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Effective and harmless diuretic folk remedies. How to use diuretics for swelling

Various methods are used to treat swelling of the lower extremities. herbal teas And medications. The latter come from two large groups - diuretics (diuretics) and agents that increase the elasticity and strength of vascular walls. It is important that tablets for swelling of the legs are selected according to the cause of the problem and the disease that provokes this symptom.

Names of diuretic tablets for swelling of the legs

As a rule, swelling refers to congestion, for which diuretics or saluretics help well. Furosemide is considered one of the most famous, safe and effective diuretic drugs. Its peculiarity is the possibility of use even in case of renal failure in combination with a very fast action.

It is worth noting that Furosemide produces not only a diuretic, but also a hypotensive effect due to the expansion of peripheral vessels and, accordingly, a decrease in the intensity of blood flow. Therefore, it should not be taken in cases of pronounced hypotension.

Here are some other tablets you can take for swelling of the legs:

  • Hypothiazide;
  • Thorsid;
  • Uregit;
  • Triampur Compositum;
  • Toraz;
  • Trigrim;
  • Indapamide;
  • Torixal;
  • Arifon;
  • Torasemide;
  • Verospilactone;
  • Indap;
  • Acripamide;
  • Toradiv;
  • Diacarb;
  • Ionic;
  • Trifas;
  • Lasix;
  • Sutril Neo;
  • Diuver;
  • Trisemid.

Treatment of leg swelling with the listed tablets should be carried out only after consultation with a treating specialist and a series of laboratory tests and assessing the risk of developing allergic reactions to the active ingredients of drugs.

The fact is that diuretics can cause a lot of negative side effects, including quite dangerous conditions:

What tablets help against swelling of the legs due to varicose veins and diabetes?

The cause of swelling in the described diseases is high permeability vascular wall and a decrease in its elasticity. In this case, diuretics produce only a temporary effect and can do more harm than good. Therefore, special medications are prescribed to normalize venous circulation and strengthen blood vessels. These include:

  • Detralex;
  • Venarus;
  • Dioflan;
  • Venorin;
  • Normoven;
  • Juantal;
  • Venosmin;
  • Nostalex;
  • Antistax;
  • Vasocket;
  • Venoruton;
  • Ascorutin;
  • Venolan;
  • Anavenol;
  • Ginkor;
  • Diosven;
  • Venosmil;
  • Hydrosven;
  • Troxevasin;
  • Indovazin;
  • Panthevenol;
  • Immunovit-S;
  • Phlebodia;
  • Indovenol.

Submitted medications belong to the group of angioprotectors and venotonics. Thanks to their regular use, tone increases blood vessels and veins, their walls become less stretchable and more elastic and durable. In addition, static and congestive phenomena are reduced, and hemodynamics are significantly improved. Such effects are achieved by eliminating the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium on the walls of blood vessels, respectively, eliminating their blockage and the accumulation of excess fluid in the surrounding soft tissues.

At the same time, venotonics have practically no side effects. Only in some patients in rare cases(less than 1%) neurovegetative disorders occur, as well as dyspeptic disorders. As a rule, they resolve on their own without the need for special symptomatic therapy.

The use of diuretics for swelling of the legs will help relieve excess stress from the vessels and limbs. But before you use medicines this spectrum, you should definitely consult a doctor. Not all people experience edema due to excessive fluid accumulation in the body. In some patients, this phenomenon indicates the development of varicose veins, so treatment should be completely different.

This group of drugs helps the body remove excess water. Under the influence of a diuretic, when the legs swell, not only excess fluid is removed through the kidneys, but also salt. As water leaves the body, swelling becomes less. Diuretics are always prescribed only by a doctor! You cannot prescribe diuretics for yourself, because... this may cause heart attack and other pathologies in the functioning of organs.

Indications for the use of diuretics for swelling

All patients should take medications that remove fluid under the supervision of a doctor. Even if it seems to you that you have edema because there is too much water in your body, you should not take diuretics. Diuretics for swelling of the legs are used when the doctor has officially confirmed that the cause of the disease is related to water retention and bad work kidney If this is not the case, then they cannot be used. Most often, diuretics are prescribed for:

  • hypertension;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • heart failure;
  • metabolic disorders.

