Home Remedies for Swollen Feet
Swollen feet is a common problem that anyone can suffer from.
It is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying issue.
Usually, this problem arises when fluid accumulates in the tissues, leading to swelling known as edema.
This can occur for several reasons, such as being overweight, standing or sitting for long periods of time, aging, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), nutritional deficiencies, lack of physical exercise and poor blood circulation.
An injury or surgery involving the leg, ankle or a foot can also cause swelling in your feet.
People who have diabetes, heart problems, kidney or liver disease, and pregnant women are more prone to this problem.
If the swelling is painful or occurs often, consult your doctor.
It can be a sign of heart, kidney or liver problems that may need timely treatment.
Home Remedies for Swollen Feet
1. Contrast Hydrotherapy
This type of hydrotherapy, which includes both cold and warm water, is highly effective for reducing swelling in your feet.
While the warm water helps improve circulation, cold water helps reduce swelling and inflammation.
Fill 2 foot tubs– one with cold water and the other with warm water.
Soak your feet in the warm water for about 3 to 4 minutes.
Immediately put your feet in the cold water for about 1 minute.
Continue alternating for 15 to 20 minutes.
Repeat a few times daily until you get relief.
2. Massage
A foot massage is one of the best remedies for swollen feet.
It creates pressure on the affected area that helps relax sore muscles and improve circulation.
It also encourages excess fluid drainage to reduce swelling.
Rub some warm mustard oil or olive oil on the affected area.
Gently massage the area for 5 minutes in an upward direction, rather than downward.
Avoid applying too much pressure.
Do this several times a day.
It is most effective to massage your feet during or after taking a bath.
Note: If the swelling in your feet is due to pregnancy, see a therapist who specializes in prenatal massage.
3. Ginger
Ginger is a natural diuretic that helps treat swollen feet. It helps dilute sodium, a major contributing factor behind swelling.
In addition, its anti-inflammatory property helps reduce swelling.
Massage your swollen feet with ginger oil when massaging a few times daily.
You can also drink 2 to 3 cups of ginger tea or chew some raw ginger slices.
4. Lemon Water
Drinking lemon water helps flush out excess fluid and toxins from your body, which can reduce swelling in the feet and other areas of the body caused by water retention.
In addition, it helps keep the body hydrated and provides anti-inflammatory benefits.
Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a cup of warm water.
Sweeten it with a little raw honey.
Drink this lemon water a few times daily.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar also helps reduce swelling in your feet.
Its high potassium content helps reduce fluid retention, a common cause of swelling in the feet.
Mix equal amounts of warm water and raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar.
Soak a towel in the solution, wring out the excess liquid and then wrap the towel around your swollen feet.
Do this for 10 minutes, a few times daily.
Also, add 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. Add some raw honey and drink it twice daily.
6. Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency in the body can also contribute to swelling in the feet due to edema.
Eat foods rich in magnesium to help fight this problem.
Eat magnesium-rich foods like dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, soybeans, avocado, bananas and dark chocolate.
You can also take magnesium supplements, but only after consulting your doctor.
Note: People with heart or kidney disease should avoid taking magnesium supplements.
7. To reduce swelling, elevate your legs so that they are above the level of heart.
8. Limit your salt and caffeine intake, as they are common causes of foot swelling.
9. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned versions, which often contain added salt for preservation.
9. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and promote detoxification.
10. Avoid sitting for long hours. Take short breaks and walk around a bit.
11. During long journeys in a car, plane, bus or train, consider wearing compression socks to prevent foot inflammation.
Swollen feet during pregnancy
During pregnancy, there are many ways your body adapts and changes as your baby grows. One of the most obvious, of course, is that your belly gets bigger. But it’s not just your belly that expands. You may notice that your feet get bigger and that your legs and ankles may become somewhat swollen. This can be a normal yet uncomfortable symptom of pregnancy.
In some cases, however, rapid swelling of your hands or face may be a sign of something serious, like preeclampsia, a blood pressure disorder.
Read on to learn what can cause swollen feet during pregnancy, and what remedies you can try to reduce some of the swelling.
What Causes Feet Swelling in Pregnancy
As early as your fifth month of pregnancy, you may notice that your feet begin to increase in size. This might even continue until late in your pregnancy.
As your uterus grows it can put extra pressure on the blood vessels that carry blood from the lower part of your body back to your heart. This results in fluid retention, causing your swollen legs, ankles, and feet during your pregnancy. The medical term for swelling caused by fluid retention is edema.
Hormones can also play a role in feet growing in size. The hormone relaxin, which is responsible for loosening the pelvic joints to make delivery possible, also loosens the ligaments of your feet. This results in the bones of your feet spreading, which is just another symptom you might experience along with pregnancy aches and pains.
Pregnancy-related weight gain can also result in your feet increasing in size.
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Hope this post on Home Remedies for Swollen Feet helps?