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Swelling — whether from fluid accumulation, inflammation, injury, or lymphatic congestion — is a common and often uncomfortable presentation that herbal medicine is well equipped to address. In the herbal tradition, we distinguish between different types of swelling: oedema driven by impaired kidney or heart function; inflammatory swelling at the site of injury or infection; lymphatic swelling from congestion or infection; and swelling related to venous insufficiency. Each calls for a different herbal approach. The articles in this section explore the herbs most appropriate for each type, always with the awareness that significant or sudden swelling warrants medical assessment.
Anti-Cancer
11 September 2017
Parsley is readily available and widely used in cookery but it is often under-appreciated. It can be found throughout the year at the market, it’s cheap so just about anyone can buy it. Parsley is a highly nutritious plant and has ample vitamins and antioxidants which can greatly improve our health. Most people do not realize that […]
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ASOHM News
13 August 2017
An overload of toxins in your body will lead to chronic illness, premature ageing and death. You and I are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals, they are everywhere — all the time. They are in the air...
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ASOHM News
5 July 2017
Sebastian Kneipp (1821 – 1897) was an extraordinary man who took an absolutely free product – water – and showed the world how to use it as a curative force for a wide variety of illnesses. The story of his famous water treatments began when Kneipp was struck down with tuberculosis and left for dead. […]
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ASOHM News
13 May 2017
Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis): Comfrey’s name derives from the Latin ‘confervere’ which means ‘to bring together’. This leafy perennial herb has been used for centuries for its swelling-reducing capacity when bones were to be set and the healing process accelerated, thus earning the herb has also be known as Knitbone, Bruisewort and Boneset. Comfrey is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties and […]
Read article →Herbal medicine addresses swelling both topically — reducing local inflammation and promoting drainage — and internally — supporting the organs and systems that regulate fluid balance. The right approach depends on where the swelling is, what is causing it, and how long it has been present.
Arnica (Arnica montana) is the premier topical herb for acute traumatic swelling — bruising, sprains, and impact injuries. Applied as a gel or cream within the first 24–48 hours of injury, it reduces bruising, swelling, and pain. It should not be applied to broken skin. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) root preparations are excellent for sprains and musculoskeletal swelling, with evidence for accelerating tissue repair.
Anti-inflammatory herbs that reduce the prostaglandin and leukotriene mediators of inflammation — turmeric, boswellia, ginger, and willow bark — reduce inflammatory swelling throughout the body. Bromelain (from pineapple) and papain (from papaya) are proteolytic enzymes that reduce inflammatory oedema and are particularly useful for post-traumatic swelling.
Yes — horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is one of the most evidence-backed natural treatments for venous oedema in the legs, related to chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins. Its compound aescin reduces capillary permeability and improves venous tone, reducing the leakage of fluid into surrounding tissues.
Swollen lymph nodes (glandular swellings) typically occur during infection, when the lymph nodes are actively filtering pathogens. Lymphagogue herbs — cleavers, calendula, echinacea — support lymphatic clearance. Glandular swelling that persists beyond a few weeks without explanation requires medical investigation to exclude serious causes.
Swelling that is: sudden; accompanied by redness, heat, and fever (suggesting infection); involves only one limb without obvious cause; accompanies breathlessness or chest pain; is at a joint in a person with known inflammatory disease; or has not resolved within 2–3 weeks — all require medical assessment.
Regular movement (particularly walking and swimming), leg elevation when resting, adequate hydration, reducing sodium intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and wearing compression stockings for venous insufficiency are the lifestyle cornerstones of managing chronic lower limb oedema. Herbal support works most effectively alongside these measures.
Understanding swelling requires knowledge of fluid physiology, inflammation, and lymphatic function — all of which are covered in our course across dedicated lessons. View lesson packages and enrol today.