Edema is swelling that is caused by fluid trapped in your body’s tissues. It is basically an abnormal accumulation of watery fluid in the intercellular spaces of connective tissue. Edema happens most often in the feet, ankles, and legs but other parts of the body, such as the face and hands, can also be affected. When the swollen edematous tissues is punctured, they will secrete a thin incoagulable fluid. This fluid is essentially an ultra filtrate of serum but also contains small amounts of protein. Minor differences in composition are found depending on the type of disease that cause the problem.

Generalized swelling or massive edema, is an indication that the person is severely ill. Although slight edema may be difficult to detect, especially if a person is overweight, massive edema is very obvious. When a person suffers from edema it generally indicate a chronic and progressive medical illness.

Different Types of Edema:

•  Pitting Edema -- When you press a finger against a swollen area for 5 seconds and then quickly remove it, an indentation is left that fills slowly.

•  Nonpitting Edema -- When you press a finger against a swollen area for 5 seconds and then quickly remove it, no indentation is left in the skin.

Common Causes

• Medications. Certain drugs, such as steroids, hormone replacements, NSAIDs drugs and some blood pressure medications may affect how fast fluid leaves blood vessels. Certain drugs can damage kidneys (painkillers) and heart.

• Heart failure. When the heart is unable to maintain adequate blood flow throughout the circulatory system, the excess fluid pressure within the blood vessels can cause shifts into the interstitial spaces. Left-sided heart failure can cause pulmonary edema, as fluid shifts into the lungs. The patient may develop rapid, shallow respirations, shortness of breath, and a cough. Right-sided heart failure can cause pitting edema, a swelling in the tissue under the skin of the lower legs and feet. Pressing this tissue with a finger tip leads to a noticeable momentary indentation.

• Kidney disease. The decrease in sodium and water excretion can result in fluid retention and overload.

• Thyroid or liver disease. These conditions can change the concentration of protein in the blood, affecting fluid movement in and out of the tissues. In advanced liver disease, the liver is enlarged and fluid may build-up in the abdomen.

• Malnutrition. Protein levels are decreased in the blood, and in an effort to maintain a balance of concentrations, fluid shifts out of the vessels and causes edema in tissue spaces.

• Pregnancy. The changing levels of hormones affect the rate at which fluid enters and leaves the tissues.

Treatment

Simple steps to lessen fluid build-up may include:

• Reducing sodium intake. A high sodium level causes or aggravates fluid retention.

• Maintaining proper weight. Being overweight slows body fluid circulation and puts extra pressure on the veins.

• Exercise. Regular exercise stimulates circulation.

• Elevation of the legs. Placing the legs at least 12 in (30.5 cm) above the level of the heart for 10-15 minutes, three to four times a day, stimulates excess fluid re-entry into the circulatory system.

• Use of support stocking. Elastic stockings, available at most medical supply or drug stores, will compress the leg vessels, promoting circulation and decreasing pooling of fluid due to gravity.

• Massage. Massaging the body part can help to stimulate the release of excess fluids, but should be avoided if the patient has blood clots in the veins.

• Travel breaks. Sitting for long periods will increase swelling in the feet and ankles. Standing and/or walking at least every hour or two will help stimulate blood flow.

Herbal formulations to treat edema naturally is a much better option than prescribed drugs, controlled diets or certain physical activities. Most edema are cause by weak kidneys, heart or liver directly or indirectly, so herbs can be taken to strengthen these organs. If vitamins can be used to build up ones health (and they are plant nutrients before the introduction of petroleum-based types) so plant phytonutrients can also be used to build up ones body.

Herbs like Radix Panax Nototginseng, Poria Cocos Wolf, Diospycos Kaki L, Radix Polygonum Multiflorum and Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza have traditional been used for kidney, liver and spleen function improvement. They have traditional been used for symptoms like lower backache, edema, poor appetite in adults, osteoporosis and for nourishing the blood and have strong anti-oxidant function.

