Edema - Ayurvedic / herbal medicines

What is Edema?

Edema is a clinical condition of observable swelling the accumulation of fluids in body tissues. The most common sites are feet and legs and considered as peripheral edema. Swelling is due to accumulation of excess fluid under the skin and in the spaces within the tissues. Usually the accumulation of fluids do occur in blood vessels and interstitial spaces. The body's organs have interstitial spaces where fluid can accumulate. If the fluid accumulation is in alveoli in the lungs, it is called as pulmonary edema, similarly cavities of abdomen is ascites etc.

Types of Edema

Depending on the type of edema such as pitting or non-pitting type the pattern of treatment varies. Usually non-pitting edema may happen in lymphedema, (due to mastectomy or lymph node surgery), or, hyperthyroidism, where the line of treatment is different.

Pitting type of edema is usually occur from systemic disease. The most common systemic diseases are associated with heart, liver, and kidneys, here, edema do occur because of body’s retention of too much salt or sodium chloride, and the excess salt causes body to retain water, this fluid leaks into interstitial tissue spaces which appears as edema.

Few examples for pitting edema are varicose veins and thrombophlebitis etc., and as mentioned earlier like heart diseases, liver diseases, and kidney diseases.

Apart from this issue, there are few cases of idiopathic edema, such as premenopausal, pre menstrual (cyclical edema).

For all these conditions, doctor usually suggests Primary medications for the particular illness and diuretics for the same.

Causes / Symptoms of Edema

When you go to right doctor, with symptoms and other diagnostic criteria, when proper diagnosis is made, edema can be treated with simple medications without any complications and they use some kind of diuretics like loop diuretic therapy where they enhance excretory function of kidney with medications like furosemide (Lasix), butethamine (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex) etc. these drugs are given in many modes like orally, or intravenously, even, in few cases, they use in the form of combinations.

As few diuretics may cause excessive loss of potassium in the urine and when there is depletion of body potassium, patient may need to consume some fruits like bananas, orange juice, potatoes, or tomatoes.

However, notable point is when patient is suffering from kidney malfunctioning, they may not require potassium with diuretics. Hence, by keeping follow up with doctor, doctor may monitor these factors time-to time for chronic cases.

Hence, one should understand that chronic diuretic use may cause deficiency of potassium, kidney insufficiency or kidney failure, depletion of blood volume in the blood vessels, and 

high blood sugar levels (diabetes), high uric acid (gout), muscle cramps, and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), in males chances of gyenecomastia.

Role of alternative therapies

By understanding these factors, Alternative therapies are very helpful especially herbal remedies or ayurveda where there are natural diuretics which are having similar actions as allopath medicines do, and these herbal medications do acts on target and usually without any side effects.

Ayurveda Medicines for Edema

As ayurveda says, prevention and maintain lifestyle and diet, one should follow proper diet and maintain diet with low salt and moderate potassium and depending on each illness, combined treatment may be given for particular illness and for edema.

Few ayurvedic medicines such as Punarnava Mandoor, Punarnava Capsules Triphala Guggulu, Guduchyadi Kashaya, Gokshuradi Guggulu, or Gokshuradi Kashaya are few examples. These medicines are used in the form of combination or even by consultation with an ayurvedic doctor and one should ask for proper dosage and timing of the medicine in take and duration of the medicine intake.

These medicines are used for many other illnesses also such as for kidneys, heart or any other disorders and in the form of combination.

Diet / Food and herbs for Edema

Though there are foods which are having diuretic properties, one should be cautious that not to consume diuretics for long period. Foods and herbs such as parsley, Celery seed or plant, Dandelion, Asparagus, Juniper berries, Barley, Tribulus terrestris, Spreading Hogweed or Boerhavia, Vidarikanda or Pueraria Tuberosa, Rotula aquatic (pashanabedh), etc.. One should avoid excess Coffee, Tea, or coke though they are having diuretic properties.

Conclusion

Ayurveda concept says that by following combined efforts like diet, lifestyle, and medication, one can control their illness. This implies in treating edema also. As generalized or pitting edema do occur due to any disorders in heart, or kidney or liver disorders.

Practicing yoga and pranayama will also help to maintain healthy lifestyle and one can avoid stress and anxiety by doing so.