Edema, also known as water retention, occurs when fluid accumulates in the body's tissues, causing swelling in the hands, feet, ankles and legs. Edema has many causes, including excessive salt in the diet, menstrual symptoms, remaining immobile for too long, pregnancy, or an underlying circulatory, lung, heart or kidney disease. Conventional treatment may include diuretics such as furosemide and spironolactone, to increase urine output from the kidneys, but they can have unpleasant side effects. Herbal diuretics are a gentle home remedy that may be effective for edema. It is important to correctly diagnose the underlying cause of edema, and then consult an herbalist or other health care provider before beginning herbal treatment.
Dandelion
Dandelion, or Taraxacum officinale, is a perennial herb with bright yellow flowers found throughout the world. The plant is edible; the leaves are eaten in salads and the dried and roasted roots make a brewed beverage similar to coffee. Herbalists use dandelion as a diuretic. The leaf not only stimulates the kidneys, but it's also rich in potassium. Potassium is a crucial chemical that the body often loses with commercial diuretics, and potassium loss may worsen existing heart problems. In his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," herbalist David Hoffmann says that dandelion may be used even for water retention related to cardiovascular disease. A study by B.A. Clare, et al., published in the August 2009 issue of the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" tested a leaf extract on 17 subjects. The study found that within five hours after the first and second doses, there was a significant increase in the frequency of urination and excretion. This study supports the traditional use of dandelion as a diuretic. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Yarrow
Yarrow, or Achillea millefolium, is an ancient plant, mentioned in Homer's epic as a favorite wound-healing plant of the Greek hero, Achilles. Native American healers used yarrow as a diuretic. The aerial parts contain a volatile oil, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins, and have diuretic, astringent, hypotensive and anti-inflammatory actions. Yarrow helps relieve some disorders that cause edema; herbalist Christopher Hobbs recommends it for treating menstrual problems, and herbalist David Hoffmann recommends it for high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiac pulmonary edema. The University of Maryland Medical Center's website, umm.edu, recommends treating edema by applying a cold yarrow tea compress to swollen areas. Studies are needed to confirm the traditional uses of yarrow for edema and to test its efficacy.
Butcher's Broom
Butcher's broom, or Ruscus aculeatus, is an evergreen shrub with bright red berries native to the Mediterranean and Asia. The root and rhizome, or underground stem, contain steroidal saponins like ruscin and ruscoside, and the plant has diuretic properties. In their 2000 book, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," Phyllis A. Balch and James F. Balch recommend butcher's broom for edema. Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink, in their 2009 book "Medicinal Plants of the World," state that the plant is used to treat varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency, circulatory problems that cause edema when blood collects in the legs. Studies are needed to test butcher's broom on humans and verify the traditional use for edema.
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