Natural Lymphedema Treatment: Diet, Lifestyle, and Herbs

I have a big ole lymphedema near my left knee and it started to get big enough to bother me when walking and causing some knee pain. I read that sometimes they can grow cords inside them, blech. I also knew that epsom salts could help, but I didn't want to do a big bath soak. So I found EPSOM SALT CREAM on Amazon (Kirkman) and started rubbing it in and really kneading it to break it up. I did this a few times a day for a week and it's already half the size.

I use magnesium oil for a lot of things, but it's magnesium chloride and didn't do much for this. Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate. For some reason, it works.

i never figured out how to cure it. But buying a portable infrared sauna from therasage took away all the pain and allowed me wonderful mobility. I'm nearly 50 years old with big fat swollen legs and despite the way society treats me, I feel great and can walk 3 miles per day!

My dad had lymphoedema in his lower legs and had severe edema/swelling in his lower legs and feet, as soon as he put his feet on the floor in the morning getting up out of bed they would instantly swell, severe pain, redness, itching so bad he wanted to scratch his legs off, "dents" in the front of his lower legs, etc at the beginning of June 2021.

He was referred to the Lymphoedema clinic at that time by GP/doctor (no doctor actually saw him, they asked us to send photos to the surgery!), finally having a "telephone" consultation (what a joke) with the clinic only the other day (August 2021). During that time we did our own research and came across Pycnogenol and studies related to it:

https://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/chronic-venous-insufficiency-and-venous-microangiopathy-management-compression

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31347820/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17067979/

https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/powerful-aspirin-alternative-grows-trees-1

We bought some and my dad started taking 3 x, then increased to 4 x 40mg/per day of Pycnogenol (purchased from here if in UK

https://www.justvitamins.co.uk/Herbal-Supplements/Pycnogenol-40mg.aspx#.XuyX32gzZEY)

and

Black Seed Oil (Original) starting with 1 x, then increased to 2 x/per day (https://theblackseedoil.co/).

In just over 8 weeks the edema/swelling has decreased massively, now he only has a small amount of swelling in his feet, pain decreased massively, no itching, "dents" in lower legs look far better and so on.

Suffice to say he declined the Lymphoedema clinic offer of making an appointment to be seen (he did ask if an appointment would be at Christmas time as it has taken over 2 months to make a telephone call) and advised them that he has sorted himself out now.

WARNING!

The vibration machine made my lymphedema way worse. I don't know why. It also vibrated the pin loose in my shoulder from a replacement surgery. Talk about painful!

Buyer beware! This was from a sitting position on the lowest speed setting, at that!

LYMPHEDEMA...Patients TRY Black Seed Oil. It's said it cures everything but death or TRY Castor Oil Packs. A book title The Oil That Heals Author William McGarvey The other book Black Seed Miracle Dr., Cass Ingram.

Also eat ALKALINE FOODS in ABUNDANCE and take a Multivitamin (I like Dead Sea Moringa) mix w/Coconut Water. GOD BLESS YOU ALL! Judy

When I lay in bed I invert a plastic clothes carrier and put a pillow on top. Then I rest my feet on top of that. I even sleep this way. The elevated feet allows drainage and in a day or two the swelling has gone down considerably. You can do this while watching TV or reading a book with a pillow behind your head.

Works wonders for me and I have tried about everything.

Nobody will believe this, but I got rid of my pedal edema with unrefined Sea Salt. I was in the hospital for almost 5 months ( perforated colon, multiple organ failure, sepsis). I was on normal saline the whole time and various other things. I have a complicated nutrient program which I was able to do for most of that time as I was NPO (nothing by mouth). But I didn't have edema except during the first month in a coma when multiple organ failure was working it's magic. The last two weeks, I would come up with extreme low BP, down to the 70's /30's. I had my hubby bring me Real Salt which is a mineral salt. I had been on Celtic salt for the minerals by order of my GP for my adrenal issues. Each time my BP went down, I'd take a little salt and bring it up to normal. Once out, my hubby took me to my in-laws instead of home to have supervision. I quickly developed pedal edema, to a level I never had before. I wasn't taking my salt as I figured their food had plenty. I had an episode of vomiting and this is hard on me as I already throw out my minerals. So I took my RealSalt to help besides beet juice and V8 for potassium. This cleared up my edema. I had tried various other things that didn't help; dandelion, milk thistle, selenium. But my salt imbalance evidently caused this problem. Something I have never heard before. So I thought I'd better put it out there just so it might help someone. We know the low salt prescription has been a failure and actually increased mortality.

Both loose tea and tea bags are fine, but I di suggest you only drink organic tea. Last thing anyone needs is contaminants/chemicals when trying to detox.

My lympedema specialist said you can develop hard cords and that if massaged deeply, they will burst and not come back. Look up cording and lympedema. Hasn't happened to me but he says he sees it all the time. I got a compression wrap for arm and hand and it made my hand worse than it ever was before.

