When fluids are trapped and collected in your lower limbs, they are not able to distribute through the rest of your body and cause your legs, ankles, and feet to become swollen. This condition is referred to as edema. While edema is unknowned to be deadly, it can be a symptom for a more severe condition or health problem.
If you start experiencing this, it is best to seek advice from a physician to receive proper treatment and medical diagnosis. Nevertheless, the majority of the time, swollen limbs can be treated with an easy massage using several essential oils. The impacts of these treatments for each person differ highly depending on body structure, so it is important to be careful when you try them out.
Most Effective Essential Oils for Swelling
1. Chamomile Oil
Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that make it extensively known as a treatment for poison ivy. However, it also works marvels as a treatment for swollen limbs. Use it by using a few drops to the impacted areas, then kneading till the swelling subsides. Additionally, you can use the oil on a wet cloth that you can rub on your feet and legs. Chamomile also has a great and relaxing fragrance you can delight in as you massage yourself.
2. Lavender Oil
It can be used to massage and reduce the pain of swelling in different body parts. To use, apply a couple of drops directly onto the affected areas and massage slowly, using moderate pressure. Continue doing this until the pain is relieved or up until the swelling subsides.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Unlike a lot of other essential oils, tea tree oil can be applied directly onto the skin without blending or diluting it with other carrier oils. A couple of drops must be enough to treat the swollen area. Massage using external strokes, moving from the feet up towards the knees to allow the caught fluid to expand. For best outcomes, use twice a day up until the swelling subsides.
4. Juniper Oil
Juniper oil is another among the essential oils for swelling. It is great for reducing inflammation that results from fluid retention. To use it, include half a teaspoon of juniper oil to a little tub of warm water and soaking your feet. However, make sure that you do not use too much of the oil, as it has been reported to cause irritation to the skin.
5. Fennel Oil
Another efficient way to get rid of swelling is using fennel oil, which can also be combined with other types of essential oils. An advised mixture of oils would be 15 drops each of cypress oil and fennel oil, blended in with about 30 ml of night primrose oil. Rubbing the affected swollen areas is a quick way to relieve the pain and discomfort and help the inflammation disappear.
6. Geranium Oil
Finally, geranium oil, otherwise called rose geranium oil, works by stabilizing the oil glands that cause skin to end up being irritated. You can add a couple of drops of this to your bath water and soak in it to get rid of any swelling triggered by the collection of fluids in your limbs. Alternatively, you can mix it with provider oil and use directly to swollen body parts. As an added benefit, geranium oil can also get rid of bug bites, acne, hemorrhoids, and cold sores.
How to Use
1. Lemongrass, Grapefruit and Cypress Blend
These three essential oils contain properties that help reduce inflammation of the skin in only a few minutes. Measure 2 tablespoons of melted coconut, sunflower, or canola as provider oil and mix in 2 to 3 drops each of lemongrass, cypress, and grapefruit essential oils. Additionally, you can choose to mix 10 drops of each of the three oils into a separate container, blending well and then moving 6 to 8 drops of the mixture into the carrier oil. In either case, use the finished mix on the swollen areas and start rubbing well for about ten minutes. Remember to put your feet up as you massage to promote good blood flow. For best outcomes, repeat this massage 2 or 3 times daily.
2. Wintergreen Essential Oil Soak
Wintergreen is not popular, however it is another one of the terrific essential oils for swelling. Include about 2 or 3 drops to warm water sparingly, as this is a really strong oil. You can likewise add 5 to 8 drops each of cypress, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, or lavender oils to the water to match the wintergreen. For best results, soak your feet for at least 10 minutes about 2 to 3 times per day. Alternatively, you can raise your feet and rub them with the essential oils blended in provider oil. You can even add small pebbles in the tub and rub your soles if you have swollen ankles. Beware not to do this for swollen feet, as it will intensify the pain.
More Tips to Relieve Swelling
Aside from using essential oils, you can likewise take other measures to eliminate swelling in your lower limbs:
- Keep yourself hydrated with water to flush out salt from your body.
- Avoid using tight clothes that can restrict blood flow to your limbs.
- Prevent eating food with great deals of sodium. High levels of this can contribute to swelling.
- Take an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt has anti-inflammatory properties that can decrease swelling.
When to Call Your Doctor
Combined with other symptoms, swelling can really be a sign of problems with the kidney, liver, or heart. See a physician if you start experiencing fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath, if you are pregnant, or have been detected with liver and heart issues, or if the swollen areas are warm to the touch.
