Knee Swelling: Causes, Medicinal Herbs and Herbal Preparations

Knee swelling, also known as edema, is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the soft tissues surrounding the knee joint, causing it to become inflamed and enlarged.

This condition can be caused by various factors, including injury, overuse, arthritis, and poor circulation. If left untreated, knee swelling can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, and increased risk of falls and injuries.

To alleviate knee swelling, herbal remedies such as turmeric, ginger, and willow bark can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. These herbs can be consumed as teas, capsules, or applied topically as creams or ointments.

However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before using medicinal herbs, as they can interact with medications or exacerbate underlying conditions.

This article explains in detail what are the causes of knee swelling, what medicinal herbs to use to relieve this problem and how to prepare these herbs to get the best results.

What are the main causes of knee swelling?

The main causes of knee swelling are injury to the ligaments or tendons, inflammation of the bursae (inframensical and suprapatellar bursitis) or synovium (synovitis), fluid accumulation due to fluid imbalance or liver cirrhosis, infection by bacteria or viruses (septic arthritis), and inflammatory conditions such as gout, pseudogout, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Injury to the knee can cause bleeding into the joint space and swelling. Inflammation of the bursae or synovium can cause swelling due to increased fluid production and impaired drainage. Fluid imbalance, often due to heart failure or liver cirrhosis, can lead to fluid accumulation in the knee joint.

Infections and inflammatory conditions can cause swelling through the activation of immune cells and release of chemical mediators.

• Gout: Gout is a condition where uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint, causing inflammation and swelling, often due to genetic predisposition, diet rich in purines, or kidney dysfunction.
• RA: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the lining of the joints, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain in the knee and other joints.
• Tendinitis: Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons, usually due to overuse or repetitive strain, which can cause swelling and pain in the knee.
• Meniscus Tear: A meniscus tear is a common injury that occurs when the cartilage in the knee joint is torn, often due to a sudden twisting motion or a direct blow to the knee, causing swelling and pain.
• Bursitis: Bursitis is an inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs, known as bursae, that cushion joints and reduce friction, often due to repetitive motion or direct trauma, causing swelling and pain in the knee.
• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes the cartilage in the knee joint to wear down, leading to bone-on-bone contact, inflammation, and swelling.
• Ligament Sprain: A ligament sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments that connect bones to each other, often due to a sudden twisting motion or a direct blow to the knee, causing swelling and pain.
• Knee Fracture: A knee fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the knee joint, often due to a direct blow or a fall, causing swelling, pain, and instability in the knee.
• Infection: A knee infection, such as cellulitis or osteomyelitis, is a bacterial or fungal infection that can cause inflammation, swelling, and pain in the knee.
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy can cause knee swelling due to increased fluid retention, weight gain, and changes in the body's hormonal balance.
• Kidney Disease: Kidney disease can cause knee swelling due to the buildup of waste products in the body, which can cause fluid retention and swelling in the knee and other joints.

What are the primary medicinal plants used for knee swelling?

The main medicinal herbs used for knee swelling are Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Arnica montana, Hamamelis virginiana, Boswellia serrata, Aloe barbadensis, Cinchona officinalis, Rhus coriaria, Achillea millefolium.

Curcuma longa contains curcumin which has potent anti-inflammatory properties due to its ability to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes and cytokines. Zingiber officinale or ginger has anti-inflammatory compounds that inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes and Boswellia serrata contains boswellic acids which reduce inflammation and pain. Glycyrrhiza glabra also reduces inflammation and promotes the healing of connective tissue, while Hamamelis virginiana reduces inflammation and promotes blood flow to the affected area.

Additionally, Arnica montana reduces inflammation and pain by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes, Aloe barbadensis has anti-inflammatory properties due to its high content of vitamins and minerals, Cinchona officinalis has anti-inflammatory properties due to its content of quinine, Rhus coriaria or sumac has anti-inflammatory properties due to its content of tannins and Achillea millefolium has anti-inflammatory properties due to its content of sesquiterpene lactones.

• Curcuma longa: Curcuma longa, or turmeric, contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes.
• Zingiber officinale: Zingiber officinale, or ginger, has anti-inflammatory compounds like gingerols and shogaols that help to reduce pain and inflammation in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
• Glycyrrhiza glabra: Glycyrrhiza glabra, or licorice root, contains glycyrrhizin, which has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
• Arnica montana: Arnica montana, or arnica, contains arnalic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous properties that help to reduce pain and inflammation in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
• Hamamelis virginiana: Hamamelis virginiana, or witch hazel, contains tannins and flavonoids that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by constricting blood vessels and reducing fluid accumulation in the affected area.
• Boswellia serrata: Boswellia serrata, or frankincense, contains boswellic acids that have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
• Aloe barbadensis: Aloe barbadensis, or aloe vera, contains aloin and aloe-emodin, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous properties that help to reduce pain and inflammation in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
• Cinchona officinalis: Cinchona officinalis, or cinchona, contains quinine, which has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
• Rhus coriaria: Rhus coriaria, or sumac, contains gallic acid and tannins that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by constricting blood vessels and reducing fluid accumulation in the affected area.
• Achillea millefolium: Achillea millefolium, or yarrow, contains flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones that have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the knees by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.

What are the main herbal preparations used for knee swelling?

The main herbal preparations used for knee swelling are Tincture, Decoction, Capsule, Gel, Salve, Cream, Ointment, Poultice, Suppository, Oil.

Tincture of willow bark contains salicylic acid which reduces inflammation and pain. Decoction of turmeric root has anti-inflammatory properties due to curcumin, reducing knee swelling and pain. Capsules of boswellia contain boswellic acids which inhibit inflammation and pain in the knee.

Preparations like Gel, Salve, Cream, Ointment, Poultice and Oil of arnica and calendula contain flavonoids and terpenes which reduce inflammation and promote healing in the knee.

• Tincture: A tincture made from the leaves of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) or the roots of Boswellia serrata helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and pain due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
• Decoction: A decoction of the stems and leaves of Willow bark (Salix alba) helps with knee swelling by reducing pain and inflammation due to its salicylic acid content, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Capsule: A capsule containing the seeds of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and pain due to its curcumin content, which has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
• Gel: A gel made from the leaves of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and pain due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, as well as its cooling effect on the skin.
• Salve: A salve made from the roots of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and pain due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, as well as its ability to improve circulation.
• Cream: A cream made from the leaves of Calendula (Calendula officinalis) helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and promoting wound healing due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
• Ointment: An ointment made from the roots of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) helps with knee swelling by reducing pain and inflammation due to its gingerol content, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Poultice: A poultice made from the leaves of Plantain (Plantago major) helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and pain due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, as well as its ability to draw out excess fluid.
• Suppository: A suppository made from the roots of Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) helps with knee swelling by reducing pain and inflammation due to its harpagoside content, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Oil: An oil made from the seeds of Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) helps with knee swelling by reducing inflammation and promoting wound healing due to its omega-3 fatty acid content, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.