Swelling or oedema occurs due to fluid accumulation in tissues. It makes the organ look enlarged and the person often experiences tenderness and redness in the affected area. Swelling that affects the entire body is called generalised swelling, and swelling of a part of the body is called localised swelling. Swelling can be caused by various underlying conditions such as burns, nephrotic syndrome, nutritional deficiency, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, liver failure from liver cirrhosis, pregnancy, thyroid disease, inflammation, allergies, lower than normal level of albumin in the blood (hypoalbuminemia), excess salt or sodium and use of certain drugs. Some drugs that may lead to swelling include corticosteroids and medicines used for the treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Doctors also classify swelling as pitting and non-pitting. Pitting oedema is when a dent occurs in the swollen area it is pressed for about 5 seconds. This dent slowly fills back in. Non-pitting oedema does not create a dent on pressing.
Homeopathy describes several remedies for the management of swelling. Some of the remedies are terebinthiniae oleum, strophanthus hispidus, lachesis mutus, kalium nitricum, kalium iodatum, helleborus niger, fluoricum acidum, crataegus oxyacantha, convallaria majalis, arsenicum album, apocynum cannabinum, apis mellifica, adonis vernalis and aceticum acidum.
A homeopathic doctor considers the disease symptoms along with the tendency of a person to suffer from certain conditions (Called miasm in homeopathy) before choosing a unique remedy for them. So, a homeopathic medicine that works for one person may not work for another. Additionally, homeopathic medicines are given on the basis of the principle like cures like, which means that any substance that causes certain symptoms in large doses in a healthy person, may heal the same symptoms when given in diluted doses to a sick person.