Important Note: Although the information in this section was written by Healthphone.com's Healing Centre Panel of professional Chinese doctors, licensed acupuncturists, herbalists and other experts, Healthphone.com accepts no legal responsibility nor liability for any errors or omissions. The information in this section is presented as is, for educational purposes only. As with any medical matter, always consult your healthcare professional before acting on any health-related information.
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1.
Overview and Causes|
Edema is
common during pregnancy because of accumulated fluid in body
tissues. Swelling of the feet, ankles and hands is most common.
Face may also become puffy. The problem usually is worse at the
end of the day and in warm weather. Minor swelling is normal. But
if blood pressure climbs and protein enters the urine, there is
a danger of preeclampsia, a potentially serious complication of
pregnancy. |
2. Symptoms|
The
edema is common in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Clinically,
it can be divided into three degrees.
(a) Mild case: obvious edema appears in the legs and feet but can disappear after rest. (b) Moderate case: edema extends to the thighs and vulva or even involving the abdomen. (c) General edema sometimes accompanied with ascites(accumulation of fluid in the abdomen). Return To Top |
3. TCM Effectiveness
and Evaluation
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TCM can help to lessen the severity of edema. |
4.
Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
This ailment, according to TCM,
has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal
medicine and acupuncture is shown below.
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(a) Qigong and other therapies
For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here. Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements. The following types of Qigong may help:
For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above. This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them. (b) Medicated diet 1) Carp (750g) Glutinous Rice (Nuomi) 30-50g, some Scallion Stalks (Congbai), some fermented soya beans (Douchi) Remove the scales and internal organs of the carp, aftern cleaning it, put it into the pot, add water to it and begin to cook. When the fish is done, take it out, leaving the soup in the pot. Put the cleaned glutinous rice, scallion stalks and fermented soya beans into the pot, continue to cook it into gruel. Eat it when it is ready. 2) Black Soya Bean (Heidou) 100g, Garlic (Dasuan) 30g, Red Sugar (Hongtang) 30g Put 1000g of water into the pot, begin to cook until it comes to the boil, then put cleaned Black Soya Bean, Garlic and Red Sugar into the pot, simmer gently until the Black Soya Bean is done. Eat it twice a day. 3) low-salt food helps prevent and alleviate edema. (c) Life style 1) Lying down and elevating legs in mid-afternoon may reduce the swelling in the legs. Often a low-salt diet proves helpful. 2) Make sure to take enough rest. Avoid overtiredness and long-time standing. Return to Top Acknowledgments: We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors. |
5. Healing by
Other Therapies
