Edema can affect any area of the body. It happens for various reasons when the body cannot maintain fluid levels. Kidney or cardiovascular diseases often cause the body to retain fluid in the feet, hands, and ankles, causing stiffness, aching, and weight fluctuations. Try some life style changes and add Reflexology to your wellness program.Ā
The human body uses a complex system to regulate its water levels, compromising the hormonal system, the cardiovascular system, the urinary system, the liver, the circulatory system, and the kidneys, which play a vital role in regulating water levels. If there is a problem with any of these systems, the body may be unable to expel fluid as it should.
Healthy Capillary Function: Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that manage fluid balance in the body. Some medications, such as high blood pressure, can damage capillaries, causing Edema. High blood pressure can weaken capillary walls, causing too much liquid to leave capillaries and enter the spaces between cells, causing tissue swelling and water retention.Ā Ā
Healthy Heart Function: If the heart does not maintain normal blood pressure, it causes it to work ineffectively and retain fluid.Ā
Healthy Lymphatic Function: Lymph is a fluid that contains white blood cells to fight against invasive infection. The lymphatic system delivers and reabsorbs lymphatic fluid throughout the body while maintaining fluid balance. If the lymphatic system isn’t working properly, fluid can build up between tissues, causing swelling and retention.Ā
Healthy Kidney Function: The kidneys filter blood and help maintain fluid levels in the body. Waste and fluids pass into tiny tubules (nephrons) in the kidneys to filter and pass out in the urine as waste products. If the kidneys aren’t working correctly, water waste causes swelling and retention.
Healthy Liver Function: A healthy liver plays a crucial role in preventing Edema through several mechanisms:
- Protein Synthesis:Ā The liver synthesizes many essential proteins, including albumin. Albumin is a protein found in the blood that helps maintain osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the force that keeps fluids within the blood vessels, preventing them from leaking into the surrounding tissues. When the liver is healthy and functioning correctly, it produces an adequate amount of albumin, helping to maintain proper fluid balance and prevent fluid from accumulating in the tissues.
- Detoxification:Ā The liver is a crucial organ in detoxifying the body. It processes and eliminates waste products and toxins from the bloodstream. When the liver functions well, it can efficiently remove excess fluids, preventing them from accumulating.
- Regulation of Sodium Levels:Ā The liver helps regulate sodium (salt) levels in the body. Sodium is a crucial electrolyte that influences fluid balance. When the liver is healthy, it helps maintain the proper balance of sodium in the bloodstream. An imbalance in sodium levels can lead to water retention; a healthy liver helps prevent this imbalance.
- Production of Clotting Factors:Ā The liver produces clotting factors necessary for clot formation. If the liver is damaged or not functioning correctly, it can lead to conditions like cirrhosis, where blood flow through the liver is impaired; this can result in increased pressure in the blood vessels of the abdomen, which can cause fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity, leading to a condition called ascites.
- Metabolism of Hormones:Ā The liver plays a role in metabolizing hormones, including aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). These hormones influence fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. A healthy liver helps maintain the appropriate levels of these hormones, preventing excessive water retention.
- Bile Production:Ā The liver produces bile, which is necessary for the digestion and absorption of fats. Proper fat digestion is essential for overall nutrient absorption, including vitamins and minerals that play a role in fluid balance.
Healthy Hormone Function: Hormonal imbalance can lead to fluid retention in the following ways:Ā
- Menstruation – changes in hormonal balance can result in fluid buildup before menstruation, causing bloating and breast tenderness.Ā
- Thyroid problems– The thyroid gland releases hormones that play a role in managing fluid levels.Ā
- Pregnancy – retains more water, leading to swelling in the lower limbs. If swelling is severe, this may be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a type of high blood pressure harmful to both mother and fetus.Ā
- Healthy Weight: Obesity and inactivity may cause swelling due to extra weight, including the risk of high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart disease, which can cause Edema.Ā
Healthy Immune System: Inflammation is the immune system’s response to harmful stimuli such as bacteria, pathogens, damaged cells, toxins, and irradiation. The immune system’s function is to defend the body from disease and infection. The immune system cells can cause more fluid to enter the inflamed tissues to fight the infection for healing.Ā
Prevent Fluid Retention Reminders
- Manage weight with a healthy diet and avoid high-sodium
- Daily exercise, including walking throughout the day
- Wear compression stockings if Edema affects the lower limbs
- Avoid or standing for long period of time
- Avoid extreme temperatures
Maintaining all body systems through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to toxins is crucial for preventing water retention and ensuring overall well-being. If you experience symptoms of Edema, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for evaluation and treatment.
Relieve Edema Discomfort with Foot Reflexology with an Online Course
Retaining Fluid and edema in the legs causes swelling of tissue due to excess fluid in the body that is not filtering through the kidneys. There are many reasons for this for fluid retaining causing edema, such as low protein diet, heart not pumping blood effectively, too much salt, kidney not working as well.
Disclaimer:Ā Reflexology tips are not a substitution for traditional medical care. If your symptoms persist or get worse, please visit your healthcare provider.
Foot Reflexology to Relieve Edema Discomfort
Here is a short foot reflexology tip that will provide temporary relief by moving extra fluid from the kidneys into the urine.
Do you want to go beyond a tip and learn to support your kidneys with Advanced Foot Reflexology for Kidney Support to Prevent Disease and Kidney Stones?
Reflexology is a science and an art. Reflex points on the feet, hands, and ears represent the body in miniature. The nerve pathways in each foot create an electrochemical flow that communicates with the central nervous system and encourages the body to relax and release toxins. The principle of Reflexology is that all reflex points, meridian pathways, and chakra regions are connected to specific organs, glands, and body functions. Reflexology promotes the elimination of stress and reinforces the bodyās ability to stay healthy and vital.Ā This preventative modalityĀ encourages wellness through relaxation and supports all body functions.
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Foot Reflexology to Support Kidneys and Prevent Kidney Stones Self Care Home Course includes:
- Reflexology Foot Map
- Step by Step Foot Reflexology to Support Kidneys to Support Health and Prevent Kidney Stones (23:23 minutes)
- An extensive illustrated, downloadable, PDF, E-bookĀ
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Disclaimer
ReflexologyĀ does notĀ replace traditional medicine. (Please check with your doctor if you have any concerns.) Reflexology can help achieve good health. However, you still have to do your part by maintaining good health through a healthy diet, exercising, recognizing your stress triggers, and minimizing or eliminating destructive behaviors.
About the Writer, Teacher, and Film Maker
Helen Chin Lui is a Certified Reflexologist, Certified Energy Medicine, and Reiki Practitioner. She is the owner of the Healing Place LLC and Healing Place Energy School LLC in Medfield, MA. She specializes in helping adults and children to find long-lasting relief from chronic pain, digestive issues, and heal hormonal imbalances naturally.
Healing Place LLC
Healing Place LLC specializes in helping people of all ages break the pain cycles of chronic pain and chronic digestive problems and balances hormones naturally. If you would like to learn how Reflexology can support your health, please schedule a FREE consultation on the HealingPlaceMedfield.com website or call us (508) 359-6463
Healing Place Energy School
Learn more in-depth hand and foot reflexology from the privacy of your home by going to HealingPlaceEnergySchool.com. Become a member as little as $10 a month. We offer Reflexology, chakra, self care, meditation, reiki courses.
Helen Chin Lui’s Books
If you would like to learn more about personal energy flow, or Reflexology techniques, get copies of Helen’s Books Know Your Chakras: Introduction to Energy Medicine or Foot Reflexology to Promote Relaxation.
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