Edema is medically defined as "The abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces of tissues, such as in the pericardial sac, intrapleural space, peritoneal cavity, or joint capsules. Edema may be caused by increased capillary fluid pressure, venous obstruction, such as occurs in varicosities, thrombophlebitis, or pressure from casts, tight bandages, or garters, congestive heart failure, overloading with parenteral fluids, renal failure, hepatic cirrhosis, hyperaldosteronism, as in Cushing's syndrome, cortocosteroid therapy, and inflammatory reactions." - Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 3rd edition, pg. 404
Edema derives from a Greek word 'Oidema' meaning "swelling."
Basically, edema is the excessive accumulation of fluid in spaces between the cells caused by either lymphatic system or venous system defect or disorder.
The milder form of edema is referred to as 'water retention' which is common in a lot of people.
Causes of swelling
Poor diet is a major cause of edema. Eating acid-forming foods, i.e. meat, dairy products, refined, grains, refined starches, etc. causes mucus and waste fluids to develop in the body and when the major eliminative channels, i.e. colon, liver, kidneys, and lungs are shut down, impaired, or taxed, the waste fluids cannot lave the body so they store in the tissues as well as the systems, such as the lymphatic system which gives rise to a form of edema known as 'lymphedema' and medically defined as: "A primary or secondary disorder characterized by the accumulation of lymph in soft tissue and swelling, caused by inflammation, obstruction, or removal of lymph channels. Lymphedema of the lower extremities begins with mild swelling of the foot, gradually extends to the entire limb, and is aggravated by prolonged standing, pregnancy, obesity, warm weather, and the menstrual period.
We can't forget the role of fashion - TIGHT CLOTHING, which impairs and obstructs healthy and uninfringed circulation. Designer heel shoes that tie around the legs, tight pants (jeans), and tight bras to name a few articles all play a role in curtailing and inhibiting circulation. It is due to wearing tight-fitting clothing articles that causes swelling in many parts of the body.
Many times, the body swells in response to some adverse condition in the body. Certain injuries tend to make the body swell. This is a defense mechanism of the body. It's like being socked in the eye. Immediately after being socked in the eye, the eye swells.
Adverse reactions to certain pharmaceutical-grade drugs can also cause swelling. Legendary martial artist, Bruce Lee, is reported to have died from cerebral edema due to taking the pharmaceutical drug 'Equagesic.' This was the official story of Lee's death though many discount the official report including myself.
The coroner who examined Lee's body during the autopsy said Lee's brain had swelled considerably. A form of edema (swelling) had allegedly taken place due to the allergic reaction of the drug Lee was allegedly given by actress Betty Ting Pei.
"The facts of the case are this: Lee died after falling into a coma. The coroner's report was inconclusive, and medical authorities came up with five reasons for Lee's untimely death. However, they all agreed that it was caused by a cerebral edema (a swelling of the brain caused by a congestion of fluid). But what caused the edema became a matter of speculation. For the most part, the course of events on that fateful July day in 1973 can be pieced together. According to Lee's wife, Linda, Bruce met film producer Raymond Chow at 2 p.m. at home to discuss the making of Game of Death. They worked until 4 p.m., and then drove together to the home of Betty Tingpei, a Taiwanese actress who was to also have a leading role in the film. The three went over the script at Tingpei's home, and then Chow left to attend a dinner meeting.
A short time later, Lee complained of a headache and Tingpei gave him a tablet of Equagesic, a kind of super aspirin. Apart from that, Lee reportedly consumed nothing but a couple of soft drinks.
At around 7:30 p.m., Lee lay down for a nap and was still asleep when Chow called to ask why he and Tingpei had not yet shown up for dinner as planned. The actress told Chow she could not wake Lee. The ensuing autopsy found traces of cannabis in Lee's stomach, but the significance of this discovery is debatable. Some believe the cannabis caused a chemical reaction that led to the cerebral edema, but the coroner's inquiry refutes this theory. In fact, one doctor was quoted as saying that the cannabis being in Lee's stomach was "no more significant than if Bruce had drunk a cup of tea that day."
Dr. R.R. Lycette of Queen Elizabeth Hospital viewed Lee's death as a hypersensitivity to one or more of the compounds found in the headache tablet he consumed that afternoon. Although his skull showed no injury, his brain had swollen considerably, from 1,400 to 1,575 grams. None of the blood vessels were blocked or broken, so the possibility of a hemorrhage was ruled out. All of Lee's internal organs were meticulously examined, and the only "foreign" substance to be found was the Equagesic." - - Jack Seal
On the surface, we can say Lee died from a PHARMACEUTICAL drug (which is why folks would be wise to refrain from taking prescription pills) and EDEMA (swelling). Some of us can also say Lee died from POISONING as well.
