Edema from a Holistic Perspective

Causes of Edema 

Arteries and veins form the main blood vessels of your body. They further divide into fine vessels called capillaries. When there is a disturbance in pressure within or outside these capillaries, there is a leakage of fluid into the surrounding tissues. To make up for this loss in fluid, the excretory system tries to retain more fluid, which in turn leads to more leakage from the capillaries. The result is an excess of fluid collection in the body, leading to edema. The various causes leading to this condition are as follows:

• Physiological, as seen before menses or
• During pregnancy
• Sitting for long hours
• Excess intake of sodium
• Drug induced e.g. drugs like calcium channel blockers,
• Hormonal preparations and NSAIDs
• Congestive heart failure
• Diseases of the kidney like nephrotic syndrome
• Poor lymphatic drainage
• Liver affections like cirrhosis
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Extremes of temperature

Signs and Symptoms of Edema

• Swelling of subcutaneous tissue is the primary sign of edema.
• Depending upon the underlying pathology, swelling is seen in different parts of the body.
• The most common location where edema is observed is the ankles and legs. This happens in congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis and pregnancy.
• Ascites or edema of the abdominal cavity is seen in cases of affections of the liver.
• In case of kidney disease, edema is seen in the legs and around the eyes.
• In case of poor lymphatic drainage, edema is seen around the part of the body where the deficient lymph nodes and vessels are present.
• In addition to swelling, there is also pain in the affected part, due to stretching. The skin over the affected area appears distended and shiny. In case of abdominal edema, the abdomen is distended and looks bloated.
• Pitting (development of a dimple) is seen when pressure is applied to the affected part with a thumb, especially on the ankle.
• In addition to these external manifestations, edema may also be present within the internal organs like lungs and heart.

Diagnosis of Edema

• Diagnosis is made on the basis of a detailed medical history and specific investigations, depending upon the cause.
• The onset, duration and pattern of appearance of edema are vital in diagnosis. Drug-induced edema is ruled out by taking a history of prescription drugs consumed.
• Kidney function tests including serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and serum electrolytes are done to assess the amount of kidney damage, if any. 
• Liver function tests are done if any liver pathology is suspected.
• An ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen may be done to rule out any structural abnormalities of the liver or kidney.
• A 2D echocardiogram may be done to assess the heart function. 
• If DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is suspected as a cause, a doppler study is done of the lower limbs. 
• A chest x-ray is done if pulmonary edema is suspected.

Complementary Natural Care
Edema occurs due to fluid retention in the body. Diuretics only offer you temporary relief. Biogetica's methods aim at not only relieving fluid retention, but also teaching the kidneys, bladder and the lymphatic system to function optimally. The Homeopathic, advanced nutraceutical, and Ayurvedic herbal preparations are traditionally believed to work by: **

• Safely eliminating extra fluid from your body
• Relieving symptoms of swelling, pitting and bloating with the help of homeopathic ingredients
• Providing the body with bio-energetic imprints of healthy kidney and bladder functions, thereby bringing it back in resonance with its optimal functions
• Conveying to the lymphatic system ways to drain the fluid adequately, thereby preventing fluid accumulation.

Recommended Foods

• Increased intake of potassium helps the kidneys remove excess sodium and fluid, therefore we recommend edema sufferers to eat plenty of raw vegetables and fruits rich in potassium, especially spinach, lettuce, broccoli, bananas, oranges, apricots and tomatoes.
• Vitamin B6 is recommended in edema. It has a diuretic (excretion of fluid) effect and is particularly useful for pre-menstrual fluid retention. Vitamin B6 (pyrioxine) is known to help in clearing water retention. Brown rice and red meat are good sources of vitamin B6
• Eat plenty of cereal products, yeast, fish, chicken and nuts.
• Drink adequate amounts of barley water.
• Increase physical activity and eat a balanced diet.
• Increasing dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and fish oils - eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — generally decrease several markers of inflammation.
• Turmeric and Ginger may inhibit the pro-inflammatory lipo-oxygenase or cyclo-oxygenase pathways
• VitaminB5, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D help the body remove water by increasing kidney function.

Foods for Moderate Consumption

• Moderate or limit consumption of animal proteins, fried foods and chocolate.
• High fat foods can limit or adversely affect the kidney functioning.
• Dairy products, canned/preserved vegetables, legumes, and processed meats may contain significant amounts of sodium.

Foods to Avoid

• Sodium is bad For edema- avoid adding salt at the table and use a little or none in cooking;
• Avoid highly salted foods, such as chips, nuts, pretzels, corned meat, processed meats, sausages and takeaway food;
• Avoid salty condiments such as packet sauces, soy sauce and
• Restrict the intake of processed and canned foods, as they provide a good supply of sodium.
• Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
• Studies suggest that diets rich in saturated fats, trans fats and high glycemic index foods stimulate inflammation.

Home Remedies

Massaging the affected area with warm mustard oil will act as a lubricant, which forces the fluid back to the heart.