Classification of diuretics

Based on the principle of action, all diuretic drugs are divided into those that directly affect kidney function and those that activate other body systems. Diuretics for leg swelling can be natural or synthetic. Medicines in this group are divided into weak, moderate and strong. Most often, the following groups of diuretics are prescribed for swelling of the legs:

  • Thiazides. Quickly absorbed by the body. They have high bioavailability and long-lasting action.
  • Tazid-like. They have a milder effect on the body. When consumed, less potassium is excreted in urine.
  • Potassium-sparing. Prevents the release of potassium from the body.
  • Loopbacks. Blocked reverse suction sodium, chlorine, potassium.

Any type of diuretic makes the kidneys work harder, so it is not recommended to use them in case of renal failure and other congenital ailments. Medicines of this type can only be taken after the doctor approves it. You cannot take diuretics without his consent.

Synthetic diuretics

Standard treatment for edema begins with prescribing medications to the patient that remove up to 10-15% of sodium. Furosemide is considered the most popular diuretic. It suits many people. The patient may be prescribed Xipamide, Torasimide. Diuretics have a very strong effect on the body, so they are taken short courses. At chronic edema Doctors prescribe thiazides. They do not require breaks in use and do not have such a strong effect on the liver and kidneys. Mild edema is eliminated with potassium-sparing drugs.

How to choose diuretic tablets

The first selection criterion is the patient's condition. Diuretics are very specific drugs. Some groups of them cause nausea and other side effects in many people, so the doctor is based on the characteristics of the individual patient’s body. Of course, the main role in the selection of drugs is played by the disease that provoked the edema:

  • hypertension – indapamide, thiazides;
  • heart failure, nephrotic syndrome – loop diuretics;
  • osteoporosis – thiazides;
  • problems with general metabolism, diabetes mellitus - indapamide and other thiazides;
  • increased production of aldosterone – potassium-sparing.

Folk diuretics

Healers offer many recipes to help remove excess water from the body. Before using them, you should also consult a doctor, because... besides the danger for internal organs there is a chance of encountering an unknown allergic reaction. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to conduct an allergy test. If you do not want to spend extra money, then initially accept only a small part from the standard dosage of the folk remedy. Folk diuretics include:

  • leaves of sage, plantain, bearberry;
  • decoction of birch leaves or buds;
  • lingonberry, cranberry juice;
  • decoction of dill, parsley;
  • decoction horsetail.

In general, almost all herbs have a diuretic effect to one degree or another. But they must be taken very carefully. In case of heart disease, kidney disease or pregnancy, they can pose a threat to the patient’s life.

Diuretics for heart failure

In case of heart failure, diuretics for swelling of the legs are used the lightest. Doctors try not to create additional stress on the cardiovascular system. Thiazides can help with this. Drugs in this group help remove fluid without seriously affecting the balance of microelements. If the patient's condition continues to worsen, loop diuretics are prescribed.

Diuretics during pregnancy

During pregnancy, edema appears in 80% of women. Only 4% of them cause physical discomfort. Taking any types of diuretics during this period is prohibited. Chemicals can harm not only the baby, but also the expectant mother. A woman's body works at an increased rate during pregnancy. Impact chemical substances on the kidneys will lead to the development of chronic diseases.

Diuretics for hypertension

High blood pressure in itself has an adverse effect on the body. If a patient’s legs swell due to this, then treatment traditionally begins with the mildest diuretics, i.e. thiazides. Hypertensive patients should adhere to the following recommendations during the treatment of edema:

  • eat more lentils, dried apricots, raisins and other foods with potassium;
  • reduce the level of salt and sugar consumed to 3 mg per day;
  • give up drinks that contain a heavy dose of caffeine and provoke an increase in blood pressure (coffee, vodka, etc.).

Diuretics for cardiac edema

If the patient’s lower pressure limit becomes less than 90 mm Hg. Art, then it’s time to take diuretics. First, the patient takes thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics. They help remove excess water without putting too much strain on the body. It is important to correctly determine the dose for a particular patient. The main problem with cardiac edema is that due to the large volume of circulating fluid, efficiency decreases. cardiac drugs. This can lead to a serious deterioration in the patient’s condition, so when severe cases The person is immediately given loop diuretics.

What foods replace chemical diuretics?

An excellent analogue of diuretics is green tea. You can drink it several times a day. Parsley has a similar effect on the body. You can make juice or decoction from it, but when used in this way, it provokes the release of potassium from the body. Safe herbal diuretics include:

  • watermelon;
  • melon;
  • cucumbers;
  • lingonberries;
  • cranberries;
  • tomatoes;
  • raw pumpkin.

