Home Remedies For Swollen Feet: Procedure, Recovery, Risk & Complication

Swollen feet usually occur when there is an accumulation of fluid in your tissues, which leads to swelling. There could be several reasons for this such as weight gain, old age, pregnancy, deficiency in important vitamins and minerals, lack of exercise, or poor circulation of blood. You can treat swollen feet with the following home remedies for swollen feet:

1. Contrast hydrotherapy:

   It is extremely effective in treating swollen feet. You have to take two tubs of warm water and cold water respectively. Soak your feet in the tub containing warm water for 3-4 minutes. After that, change the tub immediately and soak your legs in cold water for a minute. Repeat this process for about 15-20 minutes. The warm water will improve your blood circulation and the cold water will reduce inflammation and swelling.

2. Foot massage:

   A foot massage will create pressure on the swollen area that will help the sore muscles to relax as well as improve blood circulation. Rub some olive or mustard oil on the swollen area and massage in an upward direction. Make sure you do this several times regularly.

3. Ginger:

   Ginger dilutes sodium, which is one of the major factors resulting in swelling. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce swelling. You can use ginger oil to massage your swollen feet or have ginger tea and slices daily.

4. Lemon water:

   It flushes out the excess toxins and fluid from the body, which eventually helps to reduce swelling. Apart from this, it keeps your body hydrated and also provides you with anti-inflammatory benefits. Mix a few drops of lemon juice and honey in a glass of warm water. Drink this mixture regularly.

5. Physical exercise:

   It is extremely important as it helps in stimulating circulation and prevents blood from accumulating in the lower extremities of your body. Swimming, walking, jogging, and hydrotherapy are some of the physical activities that you can do to treat a swollen foot. Raising the legs will also help to reduce swelling.

6. Drink water:

   when your body becomes dehydrated it holds into the fluid which it has, and this leads to swelling. Drinking 8-9 glasses of water can hydrate enough to reduce the swelling.

7. Keep moving:

   when you sit or stand for a long period it can result in swelling. Try to walk for some time or flex your knees after every hour.

8. Soak in a cool Epsom salt bath:

   soak feet for about 15 - 20 minutes in Epsom salt bath. It will help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Epsom salt does this by drawing out toxins and relaxing the feet.

9. Magnesium rich foods:

   Food almond, spinach, broccoli containing magnesium supplements help in reducing swelling by decreasing the water retention capacity of cells. Add magnesium-rich food to your diet.

10. Coriander seeds and cucumber:

    Coriander seeds and cucumber help to reduce the swelling in the feet because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Take 2-3 teaspoons of coriander seeds and boil in 1 cup of water. For cucumber, you can add a few slices of cucumber in water and drink.

11. Avoid Alcohol:

    Consuming alcohol increases the tendency of the body to retain water which results in swelling of feet. Don't take alcohol when you are suffering from swollen feet.

12. Potassium rich foods:

    one major cause of water retention is a deficiency of potassium in the body. Potassium-rich foods such as Sweet potatoes, bananas, Salmon help to reduce the swelling in the feet. Sweet Potatoes, Banana & Salmon help to recover fast from swollen feet.

13. Cucumber:

    Cucumber contains 80-90% water so, as drinking water is good for swollen feet similarly cucumber plays a vital role in swollen feet. Cucumber also possesses anti-inflammatory properties which result in a reduction of swelling if it is caused by inflammation. Cucumber helps to flush out the extra fluids from the cells.

14. Mint Bath:

    Mint bath helps to relax your feet and shows a soothing effect. You can take 3-4 glasses of water and add half a cup of mint leaves to it. Boil it for sometime and after cooling soak your feet in it.

Summary: Swollen feet can be reduced by taking contrast hydrotherapy, foot massage, soaking your feet in Epsom salt. Take a lot of fluids, and potassium, magnesium-rich foods. Do regular exercise and avoid alcohol consumption.

The possible side effects of the home remedies are:

Some people may experience skin irritation when ginger is applied to the skin. Some people may experience diarrhea, heartburn, or stomach discomfort with continuous consumption of ginger. Also, women may experience extra bleeding during menstruation if they consume ginger daily. Diabetic patients must also be careful when consuming ginger.

The acidic content in lemon water can erode the enamel of your teeth if consumed in excessive amounts. It can also make your tooth sensitive to hot as well as cold foods. Apart from that, lemon juice is also said to trigger heartburn if you have too much of it.

Summary: Despite being effective, certain home remedies have some side effects which vary from person to person, so choose your home remedy only if you are not allergic or sensitive to the particular substance. Do not use any home remedies in excess as it may be harmful to health.

The post remedy guidelines would be:

• Limit your intake of salt.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water regularly.
• Do not wear tight shoes.
• Avoid foods that contain high amounts of sugar.
• When you are lying down, you can elevate the feet with the help of a chair or a pillow.
• Eat foods like asparagus, parsley, green beans, grapes, pineapple, beets, etc that help in releasing the build-up of fluid in the body tissues.

Summary: You need to follow the guidelines after recovery. Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and food containing added sugar. Limit your salt intake.

With proper care and treatment, your swollen feet can be permanently cured. If you hurt your feet again or gain weight abruptly or develop a health condition, the condition can recur.

Summary: Yes, it can be permanently cured if proper care is taken.

These natural remedies for swollen feet do not require any training or expertise, and you can do them easily. The ingredients are also readily available for your use. However, if you are practicing yoga, it is better if you do it under the guidance of a professional expert, as you can hurt yourself if the poses are done incorrectly.

Summary: No, Training, or expert assistance is required for following home remedies. If you practicing yoga then you can take training.