I started getting swollen above my right knee and sometimes it was starting to creep up my leg. One day I ate some thing with a lot of salt and I noticed right away that above my right knee became swollen so I figure I have to cut out salt. I had also been using baking soda for alkalization and I had to cut that out. I just use lemon water for alkalization now. I also have a mini trampoline that I use to get lymph flowing. On days I can I do cardio, stretching and weights to get things moving.

How do you use cabbage packs or castor oil packs - Hot water mix? What do you suggest? My leg lymphoedema is growing and scary. Lurline

@Mary:

Try a keto diet.

I think I have Lympledema in both my legs and they are red down on the lower part of my legs and pain and they swell really bad cant do what I wont to they hurt and someone was telling me that a person can get Ginger Oil and rub from your neck too your feet that opens up the Lymphatic systems.

I really need help I been to 20 doctors and they don't know what it is they think I am crazy but I do know that Butchers broom. ginger and sweet clover is great oil for the lymphat system so now I think at this point I am going to herb store and get my some and try it, anybody else know anything please let me know because the lower part of my leg gets really hard and it worrys me and help please.

I use a vibrating machine - one you stand on - got it on eBay. It has been one of the best investments for my health. Highly recommend them. Try one out in a store or gym and see for yourself.

Hi everyone. I've got lymphedema in my right leg and foot. In 2011 I have lower femora Aorta bypass surgery as I was 100% blocked just below my kidneys. I was in surgery for 8-1/2 hours for a normally 3 hour surgery. Afterwards I was in ICU for a week and didn't wake up from the surgery for 2 full days. When I did wake up I had a feeding tube down my throat and a breathing tube up my nose (very scary to say the least) I also woke up to having my testicles literally the size of a 16" softball. I waddled like a duck out of the hospital 2 weeks later. My right leg and foot was also swollen to the size of my normal 32 inch waist. My normal weight was 165 but waddled out of the hospital at 203 pounds. The swelling eventually went down to a bearable size but it took many many months and was a very gradual process. I still have swelling that comes and goes in my right leg usually after a lot of walking and/or movement but nowhere near as bad as it was before. The pain is still there almost always and also the burning when it swells and that is almost unbearable.

I am now also a diabetic and my quack doctor says I have neuropathy but I believe it's the lymphedema acting up again. I wear shoes with Velcro instead of shoe laces and pull the Velcro as tight as I can get them giving me the relief that shoe laced shoes cannot do. I also use a cream on my feet and calves nightly called "neoteric Diabetic skin care" available from CVS pharmacy in the diabetic section of the store. This stuff works MIRACLES on my feet relieving the pain and the burn. I start rubbing the cream on my right foot and calf and by the time I start with rubbing the cream on the left foot the right foot is already subsiding from the burn and it's almost gone. I swear by this stuff if only a temporary fix.

I will start drinking the green tea and see if that helps in between the cream sessions as my insurance doesn't currently cover the cream and it's $10 a tube which lasts about a week at best and the lymphedema is progressively getting worse and the burn is the worse. Unlike so many others on here, I will let you know if it works.

Hello

I find that taking Two tablespoons of flaxseed oil mixed with enough cottage cheese to blend with it plus add some honey or salt to taste taken every day helps the fibrosius to soften. You can use this as a dressing for salads or take it with fruit or on bread/ You can feel the difference the next day when you touch it. Hope it works for you. God Bless.

Thank you for the cabbage wrap information. I told my husband and I was shocked he heard about it! The doc told him about it, but to use plastic to wrap it. So he thought it was wrong and he didn't bother to tell me. MEN can be very stubborn. BUT, we know now, or I should say I know now. So we will use that first and see what happens. Again thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart. He was giving up, now I will NOT let him. all my love, Laura

Dear Alain,

Garlic is a great antiparasitic and antibiotic that is considered compatible with nursing.

I would try one clove of fresh garlic internally 4 times a day.

Also, vitamin C to support your immune system - 1,000 mg 3 times a day in the sodium ascorbate form.

Dandelion tea is good for the lymph system.

I would also do Epsom salt baths - 1 cup in a warm bath several times a week.

I hope you feel better soon! Let us know how it goes for you.

~Mama to Many~

What can a nursing mother take to cure her filaria?

I get an ion cleanse 1x/mo. It seems to help with lymphedema. I am a 10 yr. breast cancer survivor. I had 47 nodes removed with 17 being cancerous. Contrary to some who don't believe in alternative medicines, this does help. I also rebound on the mini trampoline.

How is your lymphedema doing? Have you heard of any new remedies that work? I have lymphedema in right arm due to breast cancer surgeries looking for a natural remedy that quickly works with draining the area..