Possible harm and contraindications

Absolutely all diuretics provoke the loss of potassium and sodium ions. The patient's main goal is to prevent this pathological process. The patient will have to introduce foods containing these microelements into his diet. For kidney diseases, diuretics are not prescribed. If used excessively, diuretics can cause the following complications:

  • increased fatigue;
  • constant nausea;
  • hypotension;
  • problems with blood circulation in the brain and heart;
  • hormonal disorders.

Each group of diuretic drugs has its own contraindications for use. Potassium-sparing diuretics should not be taken for gout, hypokalemia, or liver cirrhosis. Thiazides are not prescribed for disorders cerebral circulation, anuria, prolonged QT interval.

Prevention of edema

Preventing the occurrence of this unpleasant syndrome is quite simple. To do this, you need to conduct relatively active image life. You should exercise at least 3 times a week. Stretching or gymnastics are suitable for daily exercise. Doctors also say that a person should walk at least 5 km a day. The norm for a healthy person is 8 km, but not all people are able to overcome such a distance at once.

The next assistant in preventing the accumulation of fluid in the body is proper nutrition. It is our diet that determines how we look and what biochemical reactions will occur in our body. People with a tendency to edema should avoid salt, pepper and other rich seasonings. They cause a feeling of extreme thirst and retain water in the body. For preventive purposes, you can wear specialized compression tights or loaches.

Swelling is a sign excess accumulation fluids in the body. Edema can be general and local.

Local swelling can be caused by a violation of the outflow of blood or lymph (for example, with thrombophlebitis), inflammation (burn, boil, erysipelas) and have a clear localization. General edema is systemic in nature.

In terms of the use of diuretics, general edema caused by heart failure, impaired renal excretory function, liver diseases, hormonal disorders, poor nutrition and way of life.

Severe general edema is preceded by the accumulation of fluid in the body, expressed by weight gain. Excess fluid can amount to 4–9 kg of weight before it manifests itself as obvious swelling of the legs (feet, legs), face, and abdomen. Most characteristic feature edema: when pressed, a hole is formed that does not level out for a long time.

An indirect sign of swelling is imprinting on the skin of the seams of clothes, elastic bands of socks and panties, watch straps, etc., which does not go away for a long time. Swelling is not only unsightly, fluid retention disrupts normal work organs of the body, forces the heart to pump excess fluid, can cause increased blood pressure.

It is important to establish the cause of edema and act on it; at the same time, it may be necessary to get rid of excess fluid, for which diuretics (diuretics) are used.

Approximate classification of diuretics and list of drugs

ViewsubspeciesNameDiuretic effect, features Main indications
Saluretics (increasing the excretion of Na and CL) loopbackFurosemide, Lasix, Torsemide, Bumetanide, Uregit Fast, strong, short-term CHF and AHF, chronic renal failure, hypertension, hypertensive crisis
sulfonamidesChlorthalidone, clopamide, indapamide Long-lasting effect, maximum after 12 hours; indapamide – hypotensive effect without significant diuretic CHF, hypertension, nephrosis, nephritis, gestosis in pregnant women, PMS, not diabetes, obesity
thiazideCyclomethiazide, hypothiazide Fast, moderately expressed; the effect of cyclomethiazide is stronger. CNS, hypertension, nephrosis, nephritis, liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension, gestosis, glaucoma
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors Diacarb (Acetozolamide) Lasts up to 12 hours, reduces intracranial pressure. Contraindicated in acute renal failure, liver failure, pregnancy and lactation. Edema of unknown etiology, glaucoma, epilepsy (as part of combination treatment)
Potassium-sparing —— amiloride, veroshpirone (spironolactone), eplerenone The effect is weaker than that of thiazide drugs, contraindicated simultaneous administration potassium Contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women AH, CHF
osmotic—— Mannitol, urea, glycerol Strong effect. Easily cause dehydration acute renal failure, glaucoma, cerebral edema

Note: CHF - chronic heart failure, AHF - acute heart failure, chronic renal failure - chronic renal failure, AKI – acute renal failure, PMS – premenstrual syndrome, AH – arterial hypertension.

