Have you ever experienced swelling in the legs, hands, or feet? If you have, then you probably know how painful it might be.
This swelling is called edema, or the other name is the retention of fluids in the body and there are various reasons for it, including:
- Eating too much salty food or processed food;
- Staying in one place for too long or sitting too much;
- PMS;
- Pregnancy;
- Side effects of some medications;
- Poor circulation.
The most common cause for swelling in the legs can be sitting or standing for a long period as in the case of pregnancy, but chronic ankle and leg swelling can be a very serious condition known as peripheral edema.
This issue indicates heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease, that is why you need to consult your doctor if the swelling remains longer than normal.
When the swelling occurs occasionally, some herbal remedies exist which are great in lowering the swelling effect and can help the body to eliminate the excess fluids.
The best herb, for this reason, is the parsley.
Recommended by Hippocrates
Two Greek words make the word parsley, and they are “petrose” which means rock because it can be often found in some rocky areas or stone walls and “selenium” which is the ancient word for celery. The literal meaning would be “rock celery” if you put the two words together.
We can differentiate two types of parsley: Italian parsley with flat leaves and hardier and curly parsley. It is commonly used as a garnish in every restaurant and home in the US, and most of the time we pick it off the dish or leave it aside.
However, many studies relieved that consuming the garnish parsley will help us protect our body from many diseases such as urinary tract problems, digestive disorders, asthma, menstrual pain, allergies and can be very helpful in the case of low blood pressure, it can improve the bone health and the breathing if you suffer from bronchitis.
Centuries ago, Hippocrates said that parsley is great for rheumatism and kidney stones and can be the perfect antidote for poison. The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook claims that parsley is an excellent diuretic helping kidneys to eliminate any excess fluids from the body.
Parsley Is a Natural Diuretic
The diuretic properties of the parsley prevent the potassium and sodium ion pumps and influence the osmosis process while raising the urine flow, according to the Journal of Ethnopharmacology’s study in 2002.
Most of the chemical diuretics lower the potassium levels, so parsley being a great source of potassium, will never have any side effects as these pharmaceutical drugs.
The same results were discovered when a study in Brazil in 2009 under the name Diuretic and hypotensive activity of aqueous extract of parsley seeds, shows that parsley can raise the urinary flow, but it can also lower the blood pressure.
Parsley Tea Recipe for Edema
Dr. John R. Christopher, a great herbalist renowned in the whole of America, says that we should consume 64 oz or about two quarts of strong parsley tea daily for amazing results.
If you feel like you need more of the tea increase the number of cups every hour. He suggests that when preparing the tea, you need to use fresh green leaves together with the seeds and roots if you can find one.
Instructions:
- Take the leaves and roots and chop them into small pieces or use previously chopped pieces placed in the refrigerator.
- Use the infusion basket and put 1⁄4 cup of fresh parsley.
- Take some boiling water and pour it over the cup or put it in a teapot.
- Leave the tea to sit for five or seven minutes.
- Strain the tea or take out the basket.
- If you prefer you can add some lemon, ginger, or honey for better taste.
- Remember to drink it while it is still warm for more benefits.
Besides this recipe and the consummation of the tea, try other methods for reducing the swelling like raising the legs and using a pillow for support while you lay down making sure the heart is below the legs.
Another technique is to exercise the legs in order to pump the fluids from the legs to the heart.
