How Natural Diuretics Help Fluid Retention and Edema

How Natural Diuretics Help Fluid Retention and Edema

If you’ve noticed swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands, or you’ve been told you have fluid retention, know that the condition is relatively common.  For some folks, it may resolve on its own. For others, the discomfort can be a little worrying.

The good news? Nature offers some gentle helpers. Dandelion leaf and parsley are two herbs long used as natural diuretics to support your body in getting rid of extra water and easing swelling. But why those two herbs?

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Fluid Retention vs. Edema: What’s the Difference?

You may hear the terms fluid retention and edema used interchangeably, and they’re closely related, but there is a subtle difference.

  • Fluid retention is a general condition where your body holds on to more water than normal. It might show up as puffiness, bloating, or a slight increase in weight.
  • Edema is when that retained fluid collects in the tissues, especially under the skin, causing visible swelling. It’s a more specific, often more serious form of fluid retention. In other words, all edema is fluid retention, but not all fluid retention becomes edema.

Edema can be caused by a variety of underlying issues, including vascular imbalance, kidney or heart problems, hormonal shifts, or tissue/vessel damage (1).

While the two conditions may overlap, thinking of fluid retention as the early stage and edema as the visible, swollen stage helps you understand when to pay attention and when to take action.

Common Causes of Fluid Retention and Edema

Now that you know the difference between fluid retention (when the body holds on to extra water) and edema (when that fluid builds up in the tissues and causes swelling), it’s easier to understand why they happen in the first place.

Some water retention can be normal, like after you’ve eaten a particularly salty meal or after sitting for a long flight. However, if that condition persists or the swelling becomes more noticeable, it usually points to an underlying cause. Some of the most common include:

1. Sitting or Standing Too Long

When you stay in one position for hours, gravity pulls fluid down into your legs, ankles, and feet. This type of swelling often improves once you start moving again or elevate your legs.

2. Dietary Factors

Eating foods high in salt or processed ingredients can make your body retain more water. Low protein intake may also contribute, since proteins help keep fluid inside your blood vessels.

3. Hormonal Changes

Hormone shifts during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy can cause temporary fluid retention. This is especially common before menstruation or during the third trimester of pregnancy.

4. Medications

Certain prescription drugs, such as blood pressure medications, corticosteroids, or some antidepressants, may cause the body to retain excess water. Always talk to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing these symptoms after medication changes.

5. Underlying Health Conditions

Persistent edema can signal problems with how your body circulates or regulates fluids,  often involving organs like the heart, kidneys, or liver, which typically help keep fluids in balance.

Research shows that in conditions such as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, reduced kidney function, or even chronic kidney disease, the body retains more salt and water, and that drives swelling (edema) (2,3).

6. Inflammation or Injury

When tissue is injured or inflamed, your body sends fluid to the affected area to support healing; this often leads to short-term swelling.

For most people, mild fluid retention is temporary and can be resolved through simple changes like movement, hydration, and balanced nutrition. But, if it lingers or worsens, that’s where natural diuretics may help the body safely and gently restore balance.

Diuretics Vs. Natural Diuretics: Approaches to Relief

Whether you’re dealing with fluid retention or edema, you’ve probably heard about diuretics (prescribed by a doctor) as well as natural diuretics (herbal or dietary options). Understanding their differences can help you choose a gentler path (when appropriate) and know when to use each one.

What’s the difference?

  • Prescription (pharmaceutical) diuretics, often called “water pills,” are designed to act powerfully on specific parts of the kidneys to promote increased elimination of salt and water. These are typically used for more serious conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, etc. (4)
  • Natural diuretics are plant-based supplements or food-based substances (such as herbs, certain foods, or botanicals) that encourage your kidneys to release more water. They tend to have milder effects. The idea is to work with the body’s natural regulation instead of trying to overpower it.

Why Choose Natural Diuretics?

Working with your body is almost always better than working against it. Let’s take a look at some specifics related to natural diuretics:

  • Lower intensity: Prescription diuretics can be very potent and may be stronger than needed. They may trigger sudden shifts in fluid balance, electrolyte disturbances (such as sodium and potassium), or drop blood pressure too low (5). Natural diuretics usually act with less force, giving your body more time to adjust.
  • Fewer side effects: Any side effects from natural diuretics tend to be gentler, though you still need to watch for interactions and individual sensitivities.
  • Supportive, not corrective: Natural diuretics may be used for milder, chronic retention as in everyday bloating, mild edema, or seasonal shifts. They’re less likely to be sufficient when edema results from severe organ dysfunction.
  • Compatible with long-term use: Because they’re gentler on your system, natural diuretics may be more suitable for longer-term supportive care, when monitored by a healthcare provider. In contrast, prescription diuretics often require close monitoring of kidney function, minerals, and vital signs. 

dandelion leaf and root as part of herbal/botanical solutionDandelion for Fluid Retention and Edema

By this point, you may be wondering a bit more about natural diuretics. When it comes to managing fluid retention, few herbs have the long-standing reputation that dandelion does.