Mechanism of action of diuretics

The listed diuretics differ in their mechanism of action. In particular:

  1. Loop diuretics are strong diuretics. They relax vascular smooth muscle and increase renal blood flow, block reabsorption (reabsorption from fluid) of ions in the ascending limb of the loop of Gentle, proximal (located in the central part of the kidney) and distal (peripheral) convoluted tubules. They cause increased excretion of fluid, sodium, chlorine, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ions from the body.
  2. Sulfonamides - disrupt the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions in the distal tubules, increase the excretion of water, potassium, magnesium, and bicarbonate ions. Delays calcium excretion and uric acid. At diabetes insipidus Chlorthalidone reduces excessive urinary output, although its mechanism of action is unclear. Indapamide primarily changes the permeability of cell membranes to calcium, relaxing muscle tissue blood vessel walls and lowering blood pressure. At the level of the renal cortex, indapamide reduces sodium reabsorption and increases the excretion of magnesium, potassium and chlorine in the urine.
  3. Thiazide diuretics reduce the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions in the proximal and distal parts of the convoluted tubules of the kidneys; to a lesser extent inhibit the reabsorption of potassium and bicarbonate.
  4. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors inhibit the function of carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme involved in the transport of ions and the regulation of electrolyte balance in the body. Cause an increase in the excretion of sodium, potassium, bicarbonates, and water. Reduce ammonia excretion.
  5. Osmotic diuretics increase osmotic pressure blood plasma and cause the movement of fluid from tissues into the vascular bed, suppress tubular reabsorption, which leads to an increase in the volume of urine excreted.
  6. Potassium-sparing diuretics.
  • veroshpiron has the opposite effect of the mineralocorticoid aldosterone, without changing the blood circulation of the kidneys and the function of their tubules;
  • amiloride acts on the peripheral part of the tubules, increases the excretion of sodium and chlorine, reduces the excretion of potassium ions;
  • eplerenone affects the sensitivity of androgen and progesterone receptors to aldosterone, reducing it.

Diuretics for swollen legs

Swelling of the legs may not be a symptom of excess fluid in the body, but may occur in a certain situation:

  • Sitting or standing for a long time (orthostatic edema). Occurs during sedentary work, when traveling for many hours on a bus, on an air flight, when working while standing at a machine, on a conveyor belt, with salespeople, hairdressers, etc.;
  • In case of disturbance of the venous and capillary circulation of the legs (varicose veins);
  • When wearing uncomfortable shoes, tight jeans, or shapewear.


If the cause of swelling is obvious, then takediuretic tablets for swollen legsinappropriate. A change in body position will be beneficial (lie down with your legs raised, stretch); useful to accept cold and hot shower or wash your feet alternately with hot and cool water, massage the feet and legs, apply an ointment or gel with a venotonic effect.

During pregnancy, swelling of the legs is a reason to immediately inform your doctor about it. Toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy (preeclampsia) is a dangerous condition for mother and child. Self-administer diuretics not during pregnancy.

Lymphatic swelling of the legs is caused not so much by fluid retention as by an imbalance between the formation of lymph and its drainage. They are treated with physiotherapeutic lymphatic drainage procedures, medicinal lymphostimulation, and elastic compression. Specific treatment sometimes includes diuretics, sometimes not.

If the cause of swelling of the legs is not obvious, and the swelling does not disappear during a night's rest, then the use of diuretics is justified. But in this case, swelling of the legs is most likely caused by a disease - heart failure, impaired kidney function.

You should see a doctor and undergo necessary examinations to identify the cause of fluid retention. Depending on the pathology that caused fluid retention, an effective and safe diuretic will be selected.

Diuretics for facial swelling


Facial swelling can be caused by:

  • excessive salt consumption;
  • after episodic alcohol abuse or with its systematic use;
  • kidney disorders;
  • water violation salt balance in the heat, when a person drinks a lot and greedily;
  • dysfunction thyroid gland;
  • sinusitis, runny nose, allergies;
  • blockage salivary gland(asymmetrical edema);
  • overwork, lack of sleep;
  • hormonal imbalance during PMS, menopause;
  • fluid retention during pregnancy (an alarming symptom, consult a doctor immediately).

Episodic swelling of the face also occurs in healthy people. Sometimes it is enough to limit your salt intake, get enough sleep, and the symptom disappears. But if edema is constantly present, it is necessary to find out its cause and treat, for example, the kidneys, thyroid gland. For periodic swelling associated with the phase of the menstrual cycle, you should consult a gynecologist. Perhaps it is enough to drink during this period diuretic tea; It is more advisable to take a diuretic prescribed by a doctor (for severe irritability, tearfulness, headaches).

