Oedema - herbal remedies?

[ArwenUndomniel]

I'm having some problems with oedema in my feet and legs at the moment - everything is very puffy and spongy, if that makes sense! It's not painful or even particularly uncomfortable but it looks awful. My ankles are twice their usual size and my socks are leaving welts around my calves at the end of the day.

I have a sedentary job but I'm trying to get up from my desk and walk around for a bit every hour. I have a stand/sit desk when I'm in the office so alternate between the two. I'm also cutting down on salt and sugar (not that I have loads of either in the first place) and drinking loads. I'm not overweight or diabetic. But nothing is having much effect.

Are there any herbal diuretic supplements that are worth the money? I want to try whatever I can before resorting to asking the GP. Full disclosure, I have an ED so I don't really want to start using prescription diuretics if I can avoid it. Thanks in advance for any help!

Does your GP know about this?

Any causes of oedema need to be investigated before treatment

No, I haven't seen them about it. But I know the cause - it's related to the eating disorder.

You do need to see the GP. If your ED is the direct cause, there are various possible implications, eg.that your electrolytes are dangerously out of sync - could cause dangerous heart dysrhythmias and sudden death
Or that your protein levels are dangerously low - could cause issues in any part of your body
Or that you have developed heart failure, a possible side effect of severe lack of various nutrients.

Of course it might not be that - you could have developed heart or kidney disease independently of your ED.

Whatever the cause, you need a proper medical assessment if the oedema is as bed as you describe.

All of this

Treating symptoms without addressing the cause is simply palliative care

In your case, treating the symptoms with some over the counter/quack/herbal remedy could make a treatable condition a thousand times worse

you need to look up what to do on the nhs website. if it says call nhs24 then you should.

the trouble wirh eating disorders is that people think they are ok and in control when they are not. i think your body’s needing help. urgently. please check the nhs website and follow the advice. if your heart isn’t working properly you cannot mess around.

you need to see the gp
and a physio to show you feet and calf strengthening exercises (oedema pumping exercises)

good luck

OK... I have been on the NHS 111 thing and also the advice page about oedema and I am not concerned that I'm in the early stages of organ failure. My blood pressure and pulse rate are normal and I'm urinating as normal. I didn't really want to go into my ED here but I have recently regained some weight and oedema is a common follow-on from "refeeding". It makes me feel really "fat" even though I know it's fluid and that in turn puts me off from eating more. So I just wanted to try something that might alleviate the symptoms slightly and not get in the way of my recovery.

Herbal remedies - no definitely not when you don't know what the exact cause of the oedema is. You can try to reduce the symptoms by elevating your lower limbs as much as possible and wearing compression socks (knee length) or stockings (actually tights). But as several PPs have said you really do need to speak to your GP and get their assistance to manage the symptoms safely.

that’s great news you've put on some weight op. well done thats fab.

im glad you got reassurance that it’s normal for you at the moment. thanks for the update. i was thinking about you.

my mum was told not to stand still and when sitting to use a footstool to elevate her legs.

she is therefore supposed to walk (or march on the spot while say staring out of the window watching the world go by or waiting for the kettle to boil) and no sitting without elevating her legs (shes too stiff to get them up on the couch, hence a footstool but couch would be good for her). shes encouraged to walk more but i’d suggest that you don’t want to overdo the exercise.

her symptoms go away overnight as she’s been flat in bed.