Do you often find yourself complaining, “I feel really bloated” or “My feet are so swollen, I can’t put my shoes on” ? You probably have a condition known as edema in medical terms, or more commonly called water or fluid retention.
This refers to excessive accumulation of fluid in body tissues. It frequently occurs in the feet and legs, but can affect other parts of the body as well.
It can be caused by factors like high sodium intake, poor circulation, lack of exercise, vitamin deficiencies, venous insufficiency (a problem with blood flow from the veins in the legs back to the heart), stress, pregnancy, menstruation, hot weather, exposure to high altitudes, allergies, high blood pressure, heart problems, kidney problems, chronic lung disease, liver disease, thyroid disorders, certain medications and oral contraceptives.
Water retention usually causes swelling and puffiness in the affected body parts. It may also cause stiff joints, weight change, a bloated feeling, and increased blood pressure and pulse rate.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for water retention.
1. Dandelion
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that dandelion has a diuretic effect. This makes dandelion a great solution for removing excess water from your body.
It is also loaded with potassium, which helps reduce sodium levels in the body. Moreover, being rich in magnesium, it is good for relieving pre-menstrual bloating.
- Steep one teaspoon of dried dandelion herb in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes. Strain and drink this tea up to three times a day.
- You can also take dandelion tincture or supplements (500 mg one to three times a day).
Before starting any herbal remedy such as dandelion tea, make sure you consult your doctor as it may interfere with certain drugs.
2. Parsley
Like dandelion, parsley also has excellent diuretic properties.
- Prepare parsley tea by putting two teaspoons of dried parsley leaves in a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Drink it up to three times a day.
- You can also drink a mixture of fresh parsley juice and lemon juice.
3. Epsom Salt
An Epsom salt bath can help you get rid of water retention and a bloated tummy through reverse osmosis. It draws out excess fluids and toxins from your body. The relaxing bath also soothes sore muscles and calms the nerves.
- Mix two cups of Epsom salt in warm bathwater.
- Soak in it for about 15 minutes.
- Repeat up to three times a week.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice helps flush out excess fluid and toxins from your body.
- Mix two tablespoons of lemon juice in a cup of warm water. You can also sweeten it with honey.
- Drink the solution.
- Continue taking this remedy once daily for a few days or until you see improvement.
5. Fennel Seeds
Studies have shown that fennel acts as a diuretic and helps increase sodium and water output from the kidneys. It also prevents the buildup of toxins in the body, aids digestion and relieves gas.
- Put one teaspoon of fennel seeds in a cup of hot water.
- Cover and let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain it.
- Drink this tea three times a day until you see improvement.
6. Nettle
Being a natural diuretic, nettle works well to prevent and reduce water retention.
- Boil a cup of water mixed with one teaspoon of powdered nettle root.
- Let it steep for about 10 minutes.
- Drink this tea three times a day until you see improvement.
7. Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is another popular home remedy to cure fluid retention because of its diuretic properties.
It is also rich in minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium that help maintain proper fluid balance.
So, drink a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice daily for relief. You can also take cranberry pills.
8. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be useful in reducing water retention. It stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages fluid drainage.
- Put 20 drops each of geranium, cypress and juniper essential oils in a warm bath.
- Soak in it for at least 10 minutes.
- Do this three times a week.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar relieves water retention by replenishing potassium in the body to help reduce sodium levels.
- Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. Drink it twice daily. You can increase the dosage of apple cider vinegar up to two tablespoons per glass.
- If you have fluid retention in your legs, you can soak your feet in a warm foot bath made of equal parts of apple cider and warm water for about 10 minutes. It will also reduce foot odor.
10. Onion
Onions have diuretic and blood cleansing benefits. It will also prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- Boil a few raw onions in four cups of water.
- Add salt to taste and then strain the solution.
- Drink two or three cups of it a day for a few days.
In addition to these remedies, you can try eating more diuretic foods such as cabbage, cucumbers, watercress, celery, bananas, pineapple, and watermelon.
Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day (the body starts retaining water when it is dehydrated), limit your salt intake, drink less alcohol, and exercise regularly.
Resources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19678785
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17804183
kindly post home remedies for gallstones
I had gallstones as well and had to have my gallbladder removed, but had I know about acv I don’t believe I would had to have it removed .. look it up and see if its right for you. Also, make sure it has the mother in it.. and if try drinking it try putting it in apple juice.. I’ve tried this and it works for other heath problems as well.. best of luck.
