Elderly Mother With Severe Chronic Edema - Please Suggest Remedies

Posted By Hazel (San jose) on 12/02/2023

Dear Earth Clinic community, I seek your advice regarding my 87-year-old mom's health issues. About 10 years ago, she experienced a heart failure while being treated for a UTI in the hospital. Since then, she has been dealing with severe edema, resistant to water pills. Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated.
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Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 12/02/2023

Dear Hazel,

A few things to try for her water retention...

Oatmeal - it is a natural diuretic.

Movement - bouncing on the end of the bed, walking, rocking in a rocking chair. Motion will help fluids to move.

Avoid all processed foods. Sodium in processed foods will increase swelling. Salt homemade foods with Kosher salt. The grains are thicker and I think you can get away with using less because it is easier to taste it.

Cranberry juice, mixed with grape juice. (You will have to read labels to find a cranberry juice with no sugar added.)

Has she been diagnosed with congestive heart failure? That will cause edema.

If she is not able to move much, see if her doctor will prescribe some home PT to help her get as much movement as she is able to do.

~Mama to Many~

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Replied by Rob (Kentucky) on 12/02/2023

Sydenham si Cullem were recommending onion to combat hydropsy (Edema, (alternate spelling: oedema) formerly referred to as dropsy or hydropsy, is the swelling of the body's tissues due to excess interstitial fluid retention).

Use as a tincture.

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Replied by Vikki (Salem) on 12/03/2023

Fish, flax, and borage oil capsules.
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Replied by Nikki (Fox Point) on 12/05/2023

Barbara O'neill recommends magnesium for swelling.
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Replied by Wendy (Dublin OH) on 12/06/2023

Make sure your mother has a complete blood count (CBC), magnesium test, & CHEM7 blood tests run to check her kidney function. Her doctors need to get to the root cause of why she has chronic edema. It could very well be due to the UTIs, which could have already negatively affected her kidneys.
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