The vibration machine is a life saver for me. My lymphoma effects my entire right side, including my back, shoulder and chest areas. (I am a breast cancer patient and had a mastectomy with lymph node removal.). I use my pneumatic pump, then get on the vibration machine first thing in the morning and before bed each day. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life!

Hi, is the vibrating machine like the powerfit one? Does anyone know?

Lymphedema: look into inversion tables. The body drains lymph into the circulatory system by the thoracic duct under the left clavicle. By inverting your body you allow lymph to drain.

Also look into whole body vibration machines. See if it contraindicates with any other medical issues you may have. But overall great for lymph. I'm a nurse with lymphedema.

I'm a nurse who also to happens to have lymphedema. There are several remedies that have to be included together. Look into inversion table therapy( could buy one cheap on eBay) also whole body vibration machines (cheap on eBay). You have to follow a low fat low sodium diet. Particularly long chain fats. Medium chain oils such as coconut oil benefit lymph. It doesn't travel through lymph system not clogging it up. Hydrate like crazy to speed up lymph flow. Also stay away from diuretics. Western medicine loves to give that but the logic behind not drinking diuretics including coffee is because it removes fluid from lymph trapping the slow moving protein making it more dense and sludgy in your lymph system. Also deep breathing pranayama facilitates movement of trapped lymph. Also muscle contractions and relaxation move it along. So muscle workouts are best. Feel free to message me with any questions.

Wow interesting Ladybugjustice - if you're still responding to this thread, I'd love to hear how the cabbage continued to do for you--What a crazy idea!! Also wondering how your Mom was able to get Coumarin...

Coumarin works so well it's a shame Mayo clinic (purposely, I believe) "killed it" in clinical trials.

But hey! If the cabbage works as well as some say here--an alternate solution!

I've had lymphedema in my R leg--goes all the way up to abdomen--from radical hysterectomy 25 years ago. Best things I ever found for it were coumarin, and circaid legging (now called juxta-fit, I think--gotta get a new one one of these days but my old ratty one still works! It's for while you exercise) and I wear futuro firm compression pantyhose daily.

Never noticed green tea helping but I never tried it so intensively either. Blessings everyone!!

To Om, Hope, BC Canada, the way I use the plastic is first apply the softened cabbage, then wrap with cotton, then ace bandage, then cover everything with plastic to keep the wet from the cabbage from seeping through. Also it keeps the cabbage from drying out too fast and it likely reduces some of the cabbage smell. After all that I put on socks to keep it all from unravelling. I do know from experience that the plastic does not interfere with the cabbage doing its job! I agree with you to not put plastic directly over the cabbage.

To PMS Scotland, after I did quite a few cabbage poultices on my ankles, I got a rash type reaction across the front of my foot where the meets the leg joins the foot. It lasted about two weeks or so. The I had flexibility in that area the I never had before! It felt great! So I would say you are getting some old stuff out and getting a great result from the cabbage. I always hope for the same reaction again so I can get more relief but have not been so lucky.

Maureen

Hi,

I followed your instructions for cabbage wrap but took a really bad reaction when I took the bandages off :-( My skin was really red in places, not sure if reaction was to the cabbage or to the ace bandage :-( Has anyone else taken a reaction?

Try kidney and adrenal herbs. Kidneys control elimination of lymphatic fluids. Also try castor oil packs and cabbage leaf packs to pull fluid out.

Tried first the white cabbage, then savoy..... Will try again, but so far did not see the difference.... Although I did not dip the leaves into the boiled water; instead, I poured water over the leaves.... I did not bandage the leaves - they were just held by my undergarments (I put them on my belly) - maybe there is a problem there... Like I said, I'll try again.... I hope this will work for me - I hate my swollen belly and the hip!

This completely makes sense. I have had Cellulitis a few years back and I have had Lymphedema since I was 25. In 2012 or so I learned that I have strep infection in my body when I was tested. I wasn't sick or anything but had special testing from a naturalist because I had no energy and weight gain. I'm hypothyroid and am wondering if there is some connection with the lymphedema and the strep infection. I'm always trying to find out what the "real" source is of the problem. Thank you for your thought.

Hi, Thanks for the information. Can you tell where you get vibrating machine, brand name, cost. Thanks

I cannot recommend coffee enemas enough- I've experienced that they work absolute miracles.

The first time I did a Coffeee Enema (C.E.), I was desperate. I was recently hospitalized with horrific, idiopathic lymphatic swelling. The condition was terribly painful. I had heard a friend mention the Gerson therapy in passing one day, and the use of coffee enemas. So after being discharged, I tried my usual remedies and didn't have any results. Then I thought to try the C.E.. I looked up instructions, got the supplies, first did a filtered water enema, then did the C.E.. After a C.E. I clean the bathroom and take a shower. So after my shower I noticed my swelling went down about 70%. I must also say, what expels from the body with a C.E. is far more substantial and disgusting (and strangely fascinating) than what expels with regular water.