Swelling under the eyes can appear due to heart disease. vascular system, kidneys, thyroid gland, stomach, nervous system. “Bags” under the eyes caused by puffiness appear more strongly in the morning and gradually disappear throughout the day. But if the bags are formed by an increase in the number of fat cells in the connective tissue that supports the eye, they are permanent and do not indicate fluid retention. In the latter case, diuretics for swelling under the eyes do not have an effect.

Is it permissible to take it on your own?diuretics for edema? If you are practically healthy, and the swelling is caused by a violation of the water-salt balance of an obvious nature, then yes.

As an “ambulance” you can take furosemide or Lasix once, the effect will not be long in coming.

But at the same time, take Asparkam or Panangin to avoid potassium and magnesium deficiency, which manifests itself as weakness and tachycardia. A sharp decrease in blood pressure is possible. If you "overdid it", eat some salted food, drink a cup of tea. You cannot systematically take loop diuretics on your own.

If you are prone to edema, it is useful:

  • eat foods with a diuretic effect (watermelon, melon, celery and parsley, strawberries and strawberries);
  • drink diuretic drinks (rosehip decoction, Apple juice, dried fruit compote with dried apricots, green tea, kefir);
  • From time to time, arrange a fasting day without salt (on unsalted buckwheat with kefir). Absolutely harmless remedy with a pronounced diuretic effect. By the end fasting day weakness may appear - then it is better to eat normal salted food;
  • Avoid eating sausages, prepared brisket and ham. To increase weight and avoid “shrinkage,” water-retaining components are added to them, which continue to retain water even after entering the tissues of the human body.

Relatively safe diuretics for edema are pharmaceutical herbal infusions and herbal teas, including horsetail, lingonberry leaves, bearberry, birch leaves, St. John's wort and other diuretic plants.

Usually these are mild diuretics, which also have some contraindications, so read the instructions carefully before use.

The appearance of swelling of the legs is a symptom that can be caused various reasons. With swelling, the circumference of the lower extremities increases, and there is a possibility of simultaneous manifestation of other unpleasant symptoms. Can cause swelling of the legs general diseases or certain pathologies. If they appear on the legs, they may differ to varying degrees severity (only the toes are affected or the thighs are also affected).

Swelling in the legs is divided into several types:

  • Stagnant. Such swelling is formed when vascular permeability increases, pressure in the capillaries increases, and the level of albumin protein in the blood decreases.
  • Hydraemic edema. Occur as a result of accumulation large quantity excess fluid, which can occur when certain diseases kidney
  • Neuropathic. They can form in the presence of diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism.
  • Cachectic edema will appear as a result of severe exhaustion of the body or with some cardiovascular diseases(for example, stroke).
  • Allergic (quinque). They represent deep skin swelling. They develop instantly and also quickly resolve if timely and correct treatment.
  • Mechanical edema develops as a result of injury, which can occur in the presence of tumors or during pregnancy.

The main causes of swelling of the limbs

Swelling in the legs can occur at the most various reasons. It could be:

  • violation correct exchange substances in the body;
  • drinking large amounts of liquid throughout the day;
  • the presence of various immunological diseases;
  • severe burns;
  • manifestation allergic reaction;
  • the habit of constantly crossing your legs when sitting;
  • being overweight;
  • manifestation of acute thrombophlebitis of superficial, deep veins;
  • the presence of certain kidney diseases;
  • long sitting on low or too soft seats causes swelling;
  • malfunctions of cardio-vascular system;
  • development of varicose blood vessels.

The foot may swell due to improperly selected shoes, increased load on the foot, or the presence of flat feet. If such a phenomenon was provoked by thrombophlebitis, you should immediately seek help from a doctor, otherwise there is a possibility of developing serious problems with health. In case of constant swelling of the legs, it is important to first determine the cause and only then begin treatment, otherwise this problem will soon reappear.

Heart failure

Leg swelling is a common phenomenon and is one of the main signs of heart failure. People suffering from this disease experience significant weakening main function the heart is a pumping station, it becomes difficult for it to move blood from the legs to top part body, which often causes edema.

During sleep, the body is in a horizontal position, which significantly reduces the load on the heart. When spending the whole day standing or sitting position, towards evening the heart resource is greatly depleted, which causes swelling in the legs, and skin covering takes on an unhealthy bluish tint. This type of swelling may only affect the foot, or it may spread to the entire leg, down to the level of the thigh.