White refined table salt (i.e. Morton's) is a great causative factor of swelling. Salt causes the tissues to retain fluid. Here in the U.S., food manufacturers put salt as well as sugar in almost everything Americans eat. The salt we find in Nature, i.e. sea salt, is not bleached like white table salt. In fact, white table salt is a DRUG and TOXIN to the entire body and should be avoided. We need to be careful of anything that says "sodium," especially if another word follows, such "sodium benzoate," "sodium chloride," "sodium nitrite," or "sodium nitrate."
Sodium is not just added to foods for taste purposes, but also because it is a preservative. Americans consume so many preservatives that on average nearly half the American population are already pre-embalmed for their funerals despite being presently alive. This is true! Americans consume a lot of preservatives in food and drink. You only preserve things that are dead and if your food and drink contains preservatives it's because of one thing: the product is DEAD! Especially if the product is located in a freezer! Freezers in supermarkets are nothing but 'see through' morgues. Dead bodies end up in the freezer of the morgue just like your processed food ends up in the freezer of a super casket, oops, I mean "super market." Food found in the freezer is double preserved by the preservative (sodium) and the coldness.
Many African-Americans have swelled up enormously over the past years and decades due to the inundation of salt (sodium) in the diet, the Soul Food Diet, arguably the worst ethnic diet in America. This diet evolved from the days of physical slavery where Black slaves did not have quality selections of food and ate many of the scraps from the white slave master. As Malcolm X used to say: the white man ate high up on the hog and the Black slaves ate low on the hog, usually the hog's entrails which have become a delicatessen if you will, called 'chitterlings' or 'chitlins' but which should more appropriately be called 'shit-terlings,' or 'shit-lins' because that's what passes through the intestines. In fact, while preparing chitlins you have to remove the feces still lodged in them. No wonder these things will stink up the whole house while they're cooking on the stove. I know because my mother used to cook them back in the day (1970's, early 1980's).
African-Americans eat too much meat today which is why collectively they are a very sickly people today, sicklier than other races, ethnicities, or nationalities in the U.S.
Collectively, they are quick to eat cheap food due to a "getting a bargain" mentality and consciousness and cheap food is NOT the best (most nutritious) food. In fact it's not even food! I'm just using the word 'food' here (in this article) to convey a point.
That "getting a bargain" mentality and consciousness coupled with a few other things (i.e. ignorance, indolence, unconsciousness, poverty, disenfranchisement, etc.) is the reason why there are so many "death joints" (fast food restaurants) in the Black community and 'the hood' today including $1 Chinese food joints whereby what you think is chicken and beef is in some cases RAT as in rat meat. This is true! You must always be suspect of cheap costing food. Always! Avarice diverts people's true intentions when it comes to business.
Anything sold in a fast food restaurant is going to be loaded in sodium whether it's sodium chloride (a chemical), baking soda, or MSG that is still in a lot of products despite not being listed as an ingredient in a particular product.
Soul food is an out-dated, inferior, degenerate, and insalubrious diet and should be replaced (gradually) with healthier food selections.
It's very bizarre that a free people would eat food indicative of slavery and embrace it and enjoy it with grand elation. Clearly a case of traditional paralysis and post-slavery traumatic syndrome!
Physically free from slavery since 1863 (Texas, 1865), some 140+ years, and still, in 2008 eating SLAVE FOOD! Outright amazing!
Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, author of "The Mis-Education of the Negro," was 100% correct in his assertion that physical slavery does not equate to mental and spiritually slavery because evidently the physical shackles have been removed from the ankles and placed at the brain.
Credit must be given to all the Blacks, descendants of slaves, who have used their free will while physically free and overcome traditional paralysis to change their diet to a healthier one. I even have to include a few of the Black religious groups in this equation, pertaining strictly to diet of course as their religious beliefs and practices are still vestigial in my opinion, groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists, Black Hebrew Israelites, Nation of Islam, Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE or 5 percent Nation of Islam), and Nuwaubian Nation of Moors.
There are also many individuals who are non-religious and spiritual and who may simply embrace the Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) belief system who simply do not consume meat, eggs, and dairy products and have converted to full-fledged vegan and raw foodist. Credit must also be given to these brave and conscious souls for breaking the traditional paralysis.
Credit must be given to the owners of the new vegan restaurants that are now opening up across the nation in Black communities that are serving a vegan and healthier version of soul food. The Soul Vegetarian chain of restaurant has restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California, New York City, New York, Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. to name a few.
In Los Angeles, we have a few of these vegan restaurants that serve good vegan food and vegan soul food.