I also get soreness, pain, and swelling in my legs from arthritis, and the C.E. will take all the swelling and pain away immediately.

Actually, it clears out any pain I have in my body. It's as though I can feel my body flushing out the lymph and inflammation. While holding the CE in, I can feel a light cramp form over any areas of pain/swelling I have. Then when I expel, the cramp turns into kind of a "rush" feeling, and all the pain leaves.

Any lymph swelling I experience goes down, my skin clears of any eczema and acne, I feel far more alert (days afterwards even), and I feel cleansed and lighter inside. I eat a very healthy diet with lots of raw fiber, but the enemas clear any bit of bloating (I didnt know my stomach could be so flat).

I'm so impressed by the results, I'm not ashamed to admit I do this. In fact, I spread the word to people I see suffering from serious chronic issues. I can totally see how the use of CE can successfully treat cancer.

Thought I'd add my experience. I have lymphedema in both legs, but my left leg was the worst by far. About a month ago it swelled to a tight drum again, was fiery red, incredibly painful and the skin felt scalding. I could barely walk. I was desperate. I tried the cabbage poultice, but it caused fierce itching. I mean FIERCE! I managed to keep it on for about 6 hours 2 days in a row, but I thought I would go out of my mind if I had to endure that daily.

I saw mention here of someone who was going to try castor oil. I thought I'd give it a try too. I soaked paper napkins in the stuff, wrapped them around the leg. Then I wrapped plastic wrap around to cover and duct taped it in place. I covered that with dry napkins and taped in place. Then I got a disposable hand warmer and strapped it to the most swollen, painful part of the leg. After about 7 hours I took it off and noticed an improvement and a lot less pain. Now I do this every other day and every time I'm happy with the results. At the same time I started taking Doctors Best Vein Formula because it contains diosmin. Now, my leg is almost back to normal size. I can move around and it only starts getting painful if I'm on it all day. Even then, it's not too bad.

Before spending one penny on a device for lymphedema, ask to see a controlled clinical trial which proves that there is a benefit from the device for your specific condition. Otherwise you may be throwing your money away. Interesting that this vibrating machine is claimed on the basis of one user to be better than a trampoline for lymphedema, but the trampoline has never been proven to benefit lymphedema.

I accidently came upon this site, trying to find a natural herb therapy to try and heal the problem. I am amazed at what I found on several sites. I am trying the "cabbage" wraps for the past three nights. First night used Savoy cabbage, wilted in water, rolled and applied with plastic wrap and leg wraps. Very successful. Second, used Napa cabbage, cold, uncrushed, wrapped with puppy pads, then leg wraps (for lymphedema). Not very successful. Tonight, Savoy on lower leg and foot; regular round head cabbage on upper leg, wilted in water, wrapped with plastic, leg wraps.

I am not sure what kind of cabbage is best or method. Also, my Mother is on Coumadin and most herbs seem to be prohibitive. I am still checking out the sites.

Thank you for this information. I hope mine helps someone.

Ladybugjustice

Hello Frances,

You ask for the correct formula for the Cabbage Poultice...

I think the best authority is Jakobi Jakstein...Google the pdf: "Wonder Drug Cabbage"...Jakstein wilts her cabbage leaves one second in hot water.

Frances from Missouri City, Texas

European Natural Medicine uses cabbage leaves raw. There are many testimonials as to complete cure when allopathic methods were unsuccessful.

The cabbage leaf has to be flattened well with a cookie roller so that the veins in the leaf made more pliable. Then, it has to be fastened around the area without air pockets. What to use I cannot find out but I imagine it as pure cotton gauze type of fabric and DEFINITELY not plastic. No one in Europe who uses natural medicine uses plastic. The reason being that during application emanations from the sick tissue must be able to dissipate, not forced back into the body. The final cover, pure wool.

I hope this helps. I must mention the incredible cures achieved with this method and within a short time. Om

My husband has lymphedema in both legs. He also has congestive heart failure. His cardiologist recommended a triple dose of fluid/heart medication to cure the lymphedema, however this negatively affects his kidneys as his kidney function is already at 35%. Triple medication is not good, but it is all that we could figure to do. The medication does help, but his legs are still swollen, not as badly.

Will the cabbage poultice work with raw cabbage? It would seem that boiling the cabbage would dilute its power, but I am just guessing.

I would like to try the cabbage poultice on his legs overnight. Is there a standard recipe for the poultice? I would appreciate any positive response from someone who has actually used this. Thank you very much.

I am looking for advice for a friend with Lymphedema. He started with Cellulitis, which progressed to Lymphedema. I have read that Cellulitis is caused by Group A streptococcus bacteria. Isn't it possible that this may have also entered the lymph system and causes the Lymphedema? And, if so, what would be remedies for the bacteria?