After taking medications

Provoke the appearance severe swelling legs can and taking certain medicines:

  • If glucocorticoids (drugs prescribed for the treatment of allergic, autoimmune diseases, tumors), there is a possibility of developing swelling. Such drugs affect the functioning of the heart, as well as the blood circulation process.
  • The cause of edema can be male and female sex hormones that are retained in the body excess liquid. These substances are part of contraceptives. Taking male sex hormones is prescribed for obesity and disorders reproductive function men.
  • Medications to lower high blood pressure may also cause swelling. If such a problem occurs, you should consult a doctor.

Varicose veins

The initial sign The development of varicose veins is swelling in the legs, which occurs for various reasons:

  • The walls of the vessels are very thin and stretch easily.
  • Sedentary lifestyle, availability overweight bodies.
  • Eating large amounts of salt and water provokes swelling not only of the lower extremities, but also of other parts of the body.

Liver diseases

The legs may swell due to certain problems in the liver. The most common cause is cirrhosis, in which a pronounced disruption of the functioning of this organ occurs. In this case, you will not be able to cope with the problem yourself. You need to undergo an examination to determine the cause of the swelling, after which the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment.

Injuries

Injuries can cause swelling in the legs:

  • dislocation;
  • bruised limb;
  • fracture (ankle, ankle, foot bones, fibula and tibia, toes);
  • hemarthrosis.

How to remove swelling of the legs at home

Swelling in the legs often causes unpleasant sensations and discomfort. To completely get rid of them, you need to accurately determine the cause that caused their appearance. If you want to solve this problem, stick to simple tips:

  • You cannot sit in one position for a long time, with your legs tucked under you.
  • Try to change your shoes throughout the day so that your feet can rest (this especially applies to girls who wear heels every day).
  • If you have to be in the vertical position, in the evening you need to lie down for at least half an hour, raise your legs higher to ensure the outflow of stagnant blood. Then do light massage pinching movements, which helps to quickly get rid of swelling on the legs.
  • Diversify your daily diet with foods containing potassium (bananas, lettuce, honey, apricots, dried apricots, peaches).
  • In the summer, try to eat more berries that have a diuretic effect (watermelon, lingonberries, strawberries), which prevents swelling.
  • While sleeping, place a bolster or small pillow under your feet so that they are above the level of your heart, and then in the morning you will not encounter this unpleasant problem.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine has been used quite successfully to relieve edema. Best healing effect anti-swelling is achieved by using foot baths and compresses:

  • Wraps with birch leaves. We take simple cotton bags (old pillowcases are also perfect), the height of which should cover the knee. We put a lot of fresh birch leaves in them and put the bags on our feet. The foliage should cover them tightly in a thick layer so that the legs begin to sweat. We wait until all the leaves are completely wet, and then we remove the bags. You need to carry out 2-3 procedures, and you can forget about swelling forever.
  • Tincture from Kalanchoe leaves. Pour vodka (500 g) into finely chopped leaves of the plant (250 g), leave the medicine to infuse for 14 days. After the specified time, rub the tincture into problem areas overnight. In the morning, swelling and the pain they cause completely disappear.
  • Garlic. Grind 1 head of garlic, pour boiling water (1 tbsp.), Leave for at least half an hour. As soon as the garlic paste has cooled to room temperature, rub it on your swollen legs, after 25-35 minutes, rinse with cool water, and the swelling will completely go away.
  • Compress. Take a piece of plain cotton cloth and wet it warm water, wrap the legs, put a plastic bag on top, and leave the compress on all night. In the morning we do a light massage. This remedy helps to quickly get rid of swelling.
  • Turpentine. Mix turpentine and Castor oil(warm). Rub the mixture into the skin, working each joint well, put on warm socks, and leave the compress on all night, in the morning the swelling goes away.
  • Sea salt. Fill a bowl with warm water and dissolve a little in it sea ​​salt, keep your feet in the water for about 25-33 minutes, then rinse with cool water and do a light massage. This method helps to quickly remove swelling in the legs.
  • Oil peppermint. Dissolve a couple of drops of oil in cold water and dip the legs in it for a couple of minutes. Regular procedures will help you forget about the problem of swelling forever.