Not only does dandelion support the body’s natural ability to shed excess water, but studies have shown that dandelion leaf extract increases urine frequency and volume, suggesting a gentle, balanced natural diuretic effect without harsh side effects (6).

Similarly, a 2024 pharmacological review noted that dandelion’s bioactive compounds contribute to its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects (7).

Dandelion Leaf vs. Dandelion Root

While both the leaf and root come from the same plant, they work quite differently in the body.

  • Dandelion leaf is most commonly used as a natural diuretic. It encourages the kidneys to release extra water and sodium, helping reduce swelling from mild edema or fluid buildup. Also, because it’s rich in minerals like potassium, it’s less likely to cause electrolyte imbalances, which can happen with pharmaceutical diuretics (8).
  • Dandelion root, on the other hand, is more often used for liver and digestive support. It contains inulin and other beneficial compounds that can help with detoxification and gut health, but has less evidence behind it for fluid management.

In short, if your goal is to ease water retention or mild swelling, dandelion leaf is your best choice. That’s why we’ve paired it with parsley.

Parsley as a Natural Diuretic

You may be more used to seeing parsley on the side of your plate, but it’s also a powerful botanical. It’s a gentle, natural diuretic that’s been used for centuries to help the body release extra fluid.

Modern research supports what herbalists and naturopaths have long known: parsley can encourage healthy urine flow without the harsh effects of prescription diuretics (9).

Edema Relief Botanical supplement

Dandelion and Parsley for Edema Relief

Given their ability to ease fluid retention naturally, dandelion and parsley make a great team. Both are time-tested natural diuretics that help your body release excess water while keeping essential minerals like potassium in balance.

Think of them as a gentle nudge for your body’s drainage system, encouraging things to flow again without the crash or depletion some prescription diuretics can cause. Dandelion leaf helps support kidney and liver function, while parsley aids in flushing out excess sodium and water, helping to keep swelling in check.

Even the research supports what herbalists have known for generations: these herbs can promote healthy fluid balance without harsh side effects. But just as important, they do it in a way that supports your body’s natural rhythm, which can help you feel lighter, less puffy, and more like yourself again.

If you’re ready to try a carefully formulated blend designed specifically for edema support, check out SuperTrees Botanicals’ Edema Support supplement. It combines organic dandelion leaf and parsley, two of nature’s best natural diuretics, to help you feel lighter, balanced, and more comfortable every day.

 

Sources:

1. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). NBK279409. In NCBI Bookshelf. Retrieved October 15, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279409
2. Correale, M., Fioretti, F., Tricarico, L., Croella, F., Brunetti, N. D., Inciardi, R. M., Mattioli, A. V., & Nodari, S. (2023). The role of congestion biomarkers in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(11), 3834. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12113834
3. 3. American Heart Association. (2025, May 30). Ejection fraction: Heart failure measurement. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/diagnosing-heart-failure/ejection-fraction-heart-failure-measurement
4. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025, September 27). Diuretics. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/diuretics/art-20048129
5. Sica, D. A. (2004). Diuretic-related side effects: Development and treatment. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 6(9), 532–540. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-6175.2004.03789.x
6. Clare, B. A., Conroy, R. S., & Spelman, K. (2009). The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 929-934. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0152
7. Yan, Q., Xing, Q., Liu, Z., Zou, Y., Liu, X., & Xi, H. (2024). The phytochemical and pharmacological profile of dandelion. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 179, Article 117334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117334
8. Arampatzis, S., Funk, G. C., Leichtle, A. B., Fiedler, G. M., Schwarz, C., Zimmermann, H., & Leichtle, A. B. (2013). Impact of diuretic therapy-associated electrolyte disorders present on admission to the emergency department: A cross-sectional analysis. BMC Medicine, 11, 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-11-83
9. Kreydiyyeh, S. I., & Usta, J. (2002). Diuretic effect and mechanism of action of parsley. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 79(3), 353–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00408-1
10. 

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