To have swollen feet is not convenient. Aesthetically, it's not very nice to see. And for shoes, it's not practical. Fortunately, grandmother's remedies haveprove themselves to quickly deflate them.
I have to say that swollen feet – also said “foot edema” -, are usuallybenign and disappear within a few days. However, they can be a sign of serious illness such as a cardiovascular, renal or hepatic disorder. They can also translate an allergic reaction.
Find out in the following situations where you should consult your doctor without delay in case of swollen feet. You will then find causes of swollen feet as well as different grandmother's remedies who can fix it. At the end of the article, we we will answer recurring questionss on those swollen feet.
Go directly to the section that interests you
The 5 essential points
Three situations require emergency consultation in case of swollen feet.
Swollen feet appear due to poor blood circulation.
There are many causes of swollen feet.
Various grandmother's remedies are effective in deflating swollen feet.
A sedentary lifestyle should be avoided to combat swollen feet.
Swollen feet: emergency situations
See your doctor promptly if:
swelling isn't just about your feet but extends to your legs or your hands are also swollen;
one of your feet suddenly swells and that he is red, hot, hard and painful ;
your feet are swollen following an insect bite ou after walking barefoot in unknown terrain.
Swollen feet: the causes
Swollen feet correspond to presence of fluid in soft tissues feet. We often talk about " Water retention ". They appear following poor blood circulation notably poor venous return: blood serum then leaves the blood vessels and accumulates in the interstitial tissues.
The causes of this poor blood circulation responsible for swollen feet are:
Prolonged sitting or standing;
A sedentary lifestyle;
A diet too rich in salt;
Trauma: a fracture or sprain;
A medicinal origin:
Hormonal fluctuations: periods, pregnancy or menopause;
The presence of a blood clot in an artery (arterial thrombosis) or in a vein (venous thrombosis or phlebitis);
Heart failure;
Kidney disease;
Liver disease (including cirrhosis);
Chronic lung disease;
Diabetes;
Hyperthyroidism;
An allergy.
Swollen feet: effective grandmother's remedies to get rid of them
Outside of any emergency situation (quoted above), you can turn to grandmother's remedies to deflate your swollen feet. Here they are.
Swollen feet: to elevate
This is a good tip to deflate your swollen feet. Elevating the feet above the heart reduces pressure on the veins, improving blood circulation.
How to do ?
Two techniques are available to you.
Looking lie on the ground on the back and press your feet on the wall for a quarter of an hour. Repeat at your convenience, depending on the intensity and cause of your swollen feet.
Sleep at night by placing cushions under your swollen feet. If you are afraid of unconsciously moving them while you sleep, prop them up under a mattress protector.
Foot baths for swollen feet
Magnesium sulfate foot bath
Also called “Epsom salt” ou “epsomite”, magnesium sulfate has remarkable relaxing properties. It is widely used in spas. For good reason, upon contact with water, it releases magnesium which relaxes the muscles while improving blood circulation.
How to use it ?
To deflate your swollen feet:
fill a basin with hot water;
add 2 to 3 tablespoons of magnesium sulfate;
stir until the salt dissolves;
immerse your feet in the basin for 20 minutes
finish by rinsing thoroughly with clean water to remove the salt.
Apple cider vinegar foot bath
Apple cider vinegar is known for its exfoliating power. In fact, taking a foot bath with cider vinegar helps eliminate dead cells and calluses present in the pores. Furthermore, it facilitates venous return. Which is beneficial when you have swollen feet.
How to use it ?
Fill a basin with lukewarm water
Add half a cup of apple cider vinegar
Soak your feet for 20 minutes.
Essential oils for swollen feet
Peppermint essential oil
Among its many benefits, peppermint essential oil is recognized for itseffects on the circulatory system : it improves blood circulation. In external use, it has an erefreshing effect. In short, a perfect essential oil to deflate swollen feet and relieve the feeling of heavy legs.
How to use it ?
Dilute 2 to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil in a tablespoon of vegetable oil of your choice (coconut oil, sweet almond oil, rapeseed oil or others);
Massage it gently using circular motions starting from your toes and moving up to your ankles.
Lavender essential oil
The soothing virtues of lavender essential oil are no longer to be presented. In external use, it facilitates blood and lymphatic circulation.
How to use it ?
Put 2 to 3 drops of lavender essential oil in a tablespoon of vegetable oil of your choice (coconut, rapeseed, sweet almond or other oil)
Like the previous one, massage your feet with the mixture for a few minutes using circular movements from your toes to your ankles.
Swollen feet: know how to eat
Fighting and combating swollen feet also involves diet.
magnesium (such as green vegetables, whole grains, dried fruits or dark chocolate);
vitamin E (walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts);
Omega-3 (oily fish, flax seeds, etc.).
do not forget to to drink a lot of water to eliminate toxins.
What to avoid in case of swollen feet?
Processed foods. They are often too salty. However, as you have seen previously, a diet rich in salt is one of the causes of swollen feet.
With this in mind, to remedy your swollen feet, consider limit your salt intake. By the way, the recommendation of the World Health Organization is maximum 5 g of salt per day (the equivalent of a teaspoon) for one adult and no more than 2 g per day for child.
Swollen feet: the timeless application of cold
Since the dawn of time, the application of cold has been a solution used toreduce inflammation. And swollen feet are one of them.
You have the choice between 4 skills :
place a jet of cold water on the feet.
apply a cold, sterile compress;
apply a cold gel
use a bag of ice cubes: in this case, do not apply it directly to the skin: wrap it in a clean towel.
Swollen feet: say goodbye to a sedentary lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle causes fluid to accumulate in the feet and ankles. Conversely, practicing physical activity stimulates blood circulation.
To reduce your swollen feet:
Walk at least 30 minutes a day
Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Go cycling or swimming.
Swollen Feet: FAQ
Why aren't my feet deflating?
Usually, swollen feet disappear within a few days. Unless they are caused by an underlying disease such as diabetes, cirrhosis or heart failure for example. See your doctor for a diagnosis on your persistent swollen feet.
What drink to drink against water retention?
Some water. It has a draining effect. However, avoid waters high in sodium. Prefer water rich in magnesium and potassium.
Does high blood pressure make feet swell?
Yes. Swollen feet can be a symptom of high blood pressure. Sometimes the hands are also swollen.
If your swollen feet are accompanied by headaches or blurred vision (with or without swelling of the hands), contact your doctor.
Projects
Articles and resources used in creating this article
https://trucmania.ouest-france.fr/remedes-grand-mere-pieds-gonfles/
Our article creation process at Groupe SANTÉPOURTOUS
Each article is written by a qualified healthcare professional following strict editorial procedures (More information). This article is regularly revised in the light of the most recent scientific evidence.