Tinctures and decoctions will help get rid of swelling:

  • An excellent diuretic is knotweed, which helps quickly remove excess fluid from the body. Pour boiling water over the raw materials (1 tablespoon) and leave for exactly an hour. During the day we drink filtered medicine and forget about swelling.
  • Pour a liter of water over flax seeds (4 tablespoons) and boil over low heat for about 12-14 minutes, leave for an hour in a warm place. We drink the filtered drink against swelling of the legs warm, every 2 hours, ½ glass. After 14 days you will be able to forget about this problem.
  • Pour boiling water (2 tbsp) over birch leaves (2 tbsp) and its buds (1 tbsp). Add soda (1/2 tsp) to the solution and leave the decoction against swelling of the legs for at least half an hour, then filter and take 1/3 cup every day before meals (3 times a day).
  • Grind the parsley root and greens in a meat grinder. Take exactly 1 tbsp. spoon of the resulting mixture and pour boiling water (2 tbsp.), Leave for at least 10 hours. We drink a ready-made drink against swelling of the legs, 1 tbsp. spoon throughout the day. After a few days of treatment, the problem completely disappears.

Before using one or another folk remedy to combat swelling of the legs, you need to know that not all of them are safe for health. If swelling was caused by varicose veins, pregnancy, diseases associated with the genitourinary system, or other diseases, such treatment can be harmful general condition health.

Drug treatment

Modern medications will help relieve swelling, which should be used taking into account characteristic violation health. If the swelling was caused by cardiac or kidney diseases, your doctor may prescribe diuretics. At varicose veins veins will be helped by creams, gels and ointments containing blood thinning and venotonic components. If swelling causes severe pain in the calves of the legs, when purchasing creams, give preference to those products that are based on the extract horse chestnut or leeches.

How to deal with edema during pregnancy

In almost all cases, as soon as the pregnant woman eliminates the cause of swelling in the legs, they disappear on their own after a couple of days. You need to limit your food intake table salt, don't forget about good rest, minimize sun exposure. Some women mistakenly believe that to get rid of edema it is worth drinking more fluid, but on the contrary, its amount must be reduced, not forgetting about daily norm.

It is advisable to drink plain clean water with the addition of a small amount of lemon juice. Also beneficial are lingonberry and cranberry juices, which have a diuretic effect. It is necessary to completely exclude coffee and other factors that provoke swelling of the legs from the daily diet. For example, do not consume salty foods, spices, foods containing large amounts of sodium (nuts, seeds, etc.), carbonated drinks, smoked and fried foods. It will be useful to increase the amount of protein in your diet.

It is not recommended to sit in one position for a long time (a common cause of swelling of the legs), walk in the heat, or engage in physical exercise. To avoid this problem, take more frequent walks. fresh air and good rest. During nap It will be helpful to place your feet on a slight elevation. Traditional medicine methods can also help relieve swelling during pregnancy (but using them without a doctor’s permission is strictly prohibited):

  • Decoction of dried apricots. Pour boiling water over the dried apricots and leave overnight. We drink the resulting compote in the morning about 35-45 minutes before the start of a meal.
  • Diuretic herbs for leg swelling. Decoctions of lingonberry or bearberry leaves help to cope with this problem. bear ears, buds, hawthorn berries and flowers, cherry stalks, horsetail. Treatment lasts no more than a month and no more than one glass of medicine is taken in one day.

It is not recommended to resort to self-treatment swelling in the legs using modern medical supplies. The use of traditional methods and other means of treatment must be agreed with a doctor. Cool foot baths can help with swelling. By doing regular light foot massage, you will make it easier for yourself to fight swelling.

All of the above methods help get rid of physiological swelling of the legs, which is considered normal and occurs in approximately 77-82% of expectant mothers. They are completely safe and do not pose a threat to the child’s health, but such swelling must also be eliminated. However, edema during pregnancy is not always harmless, so it is necessary to pay attention to them in a timely manner and promptly take appropriate measures to treat them.

Video

If after a tiring working day or during hot weather your legs become very tired and swelling appears, a simple set of exercises shown in the video below will help you.

The problem of feeling tired legs after a productive day of work is familiar to many of us. In most cases, the situation is accompanied by swelling of the legs, which at first worries with its unaesthetic appearance, and then makes you think about the reasons. In any case, the issue of combating leg swelling is relevant for everyone who has encountered it or is at risk.

Why do my legs swell?

Edema is the concentration of too much fluid in tissues. One of the reasons for this phenomenon is that the overwhelming majority of humanity leads sedentary lifestyle life and eats food devoid of benefits and vitamins, salts everything and a lot.

Mostly women complain about swelling. And this is not surprising, because many representatives of the fair half, experiencing a natural desire to look attractive, choose shoes with heels for everyday wear. While making women's legs beautiful during the day, uncomfortable shoes provoke the appearance of swelling in the evening.