In addition to Soul Vegetarian, 4067 W. Pico Boulevard, there's Vegan Village Café, 4061 W. Pico Boulevard; Rahel Vegan Cuisine, 1075 Fairfax Avenue; Vegi Soul, 1436 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Simply Wholesome, 4508 W. Slauson Avenue; and Mr. Wisdom's, 3526 W. Slauson Avenue.
NOTE: For a full of list of health food restaurants in major U.S. cities, visit the new Dherbs.Com Alternative Health Directory ("Healthy Dining" category).
Los Angelenos, before you go to Boulevard Café, M&M Soul Food, Roscoe's Chicken N' Waffles, Aunt Kizzie's Back Porch or one of the other soul food spots in town, visit one of these alternative restaurants and give vegan and healthy food a try.
Whites, Hispanics, Asians and other nationalities and ethnicities that consume the Standard American Diet (SAD) are not far behind Black Americans and their horrible soul food diet. The SAD is just as out-dated, inferior, degenerate, and insalubrious as soul food, simply the Black version of the Standard American Diet that is high in fat, sodium, and cholesterol from the meat, eggs, and dairy; as well as being mucus-inducing and forming from the refined grains and starches.
U.S. meats are saturated with sodium, but cancer-causing sodium such as "sodium nitrate" and "sodium nitrite."
I do not mean to offend anyone but this stuff is CRAP! It is not fit to be labeled food. It helps to raise blood pressure due to the high sodium content. It plays a pivotal role in edema and other swelling conditions, i.e. gout.
The Metaphysics of Edema
There's always a metaphysical or emotional causative factor involved in all physical manifestation of health challenges or so-called diseases and edema is no exception to the rule.
Consider the following:
"The degree of water retention corresponds with the degree of emotional retention. Your body is swelling in reaction to a desire to protect yourself emotionally. Edema may also occur once resolution of conflict has been experienced, followed by a conflict between the head and the heart. You are wrestling, in this case, with whether to maintain the conflict or resolve it. Determine what area of the body retained emotionally. For example, a swollen leg will indicate hesitation in moving forward toward a goal after having found a solution." - Lise Bourbeau
Healing Edema Naturally
Modify your diet! Salty and/or spicy foods are contraindicated and should be avoided. White table salt and other sodium types promote fluid retention in the tissues of the body. Use herbal seasoning instead. We list a few brands in our "Alternative Diet and Lifestyle Manual" e-book.
Refrain from consuming meat and dairy products, refined grains and starches, processed food-stuffs, sugary and SALTY snacks, i.e. chips, popcorn, etc.; or just anything containing salt or sodium.
Your best bet is to eat more plant-based foods, more raw fruits and vegetables (organic, if possible).
Refrain from consuming beverages such as milk, wine/beer and other inebriants (alcohol), lattes, shakes and malts, soda pop, fruit juice from concentrate, Kool Aid, etc.
I highly suggest you purchase our "Alternative Diet and Lifestyle Manual" e-book (only $10) as it lists great alternatives to the commercial junk you're probably consuming, and if not, it gives you more choices to enhance your presently healthy diet. You'll really enjoy having this resource regardless of what your diet is.
Diuretic herbs are ideal in reversing or healing edema and other swelling conditions. Good diuretic herbs include: Buchu, Uva Ursi, Parsley, Cornsilk, Juniper Berry, Agrimony, Celery Seed, Queen of the Meadow, and Pelitory of the Wall.
Dherbs.Com formulas great for assisting the healing process of edema and all other swelling conditions include: The Full Body Detox, 10-Day Supreme Kidney Cleanse, Weight Release Cleanse; Fluid Buster, Kidney-Bladder Formula, Kidneys Tea, and Acid Buster.
I highly recommend lymphatic massage in healing edema and other swelling conditions. Lymphatic massage is a form of massage that helps move the lymph flow that is very important for maintaining health and wellbeing. It also helps to improve circulation throughout the body. Whereas the blood circulates ten times per minute, the lymph only circulates once daily and that's if you have pretty good lymph circulation already due to being mobile or exercising.
Anti-gravity exercises help all degenerative conditions because it helps to bring oxygen flow to the brain - command center, but also just as importantly, it helps improve circulation of the blood and lymph. Slant boards make anti-gravity exercises easy today in your very own home. They are available from "Age In Reverse": www.ageeasy.com, "A Healthy Body": www.ahealthybody.net and "Manna Harvest": www.mannaharvets.net
Thank you for reading!
This article is compliments of Dherbs.Com and Djehuty Ma'at-Ra
Additional articles by Djehuty available at www.dherbs.com/articles/