Works for me.. I have devils grip. It cost 10,000.00 to go to the emergency room, get a CT scan and finally a strong pain shot. We paid on that for over 5 years. I went to my doctor and told him later, he said–oh that’s devils grip. Simple name for what any good old doctor knows. So I looked up devils grip and home remedies. Got the ingredients, organic apple juice-the best I could get and a bottle of Bragg apple cider vinegar w/mother. About 2 months later I could barely get to the kitchen from the pain. Mixed about 1/4 glass vinegar and filled the rest of the glass with organic apple cider. It was gone in 15 minutes but gave relief in about 4-5 minutes. I now keep the vinegar handy and extra organic apple juice under the cubbard but I keep a pint of the juice in the freezer in case someone drinks my cider. Don’t know if microwaving it will ruin it and hope I done need to find out. But this is a miracle.
I have gall stones and recently they were bothering me – I was eating too many Lays potato chips…. Research told me that taking vitamin C usually takes care of the problem. It ‘protects’ the gall stones from collecting the fat from fatty foods. I started taking Vit C and it worked for me! I also eat less of the Lays potato chips.
To get rid of Gallstones , I take 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salts in a glass of juice and one hour later , 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil in some juice which pushes all the Gallstones out of my intestines an hour later.
Hi Sam, just wanted to know full detail of taking the epsom salt and olive oil to remove gallstones. Is it taken on empty stomach or can it be taken any time?
Flax seed tea relieves the pain and beets helps the gallbladder. I have used it for years
This is very informative. I have arthritis, afib, heart failure, water retention, gallstones, bad gallbladder, thyroid, high blood pressure, I am overweight, have been my whole life. Oh yes and bladder control condition.
It is very informative and i want to know stiff body with heavy pain in all over the body at every morning…feeling tired all the time.
Your symptoms are exactly how I feel when I do not eat clean food. Within a day or two of having green veggie juice (very little fruit if any) every day, I immediately feel better — no aches and pains and difficulty moving –even my ankles get stuff and I can’t walk. I know this inflammation is from junky foods.
I used to have Stiff Joints and after I stopped eating white bread the stiffness went away.
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I urge you to also highlight the fact that water retention could be a sign of renal failure. One should get one’s serum creatinine levels done, before embarking on above alternatives.
Vitamin B6 also helps remove fluid. Take a 2 or 3 a day, along with lots of water, and you will see the difference in less than a day.
I want to say that all the info. that is posted makes alot of sense and I will be using the remedies. I’m familar with these remedies and I Would like to thank you. I’ll keep you posted.
Good to know…☆ Thanks
very informative have relatives with all this problems.thanks
All of these remedies work quite well. However, when I do not use the remedies all these symptoms come back quickly and I am in pain & suffering once again. Must I take these remedies for the rest of my life?
Best and easy home remedy for water retention is to put half tea spoon each dhania and jeera in glass of water at
night. Next day morning filter and drink it regularly. You can use this dhania and jeera in vegetable. Avoid pickle,
papad, oily, spicy, fermented food, excess salt, sugar and maida.
Thanks, I think I will try this immediately since I feel bloated all over my body since 5 days after my vacation 🙁
Dear readers, it is always good to consult your docor first but this is what I have done.
Here is how to get rid of gallstones
I have worked as a secretary for a Corean Doctor in acupuncture who taught me the following.
The apples soften the gallstones and the Epson salts open the ducts so that the stones can pass easily. Here we go 🙂
Day one: Eat 5 apples. You may eat as normal (but it is adviseable to eat more fibre and less fat.)
Day two: the same as above.
Day three: the same as day one.
Day four: the same as day one.
Day five: the same as day one, 5 apples during the day plus your meals, but also the following:
At 6pm drink one glass of tempid/warm water (approx. 200ml) with 1 tablespoon of Epson salt.
At 8pm drink one glass of tempid/warm water (approx. 200ml) with 1 tablespoon of Epson salt.
At 10pm fill half a glass with freshly squeezed lemon juice and top it up with olive oil and drink ?
(I do not like salty water but found it easier with a Ferrer Roche wrapper under my nose twice. I thought that the oil and lemon remedy would taste greasy and sour but it didn’t, and it was easy and pleasant to drink.
10:10pm Go to bed and lay on your side if you can. If you have backache then lay flat on your back.
12pm Get up and do for example some washing up and then return back to bed. I slept well through the night. In the morning normal (stool); later in the morning green marrowfat peas looking gallstones. I wish that everything was so easy, and I wish you all the very best.
Thank you a very much,this tips are simple and easy to follow wishing all a healthy life style as I’m on the same boat,kudos to this website!
Liliane it only works for small gallstones that can pass through ducts.
I often can’t sleep due to very swollen feet. I can not offer any reason for this to work, but I find rubbing tiger balm or a similar product into my feet stops the pain almost instantly.
I use the parsely tea remedy. I have a big tube of dried parsely so it’s an easy fix. It works quite fast. I add lemon for taste which I’m sure helps with fluid retention too.
Hey, I travelled on a vacation and once back I observed my feet and palm are swelling, I though since I consumed wine, beer etc..could be. But it’s been 5 days yet I have bloated stomach and swelling, somebody suggest does it requires me to go to the doctor or any home remedies can suffice my pain.