Swelling can occur in any part of our body and can be caused due to a variety of reasons include any sort of injury, sprain, strain, arthritic condition, poor blood circulation, allergic reaction and insect bites. Post-operative surgery can also cause swelling. Even tooth extraction often causes swelling in the mouth area.
When fluid drains into the tissues of our body and delays or hamper blood circulation, swelling occurs. Providing immediate remedy to the affected area of swelling is absolutely necessary. There are many home remedies available to treat this condition.
Home Remedies For Swelling
Hot and Cold Compress
Stop any activity you are doing and take rest if the swelling has been caused due to an injury. Elevate the injured area that has soreness using a pillow.
Keeping the sore area above the level of your heart will help to minimize swelling.
Place ice packs on the swollen area. You can place ice in an ice bag or plastic bag after securing the cap or sealing the bag properly. You can also use cold compress available in stores as well; but follow the instruction while using them.
Cover the bag with a wash cloth or towel to avoid direct contact of ice to the skin which can cause frostbite. Leave the pack on the inflamed area for 30 minutes and wrap the area with a bandage to provide compression.
Repeat the process of cold compress after an hour. If swelling does not reduce in spite of using cold pack for couple of hours, then try a heat pack. Often using heat and cold pack alternatively provides better result in case of injuries in ankle, knees, muscles and lower back.
First apply cold compress for 20 to 30 minutes and then using a heating pad, apply heat to the inflamed area. Continue alternating heat and cold pack until swelling is reduced. After the swelling goes down, switch to heat compress only to reduce pain.
Anti-inflammatory Medications
Taking anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen can help to reduce inflammation along with cold and heat compress. But make sure to take only the recommended dosage.
Consume Ginger
Ginger has great abilities to reduce swelling and pain and it also works as a blood thinner. Mix few drops of ginger juice in a hot glass of water and drink. Ginger is also available in the form of powder or capsules. You can take ginger capsule before every meal.
Increase Water Consumption
An effective home remedy for swelling is drinking plenty of water and water based drinks. Fluids will keep your body hydrated and move oxygen and blood properly, thus making the healing process faster.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another herb that reduces swelling very fast. Mix ¾ spoon of turmeric powder in a glass of hot milk and drink. Take turmeric twice or thrice a day to reduce inflammation and swelling. Turmeric is also available in the form of capsules.
Aloe Vera Gel
Another natural treatment that can treat swelling is Aloe Vera gel. Apply Aloe Vera gel extracted from aloe plant directly to swollen area and let the gel dry.
Aloe Vera is a very effective remedy for swelling due to insect bites. It reduces swelling as well as itching.
Tips and Warnings
Take rest. Avoid excessive heat as such an environment can aggravate swelling. If you have injury in the leg area, avoid standing for long periods.
However, keep in mind that little movement is also required for proper blood circulation. So move your body from time to time without taking too much strain. If swelling does not subside, call your doctor.
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