Panax Notoginseng:

1) Experiments and modern clinical trials have shown that Panax notoginseng has immunologically active. Panax notoginseng stimulates macrophages, promotes antibody formation, activates complement and increases T lymphocyte proliferation.  (T lymphocyte: a small lymphocyte developed in the thymus; it orchestrates the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells) and protected animals from liver intoxications. 41992

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng has anti-inflammatory, analgesic (reduces pain) and immunomodulatory action.. 44000

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng reduces thrombogenicity (blood clot) and arrhythmias (improves blood and heart function), increases erythrocyte deformability (causes the ability erythrocytes cells to change shape as they pass through narrow spaces, such as the microvasculature i.e. improves blood flow), is an antioxidant, which can counteract free radical damage associated with atherogenesis and myocardial damage seen with ischemia (reduce blood supply) and reperfusion (damage to tissue caused when blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia). 66054

4) Several studies have shown that notoginsenoides from Panax Notoginseng lower elevated blood lipids (cholesterol). 01683

5) Clinical research  by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng  increasing the resistance to anoxia (a region of the body where there is complete deprivation of oxygen supply), increase blood circulation in the heart and brain while lowering elevated blood pressure. 18584

6) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng may prevent atherosclerosis and inhibit progression of the atherosclerotic lesions by interfering with the proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cell. 49623

7) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that ginsenosides Rg1 from Panax Notoginseng has estrogen-like activity and should be classified as a novel class of potent phytoestrogen abd that ginsenosides have demonstrated pharmacological effects in the central nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. 61497

Poria Cocos Wolf:

1) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Poria cocos has anti-inflammatory functions. 20314

2) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Poria cocos is effective in treating  chronic and acute inflammation. 25140

3) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Poria Cocos Wolf has anti-tumor and immune-enhancing activity. 65424

4) Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that triterpene carboxylic acids were isolated from the methanol extract of Hoelen, Poria cocos, and found to inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TAP)-induced edema. 81415

5) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Poria Cocos have anti-inflammatory functions, high scavenging activity and protects liver and red blood cells from lipid peroxidation. 60151

6) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Poria cocos improves kidney functions. 07662

Diospycos Kaki L: Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Diospycos Kaki L has hypolipidemic (decrease in the level of lipids in the blood) and antioxidant properties. 32027

Polygonum multiflorum:

1) Clinical research shows that the extract of the root of Polygonum multiflorum exhibited a significant antioxidant activity. 33196

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Polygonum Multiflorum increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, reduce total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triglycerides, retard atherosclerosis, protect the heart, strengthen the membranes of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and has powerful natural antioxidant and free radical scavenger and these have powerful anti-aging benefits in humans. Forster

Salvia Miltiorrhiza:

1) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed the validity of the historical use of the drug for improving liver functions. 566-572(7)

2) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed the validity of the historical use of the drug, Salvia Miltiorrhiza for improving liver functions by preventing liver damage and micro-circulation disorders. 41991.

3) Scientists confirmed the validity of the historical use of the drug to improve heart and kidneys functions, promoting coronary blood flow without affecting heart rate, inducing dilation of renal vascular system, an increase in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate, decreases blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, methylguanidine, guanidinosuccinic acid and inorganic phosphate (in rat studies), is a free radical scavenger, inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces accumulation of methylguanidine and guanidinosuccinic acid levels (methylguanidine and guanidinosuccinic acid have been reported to cause platelet dynfunction, hemolytic activity, glucose metabolism disturbance and inhibition of lymphocyte transformation). 1527-0661  

4) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed the validity of the historical use of the drug, Salvia Miltiorrhiza for improving liver functions. Stronger liver would reduce kidney stress. 64749

5) Clinical research by western scientists confirmed Salvia Miltiorrhiza has antioxidative agent by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). 35448

6) Research by western scientists confirmed Salvia Miltiorrhiza has antioxidative agent. The active constituents 1,2,15,16-tetrahydrotanshiquinone and Ro-090680 showed inhibitory activity against P388 Leukemia cell in vitro and Ro-090680 was reported to be a potent inhibitor of rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen (platelet aggregation can cause vascular obstruction via the formation of a thrombus). 57662

7) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Salvia miltiorrhiza can be used to treat heart diseases. 56858

Thanks to growing trust in herbal treatments survival rates have improved over the years. Herbal formulations to treat various types of kidney liver problems has proven to be safe and very effective without any side effects. When allopathic science failed, more and more people have to turn to trustworthy alternative source. It was desperation that saves them.