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Swelling of the lower limbs can have a number of external and internal causes. Most often it is related to working conditions, which include either long periods of standing or sitting, or strain while walking in people with higher body weight (overweight). Besides these external causes, leg swelling may also be caused by internal factors such as heart or cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems or hormonal imbalance. If you begin to experience swelling more frequently, first visit your doctor and get examined for altered internal factors; if their presence is not confirmed, it is very likely that the swelling occurs only due to external factors. In such a case you can alleviate their symptoms with some of the following remedies.
How to deal with leg swelling from prolonged standing or sitting
Prevention or treatment of swelling caused by prolonged standing or sitting, or by walking, is based on several specific measures which include:
- adjusting your diet
- consuming appropriate decoctions
- applying salt compresses
- exercise
Each of the mentioned remedies needs to be applied in a specific way and for a determined period of time.
Dietary adjustment
Increased formation of leg swelling is usually associated with heavy salt consumption. Salt retains water in the body, which is stored primarily in the lower limbs, especially if they are constantly in a vertical position. If you consume too much salt, try replacing it at least with iodized salt, or add more other strongly flavored seasonings to your food, such as lemon juice or spices. It is also ideal to supplement your diet with diuretic foods that help remove water from the body – especially suitable are green parsley or herbal roots, or fruits and vegetables such as watermelon or cucumbers.
Diuretic decoctions
If you want to support kidney function and achieve better removal of water from the body, you can try decoctions from primrose leaves or roots, or from flax. For primrose, it is necessary to boil chopped leaves or roots in two pots of water and let stand overnight – the decoction is then strained and flavored with lemon juice, then 100 ml is consumed 3 times a day, always for a period of 3 days. The flax decoction is prepared from 1 liter of water and 4 teaspoons of flaxseed, which is boiled for 10–15 minutes. Add the juice of one lemon to the decoction and drink it hot, always half a glass every half hour. The flax decoction is used for 2 weeks, until the swellings disappear.
Salt compresses
In addition to consuming suitable foods and drinks, the symptoms of leg swelling can also be reduced by a salt bath. Prepare it from 1 kg of common table salt dissolved in 10 liters of water. From the solution make a compress by soaking and wringing out a towel, which you apply to the lower back at night before sleeping for about 20 minutes for 10 days. In the same way, the compresses (wraps) can also be applied directly to the swollen feet.
Exercise
Simple exercises that help reduce leg swelling consist of rising onto the toes and then lowering back onto the heels. You can perform the exercise either at home or while walking – a set includes 30 repetitions followed by a 5–10 second rest. This type of exercise simultaneously improves blood circulation in the lower limbs.
