Water retention (also known as Edema) can happen for a variety of reasons. Many times, it can catch you off guard within your busy life. If you’re anything like me, you don’t notice until your shoes feel tight or, your hands feel puffy and hurt. Thankfully, there are plenty of home remedies to help with water retention.
What Causes Edema?
The most common causes are dehydration, high sodium intake, vitamin deficiency, poor circulation, hot weather, high blood pressure, multiple medical conditions, and some medications. There are several other things that can cause it but, these are the key ones.
How does Edema Present Itself?
Water Retention can happen in many areas of the body. It typically manifests in a feeling of being puffy and stiff joints.
Home Remedies
Herbal Remedies
Herbal Remedies can be helpful when it comes to reducing Edema. Please ask your doctor before you start any herbal remedy as it may interfere with any other medications. Parsley and Dandelion are both great diuretics. You can take supplements or, steep them as tea.
Epsom Salt
Taking an epsom bath can help to relieve the water retention. The bath will help by drawing out the excess fluids and help to relieve sore muscles and calms the nerves. If you don’t have time for a bath, at least try to soak your feet.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice will help to flush out some of the excess fluids that are causing the edema. Adding 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to warm water along with some honey and drink it. This will take a few days to show results.
Garlic
Garlic has so many uses. One of those uses is a diuretic which can naturally help to relieve the water retention from your body.
Potassium
If your potassium level is low, your body is more likely to retain water. Adding a bit more potassium to your diet can help ease your symptoms by helping to rid your body of excess salt.
Water
It is common for the body to withhold water when it is dehydrated. Drinking some water may help relieve the water retention by giving the body the water it is looking for.
Cranberry Juice
Drinking cranberry juice helps your body to regulate your fluid levels. In order for this to be helpful though, it needs to be unsweetened.
Limit Sodium
Limiting your sodium intake can help to decrease your symptoms by not adding to the possibly built up sodium.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can help to balance the body’s PH levels and adds potassium to your body and reduces sodium levels. If the water retention is in your feet or legs, soaking your feet in a water and apple cider vinegar solution may be helpful.
Ice Packs
Applying ice packs to the swollen area will help to reduce swelling and ease the pain that may accompany it.
Exercise
Regular exercise can help to relieve the fluid retention by getting things moving and helping your body by improving circulation.
Reminder
It is important to remember that not all of these will treat your specific case of edema. Each person has their own underlying reason as to why their body is retaining water. Try figure out why your body is retaining water so that the treatment may be easier.
While there are so many more possible ways to treat your water retention (edema) these are just a few ideas that may help. If symptoms persist beyond a couple of days it is very important that you speak to your doctor.
