Lymphoedema: How to Eliminate Excess Fluid from the Body Naturally

 

Lymphoedema is a condition that affects many people worldwide. It occurs when there is a buildup of lymphatic fluid in the body's tissues, which leads to swelling and discomfort. This condition can have a significant impact on the quality of life of those affected. World Lymphoedema Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of this condition and discuss how to eliminate excess fluid from the body naturally. In this blog, we'll discuss some natural remedies that can help alleviate the condition, including things that you can do to help yourself heal at home.

 

It is important to understand a little bit about what the lymphatic system does, to be able to fully comprehend why swelling and discomfort arise when it malfunctions.  This will truly help you to understand what we are trying to achieve by using the natural methods below to help eliminate the excess fluid that has accumulated within your body.  To get a better understanding of the importance of the lymphatic system and why it is so critical to the healthy functioning of your body, please click here.  There are a number of possible reasons why the lymphatic system may malfunction and result in swollen hands and/or legs, such as genetics, surgery, infection, and injury.  In these cases, damage in the lymphatic system occurs resulting in fluid build up, leading to lymphoedema.  To go into further detail about the causes and symptoms of lymphoedema, check out our blog on this very topic here. 

 

Lymphoedema is a chronic, ongoing condition that can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. While there is currently no known cure for lymphoedema, there are ways to manage the condition and prevent it from getting worse.  

 

 

Natural Remedies for Lymphoedema

 

There are several natural remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms of lymphoedema. These remedies can help eliminate excess fluid from the body, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Here are a few natural remedies to consider:

 

Exercise

Exercise is an effective way to improve circulation and reduce swelling in the affected area. Low-impact exercises are ideal because depending on the severity of the lymphoedema it can be difficult to walk long distances or participate in other activities.  Exercises such as walking, cycling, and swimming, are ideal to get things moving.  These exercises will get the muscles pumping, to help promote lymphatic drainage, which can reduce fluid buildup in the body's tissues. It's essential to speak with a healthcare professional before starting any exercise program.  

 

 

 

Massage

Massage is another natural remedy that can help alleviate the symptoms of lymphoedema. It can help stimulate lymphatic drainage and improve circulation in the affected area. A gentle massage (emphasis on gentle), can help reduce swelling and improve the range of motion in the affected area. The massage is usually performed by a trained lymphatic drainage expert, as it needs to be very gentle and follow particular anatomical pathways to be effective, encouraging the excess fluid back towards the heart, while working on the blockages to ensure the fluid can get to the lymph nodes effectively.  If doing self care massage, consider using the RESTORE massage oil as it has 5 essential oils that have been specifically chosen to enhance circulation and lymphatic return.  It’s essential to speak with a healthcare professional before starting any massage therapy.  

 

 

Compression Garments

Compression garments can help reduce swelling and improve lymphatic drainage in the affected area, particularly when the swelling is severe. These garments provide pressure to the affected area, which helps prevent the buildup of more fluid in the body's tissues. Compression garments come in different styles and pressure levels, and it's essential to speak with a healthcare professional before using them.

 

 

Diet

When it comes to diet and the lymphatic system, the key features are to make sure that the foods you are consuming are not causing further inflammation in the body.  If the lymphatic system is blocked and having trouble removing fluid from the surrounding cells in the area, it’s not hard to understand why adding more fluid to the body through inflammation is only going to make matters significantly worse.  What many people may not realise is the food choices we make can significantly contribute to the level of inflammation in your body.  A healthy diet can help improve lymphatic drainage and reduce inflammation in the body.  For further information on what foods to avoid to prevent inflammation and what to include in your diet to decrease inflammation check out this blog. 

 

 

SOulSoaking

For swollen hands follow this routine:

 

Choose a large bucket that will fit both of your swollen hands.  Fill it with hot water, as hot as you can comfortably handle it, so that you can immerse all of your hands.  Add SOulSoak RECOVER to the water and soak your hands for 15 minutes.  Once you’ve finished soaking, sit on the couch with your hands facing upwards above your heart (as if you are going to catch a basketball, while resting your elbows on the couch).  Twinkle your fingers and roll your wrists for about 3-5 minutes.  

 

For swollen legs follow this routine:

 

Choose a large bucket that will fit both of your swollen feet into, or a foot spa.  Fill it with hot water, as hot as you can comfortably handle it, so that it covers your feet and ankles.  Add SOulSoak RECOVER to the water and soak your feet for 15 minutes.  Once you’ve finished soaking, sit on the couch or on your bed, with your feet elevated above the level of your heart.  Move your feet back and forth for about 3-5 minutes.  

 

All of this movement, working with gravity, and having soaked in the SOulSoak RECOVER will help move the lymphatic fluid towards the lymph nodes.  

 

 

Acupressure Mat

Acupressure mats have become increasingly popular as a natural remedy for a variety of conditions, including lymphoedema. These mats have so many benefits, but when it comes to lymphoedema, there are two main benefits that are worth highlighting.  The first is easy to understand, lying on thousands of tiny acupressure spikes massively increases the blood flow throughout your entire body, which is essential in assisting the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins.  The second benefit may take a little more explaining.  Acupressure spikes not only stimulate the underlying circulation, they also stimulate the meridians that run up and down the entire body also.  For more information on meridians and how they work to improve your overall health check out this blog. When it comes to balancing the lymphatic system there are three main meridians that we need to stimulate.  The bladder, spleen and kidney.  These three meridians are found in different locations on the body, and therefore require you to lie on the acupressure mat in a specific way to ensure you stimulate and balance each of these systems.  To watch a video on how to use the acupressure mat to eliminate excess fluid from your body click here.

 

 

Water intake

Not drinking enough water can have a profoundly negative impact on the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system relies on a constant flow of fluid to function properly, and if you are dehydrated, this flow will become sluggish, which can lead to a buildup of toxins and swelling.

When you are dehydrated, your body will try to conserve water by reabsorbing as much fluid as possible from your lymphatic system, which can lead to a backlog of lymphatic fluid in the tissues. This can result in swelling, particularly in the extremities.

 

In addition, when you are dehydrated, your body may produce more histamine, which can contribute to inflammation and further exacerbate lymphoedema symptoms. Dehydration can also make it more difficult for your body to flush out toxins, which can contribute to inflammation and other health problems.

 

To help support the lymphatic system, it is important to stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. The amount of water you need can vary depending on factors such as your activity level, climate, and overall health, but a general guideline is to aim for at least eight glasses of water per day. If you have lymphoedema or other health concerns, it is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate amount of water for your needs.

 

There are quite a few tips and suggestions here to assist with managing lymphoedema at home.  Please don’t feel like you’re alone.  This condition affects many people in our community and more and more of our community members are turning towards using natural therapies to help relieve their suffering with this condition, as they feel that they don’t have many other options.  Using the acupressure mat as described in this video and using SOulSoak as described above has made an astronomical difference in the quality of their lives.  You are worth every bit of effort.  Take control of your health and support your lymphatic system naturally.