiondrugsforme
(N. Central Texas)
03/09/2024
I've found if you treat your bruise quickly with DMSO, it will not swell, bruise or be painful. I've heard that if you treat a stroke victim within an hour with DMSO, it will reverse the stroke. OldGlory
(Tennessee)
09/09/2014
(Usa)
09/10/2014
Good Morning, MtM
My bruise is colorful and I measured it... about 4" at the widest, spread over my arch and it looks like I have a double ankle! There is also a bruised strip going up the the back of my leg just above my heel. I have an appointment for a "well visit" to my PCP tomorrow so I'll show it to him.
I had jerry-rigged an oven rack and an old refrigerator rack to put on top of our wood stove for our pot of water. I literally "poked" the area just above my ankle with the raw end of the rack when I tried to gracefully swing my leg over it when it was on top of a wash tub on the floor. I have been unable to get any charcoal and I'm not so sure about the DMSO...I looked it up once after seeing posts about it but that's as far as I got with that.
MtM, please let me know if you read my reply to you Sept. 2 (gave John 5:19 as a ref.). I think It was contained in a thread about something from Thailand. I can't remember whether it was turpentine or something else...this has been prepared peicemeal because I can't sit here long...Thanks for your concern...Love, KT
(Naperville, Il, Usa)
11/16/2015
Hello to Mama to Many,
Community is blessed by people like you. I get swelling on my ankle and toes often. If I were ankle socks, I feel very uncomfortable after sometime and I realise that it is because of tight socks. I feel slight pain in my feet sometimes. When I get up from a restful sleep, I still notice some swelling on my toes. I do not go for my yearly check up because I am afraid. When swelling goes away, my toes look wrinkled. Sometime my feet is perfect. I do not eat much salt. Can you please give me some remedial suggestions?
Thank you
(Tennessee)
11/17/2015
Dear Sandy,
My first thought when I hear of edema is Dandelion. It is a great herb, indicated for edema. I believe in part because of its effect on the liver and blood (helps with cleansing them.) You could drink several cups of strong tea daily. (Though maybe one cup the first couple of days and work up to three.) You can add peppermint leaf to it to improve the flavor and a little honey if you like.
Directions for Brewing Medicinal Teas
Do you have any other health issues? How is your diet?
You say you limit salt. Interestingly, one of the cures listed for edema is salt. Definitely the sodium in fast foods and processed foods is a culprit for edema, but use of a high quality salt (Celtic Sea Salt, for example) may be helpful, unless you personally have found otherwise. (If you try it, start with a small amount first.)
See also:
General Health and Wellness Tips
Let me know how it goes!
~Mama to Many~
Hello Sandy.
Earlier this year I was reading John Briffa's book about the diet trap in which he says lack of salt, or very little salt, can cause edema. Of course he was referring to good sea salt or pure rock salt and not the supermarket table salt with all the additives. My sister rang me and told me she had swollen legs and ankles and was worried about it and I mention Briffa's comments. She said she'd dramatically reduced her salt intake because she'd read salt caused high blood pressure and her BP was a bit raised. A couple of days later she emailed to say she'd increased her salt intake and legs were much improved! Have you also tried body brushing where, with a firm but not harsh bristled brush, you brush from your feet up towards your heart several times covering all areas of the body. This not only helps the lymphatic system and hence the edema, but gets rid of old dead skin and leaves skin feeling smooth. Best done in the morning as it can be too stimulating at bedtime. I imagine that herbal teas like nettle etc would help too as they flush out the kidneys and help the body excrete toxins and are generally a good tonic.(Susun Weed has an interesting blog on this). You might also want to do a bit off research into Chinese or Ayurvedic ideas about different body types or doshas( Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and what foods suit or unbalance each one. For example Kapha is inclined to be lethargic and so needs spicy foods to stimulate their organs etc Good luck!
(Kitchener On)
03/10/2024
Hi Jean
They do call D.M.S.O. a miracle for what it can do; for a swollen joint, I read that if you grade a small potato and apply it to the joint, it will take the swollen area away.
Barbra O Neil is on YouTube and has a lot of interesting videos..
take care
Gary
Cayenne
★★★★★
CBD (Cannibis Oil)
★★★★★
I have found CBD (cannabis oil) to be very effective in eliminating the swelling in my leg due to Edema. I first took it in the form of large gummy candies purchased from a licensed dispensary. After three days of taking one gummy candy per day I was surprised to see that the swelling in my leg had completely disappeared. I have since switched to the CBD tincture which is the much stronger liquid form dispensed from an eye dropper at .5ml per dose. After just three days of taking the tincture once a day I noticed that the pain in my foot was also starting to disappear.
I will continue with the same dose of CBD as long as my condition continues to improve and will provide an update in a few months.
(Sacramento, Ca)
06/19/2018
Good luck with the cannibis- I will be back to hear your progress. I am not sure I can purchase it but will find a way. I've suffered from ankle and lower leg edema and the misery it causes for most of life and my dr just increased my diuretic [Triamterene] today--because the hot weather makes it worse. This is a great site, I learn more each time I visit-Cheers to all you edema sufferers and thanks for your input.
(Vancouver, British Columbia)
06/20/2018
Katy,
I'm glad to report that my success with the CBD oil continued for 2.5 months. That's how long it took to go through a small 495mg bottle taking .5ml first thing in the morning and last thing at night even though the recommended dose is only once a day. The swelling continues to stay away so I'm getting another bottle. You should be able to find it at any cannabis store. Pricey ($60.) but worth it. Good luck.
(Usa)
06/20/2018
Katy, look into inclined bed therapy, which is raising the head of your bed 5 degrees. Some believe that this is the way long ago peoples slept. It is purported to improve circulation of the blood and lymph, and edema is one of the many maladies it has been reported to improve.
Hi, Kety
If you have any heart disease, as it's the main cause of edema usually, L-carnosine (caps)+DMAE (caps)+CoQ10 (caps)+ 5 drops of Aloe Vera Oil on your tongue/or meal as your regular source will improve your heart muscle in short time and stop swelling.
Good luck, Kety. My best wishes and many happy returns.
(Usa)
06/23/2018
Mustard seed powder is said to treat swelling.
Celery Juice
★★★★★
I have been suffering with Edema for years. My ankles and legs get swollen on a regular basis especially when I sit all day at a desk or if I am on a long flight. I have tried ginger tea, ACV, blackstrap molasses, and even drinking more water. I also tried walking to make the blood circulate but it still wasn't working.
Then I tried celery juice while on a vacation. After 1 day the swelling in my legs and ankles came down by half. After 2 days it came down by 3/4 and I was in the bathroom peeing all the time. By the 3rd day, my ankle and legs were the smallest they have been in years and I could see the veins in my feet. I drank the 16 oz celery juice every night. You will have to go to the bathroom in the morning. Now I have started drinking it in the morning on an empty stomach. If I miss it for one or 2 days, the swelling comes back. No other green juice works for this. I have tried. Just 16 oz of Celery Juice, with nothing added, is best. If you are adding something, which you shouldn't, it is ok to add a little bit of lemon juice.
I am happy that I found this, and I hope it helps you too.
Cherry Juice
★★★★★
To take away the swelling, you can do two things. One you can either eat cherries from the jar or drink the cherry juice (you will see an improvement). Two, you can make a paste of cornmeal and vinegar, and paste it all the swolen area, let it harden, rinse or peel off. Hope this helps!
