Position

• Begin by elevating your legs. Swelling in the legs and feet is generally worse at the end of the day or after prolonged periods of standing or walking.By raising the swollen limbs, you allow gravity to pull the fluid out of the tissue and return it to circulate throughout the body. Keep your legs up for 30 minutes at a time three to four times a day to keep the swelling down. To increase circulation in the area and amplify the effect of elevation, gently massage the limbs with lotion or body oil.
  
  

Diet

• If you're experiencing fluid retention, you should consider taking steps to reduce or remove the sodium in your daily diet. Too much salt can throw off your fluid balance by preventing the water in your body from being excreted by the kidneys. To help move things along and expedite the processing of all the sodium, drink plenty of plain water. It dilutes the urine, giving the salt a chance to be dissolved. If water isn't your thing, try a cup of tea instead. Parsley tea, in particular, is known to have a mildly diuretic effect, kicking the output of the kidneys into overdrive and helping to remove excess fluids from the body. Other herbal teas can also be used with similar results.
  
  

Compression

• Edema of the legs can also be treated, and possibly prevented, by the wearing of compression socks. These can be found in most department stores or can be purchased online through medical supply companies. They come in a variety of heights, from mid-calf to full pantyhose and work by increasing the pressure placed upon the exterior of the leg. This increase leads to an escalation in circulation and helps to prevent the collection of fluid in the limbs.