Unsightly view lower limbs can also cause disturbances in lymphatic and venous circulation. That is why cellulite, so hated by girls, is often accompanied by swelling. With varicose veins, swelling can be observed in only one leg. During pregnancy, swelling of the legs also occurs due to gestosis of the 2nd half of pregnancy and hypoalbuminemia.

Even if nothing but edema bothers you, you should remember that they can be symptoms of more serious diseases, such as diseases of the genital organs, prostate cancer, thrombosis, deep phlebitis and others. Excess fluid can signal poor liver and heart health. And morning swelling on the face and legs is most likely a sign of kidney disease.

If fluid stagnation is not caused by illness, then most likely the cause is fatigue and tension in the legs. People who spend all day on their feet, such as salespeople and hairdressers, are especially affected. This is also faced by pregnant women, whose kidneys cannot always cope with the doubled load.

Relieving swelling at home

First of all, if you notice the symptoms described above, you should visit a doctor to be sure there is no serious illnesses. If none are found, and swelling appears only from time to time, the best solution is to turn to traditional medicine.

If you, suffering from swelling of the legs, once again reach for a diuretic tablet, remember that there are many folk recipes, the components of which give the same, and sometimes more pronounced diuretic effect. Probably diuretics folk remedies with edema, you will prefer tablets in many cases, because it is much better application"chemistry".

So, how to relieve swelling with folk remedies?

One of the most proven remedies is diluting a kilogram of salt in a bucket. cold water. Place a towel dipped in water with dissolved salt crystals and slightly wrung out to your lower back. Ten times will be enough for active urination to begin, which will eliminate unwanted stagnation. A salty bath of regular or sea salt will also perfectly remove excess liquid.

Parsley, so beneficial for our body, will provide invaluable help in this case. Pass the washed fresh plant along with the roots through a meat grinder. Fill a glass of the resulting green mass with half a liter of boiled water and leave overnight.

You can add the juice of half a lemon to the strained liquid. Take 1 tablespoon throughout the day healing composition until you drink it completely. The course of treatment consists of two two-day infusions, between which you need to take a three-day break. Very soon you will notice that the stagnation has resolved.

The folk remedy loved by our ancestors will save you from edema. This will require young people birch leaves, which are poured into two glasses warm water(but not boiling water). You can also add a tablespoon of birch buds to the infusion.

The product is infused for several hours. Then carefully pour the liquid and drink half a glass before meals 3 times a day. The resulting infusion can also be used for compresses, which must be done 5 times during the day.

Another popular method is to cover swollen legs with a thick layer of birch leaves, which are carefully wrapped in plastic bags. After sitting in the bags for two or more hours, the swelling noticeably decreases.

An infusion of 4 tablespoons of flax seeds will help disperse excess liquid. You need to pour a liter of boiling water over them and boil for a quarter of an hour. The decoction is infused for an hour. Then it is taken hot, half a glass every two hours. Added to decoction lemon juice will improve its taste. After half a month, the swelling will disappear.

For those suffering from edema, we can offer another simplest recipe. All you need is a few small potatoes that need to be grated fine grater. Potato pulp is distributed over the entire area of ​​the swollen leg and wrapped in polyethylene. After two hours, the compress can be replaced with a fresh one.

Regular carrots will help in the fight against tired legs. More precisely, carrot tops. It needs to be dried and crushed. A tablespoon of the finished raw material is poured with 300 ml of boiling water and left for 30 minutes. The infusion is consumed half a glass three times a day. This remedy will not only stimulate fluid removal, but also improve heart function.

Like a contrast shower, an ice massage will be useful for your feet. A decoction of any medicinal herb(aloe, mint, calendula), which is frozen in the freezer. Crushed ice is wrapped in a thin cloth and massaged into the feet.

Any herbal bath. You can buy a diuretic in pharmacy, or you can prepare a mixture yourself, for example, from birch leaves, peppermint and chamomile flowers. The herbs filled with a liter of water are infused for one hour, diluted with water no higher than 38°C. Take a bath for swollen feet for 10-15 minutes.

Lean on foods containing potassium - honey, bananas, lettuce, watermelon, peaches, strawberries, lingonberries, etc. The usual tea can be temporarily replaced with dried apricot compote.

The recipes listed are time-tested and very effective. As you can see, assistants, and, what is important, natural means you can not only achieve sustainable results, but also to provide emergency assistance. If swelling of the legs is caused by pregnancy, illness genitourinary system, varicose veins and others chronic diseases, treatment of swelling of the legs with folk remedies using traditional recipes should be agreed with the attending physician.