Home remedies for swollen feet: Swollen feet is a common problem that several hundred people suffer from. Anything from a long tiring day at work to wearing high heels can trigger a swelling in your feet. Pregnant women too suffer from swelling in their feet that refuses to abate. The swelling can interrupt your day to day schedule and take quite a few days to go off. If you are suffering from swollen feet, it is imperative that you take charge and treat this not so serious medical condition at home! So, what should your first step be? Read on to know what you can do to relieve swelling in your feet naturally.
Before proceeding to home remedies for swollen feet, first, let us understand this condition a little better.
What Are Swollen Feet?
In medical terms, any swelling in the body is edema. When the fluids in the body accumulate in one part of the body such as the feet, they begin to swell. This swelling at times is accompanied by pain and sometimes isn’t.
Listed below are a few easy practices and home remedies for swollen feet that you must adopt to get rid of swollen feet at the comfort of your home. All of them are cost-effective, simple and quick to put together.
How to Get Rid of Swollen Feet; 8 Home Remedies For Swollen Feet
1. Epsom Salt
Today’s list starts with Epsom salt. This is one of the most tried and tested home remedies for swollen feet. And yes, it does work. Epsom salt is made of crystals of hydrated magnesium sulfate. This is a great cure for muscle soreness and will give you instantaneous relief from pain as well as swelling. You can try this remedy every time you have any swelling in your feet. You can do this just before you hit the sack.
How to use: In a tub of warm water, add two tablespoons of Epsom salt and mix well. Soak your swollen feet in this saline solution for about 15 to 20 minutes. If you cannot lay your hands on Epsom salt you can also use some common salt.
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2. Tonic Water
Tonic water is yet another quick remedy to bring down inflammation. If you are wondering what tonic water is, it is nothing but carbonated water to which a small amount quinine. Tonic water has been used in the treatment of malaria since time immemorial and can also be used to reduce swelling in the feet. The quinine in the carbonated water has anti-inflammatory properties, and the fizz in the carbonated water acts as a great relaxant.
How to use: Fill a tub with enough tonic water so as to cover the affected areas. Ensure that the tonic water is cool. Soak your feet in the tub for about 20 minutes. Rinse the foot with regular water following the soak.
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3. Baking Soda
Use a paste of baking soda as one of the quickest home remedies for swollen feet. This kitchen ingredient can be used to treat various health ailments, including swollen feet. When combined with rice water, the powers of baking soda is doubled. A mix of rice water and baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties and can bring down the fluid retention in your feet. This potent remedy is also said to improve blood circulation in the affected area greatly.
How to use: Boil some rice and strain. Do not discard the starchy water. Mix some baking soda in the rice water to make a homogeneous paste. Apply this all over your feet and let it stay for at least 20 minutes. Rinse soon after and follow up by moisturizing your feet.
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4. Lemon
No amount of praise is enough for this fist-sized fruit that can miraculously cure a number of health ailments. Lemon is used not just internally but also externally to treat health conditions and is said to possess anti-inflammatory properties. When combined with other essential oils, lemon can bring down the swelling on your feet within a day or two. Cinnamon and olive oil are two of the best oils that can be used in conjunction with lemon to reduce swelling overnight. While cinnamon has properties similar to lemon and can aid in reducing inflammation, olive oil moisturizes your feet and makes them soft and smooth.
How to use: Mix the ingredients together to make a paste-like liquid and liberally apply all over your swollen feet. Let this paste stay for a few hours. If you can leave it on overnight for better results.
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5. Coriander Seeds
You use coriander seeds in your cooking. But, did you know that these seeds have diuretic properties? A handful of these seeds is all you need to combat edema and bring down the swelling naturally.
How to use: Boil a handful of coriander seeds in a bowl of water. Let the vessel stay on the flame till the water reduces to half its original volume. Strain and drink up this infusion.
Alternatively, soak some coriander seeds in water and grind them in a mixie to make a uniform paste. Apply this paste generously on the affected area and let it stay till it dries up. The more you do this, the sooner the swelling will reduce.
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6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Looking for a remedy that works instantaneously? Look no further than ACV. When applied to swollen and tired feet and ankles, this wonder liquid can provide immediate relief. Compared to the other home remedies for swollen feet, vinegar is said to exhibit absorption action which helps reduce the fluid build-up in the feet. Once the retention is combated with, swelling and stiffness will be a story of the past. This is hands down the best-swollen ankle remedies you can find.
How to use: Take a cup of ACV and divide it into halves. Mix one half a cup of ACV with warm water and the remaining half cup with cold water in two different bowls. Soak a clean towel in the warm water first, wring out the water and wrap the towel around the swollen foot. Leave the towel on the foot till it loses all the heat. Now repeat the same procedure with the cold water and vinegar combination. Leave this wrap on for about ten minutes. You can repeat this as many times as you please.
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7. Parsley
If fluid retention has caused swelling in your feet, you will do good in trying out the parsley. Parsley is a natural diuretic and can expel all excess fluid from the body in no time and bring down inflammation without any side effects. The herb also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that make it a great remedy for swollen feet.
How to use: Throw in a few parsley leaves in a cup of water and bring it to boil. Strain the liquid and drink when the tea is warm. You can drink 3 to 4 cups of this tea for relief from pain and inflammation due to swelling in the feet.
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8. Barley Water
Yes, it isn’t the most appealing drink you have had. But, this remedy works like a charm in bringing down inflammation and combating with pain caused by swollen feet. Like parsley, barley too has diuretic properties, which means you can get rid of fluid retention by drinking up some barley water.
How to use: Boil some barley in a vessel of water. Let it boil till the water turns a light brown in color. Strain and cool this solution and consume it once it reaches room temperature. Store the remaining in the refrigerator and consume. You may drink up to 2 glasses of this solution a day.
Now, those were our list of a few potent home remedies for swollen feet that you can try. Try them today and let us know which one of them worked best for you!
If the swelling persists even after trying these remedies (and longer than three days), seek medical assistance.
