Swellings in the legs, hands or feet are definitely causing discomfort and it could be very agonizing for people. This condition could develop as a result of different reason, but the main one is called edema which is causing the retention of fluids in the body. Some of the reasons are:
- Irregular exercising and inactive lifestyle
- Poor blood circulation
- PMS
- Pregnancy
- Side effects of medications
- Consuming too much processed foods
The swelling in the legs often are also caused as a result of too long standing or sitting during the day, but also it could be caused by pregnancy when the ankles often swell. On the other hand, swellings in the legs could be a sign of kidney disease, heart failure or liver disease. Due to these reasons, it is recommended that you visit your doctor in order to consult in case the swelling continues.
In case you are experiencing occasional swelling you could use herbal solution which can lower the swelling and remove the accumulated fluids in the body. One such herb is parsley.
This herb has been highly recommended by Hippocrates
Did you know that the word ‘parsley’ is derived from 2 Greek words: petrose and selenium? Petrose actually means rock and it is used because it pops through the rocky surface, and selenium is the ancient name of celery.
You could find two types of parsley, the curly and Italian parsley. The Italian parsley is the hardest one. Parsley has been used as a garnish in nearly every restaurant in North America, and people tend to remove it from the meal when it is served.
Different studies suggest that parsley can help you protect the body from different ailments and disorders such as urinary tract infections, menstrual pain, allergies, asthma, disorder of the digestive system, hypertension, bronchitis, and improves the health of the bones.
Hippocrates also recommended this herb for removing kidney stones and treatment of rheumatism. Also, the Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook recognizes parsley as amazing diuretic that helps your kidneys get rid of accumulated fluids from the body.
The diuretic properties of parsley
According to study published by the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, “parsley functions as a diuretic by inhibiting the sodium and potassium ion pumps, influencing the process of osmosis and increasing the flow of urine.”
Parsley is also packed with potassium which makes it great and unusual diuretic, because mainly all diuretics are lowering the level of potassium and this is not the case with parsley.
According to another Brazilian study, “Diuretic and hypotensive activity of aqueous extract of parsley seeds revealed similar results for parsley and suggests that parsley can not only increase urinary flow, however also reduce high blood pressure also.”
Parsley tea recipe for Edema
Dr. John R. Christopher, recommends drinking 2 quarts of strong parsley tea per day in order to obtain all the needed health benefits of it.
Also, you could drink parsley tea every hour if you feel there is need for that. When you prepare the tea, you should use the “fresh light-green leaves” along with the roots and seeds.
Here is how to do it:
- You will need to slice the leaves and the roots into small pieces.
- Put approximately ¼ cup of parsley into an infusion basket.
- Boil water and pour it over it until you cover it completely or fill the cup.
- Leave it for 5-7 minutes and afterwards strain the tea.
- You should also add honey, ginger, and lemon in it for better results.
Make sure that you always drink this tea fresh and warm.
Also, you should often raise the legs by putting them on the pillow in order to reduce the swelling. Regular exercises of your legs could help you pump the fluids from the legs.
Via: NaturalNews | JuicingForHealth
