How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles Fast with 15 Home Remedies

woman running illustration caption how to heal swollen ankles

Swollen ankles are not only unsightly, but they cause all sorts of problems and discomfort with shoes as well; not to mention the pain and tingling. There are remedies for how to get rid of swollen ankles fast that can be found in or utilized right in your own home. We’ll reveal 15 of those remedies right here. So, you better try one or more of these remedies to fasten your recovery.

Keep in mind that these remedies work on the symptoms of swollen ankles, but are not all-inclusive cures. Swollen ankles might be pointing to a much more serious health issue that will require the advice and treatment of a healthcare professional. Seek professional treatment when you have a bad condition.

15 Ways to Reduce Your Swollen Ankles

1. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles with Coriander Seeds

To start off our list of how to get rid of swollen ankles fast is a remedy from Ayurvedic medicine; coriander seeds. These potent little seeds have plenty of anti-inflammatory punch to reduce swelling while they also help to improve circulation to the area.

What to do:

  • In 1 cup of water add 2 to 3 tsp of coriander seeds.
  • Boil the seeds until the water reduces by half.
  • Strain the solution, allow it to cool for a few minutes and then drink it.
  • Repeat this remedy twice per day.

2. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles with Magnesium

A major contributor to inflammation is magnesium deficiency. Therefore, a major remedy for how to get rid of swollen ankles fast is to add more magnesium into your diet in order to regain control over inflammation.

What to do:

  • You can take a magnesium supplement, but only after consulting your doctor, because these supplements don’t work well with heart and kidney disease.
  • The better option is to increase your consumption of magnesium-rich foods, which include dark, leafy greens, nuts and seeds, cold-water fish, avocados, bananas, and dark cocoa.
salt in a bowl

3. Epsom Salt

While we are discussing magnesium, we will skip directly to magnesium sulfate, which is more commonly known as Epsom salt. This is another excellent remedy for how to get rid of swollen ankles fast because it not only helps to reduce swelling fast but can help ease the pain and discomfort too.

What to do:

  • Dissolve ½ cup of Epsom salt in a foot tub of warm water.
  • Soak your swollen feet and ankles in the tub for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Repeat this remedy daily.

4. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles Using Exercise

Though it might not be the most popular remedy for how to get rid of swollen ankles fast, regular physical exercise is one of the best ways to prevent as well as be rid of swollen ankles. Exercise stimulates circulation in the area and prevents blood from pooling in your extremities.

What to do:

  • One of the best forms of exercise for swollen ankles is swimming because it takes some of your weight and pressure off of your ankles while you exercise.
  • Cycling or walking for 30 minutes 5 days per week also works.
  • Stretching and yoga for 30 minutes 5 days per week is another alternative.

5. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles Using Ginger

A common household spice, ginger, is another item on our list of how to get rid of swollen ankles fast. Because it is a natural diuretic, ginger helps to reduce swelling by diluting sodium in your body. Additionally, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties as well.

What to do:

  • Mix 3 to 4 drops of ginger essential oil in coconut or olive oil and use it to massage your feet and ankles a couple of times per day.
  • Alternately, you can make ginger tea, which you can drink 2 to 3 times daily.
  • Chewing on raw, slices of ginger is another way to get ginger into your system.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Also among the most effective remedies, how for getting rid of swollen ankles fast is apple cider vinegar (ACV). ACV is high in potassium which helps to reduce fluid retention and also helps to alkalize your body, another factor involved with inflammation.

What to do:

  • You can prepare a soak similar to the one with Epsom salt above, but replace the ½ cup of Epsom salt with ½ cup of ACV.
  • You can also mix 2 tsp of raw, unfiltered ACV in a glass of warm water and drink it twice per day.

7. Lemon Water

Lemon water is also known to be effective when it comes to how to get rid of swollen ankles fast. Lemon water helps to flush out excess fluid and toxins from your body, which reduces swelling at your body’s extremities. Adding lemon to your water in order to encourage yourself to drink more and stay hydrated also helps reduce inflammation.

What to do:

  • Mix 2 Tbsp of fresh-squeezed lemon juice in 8 to 12 oz. of warm water.
  • Sweeten the drink with a little raw honey.
  • Drink this remedy 3 times per day.
  • Additionally, add a little lemon to your water to encourage daily hydration.

8. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles Using Dandelion

Another diuretic, which comes from a weed on your lawn, dandelion, is among the top items on our list of how to get rid of swollen ankles fast. The diuretic properties of dandelion help your body metabolize extra fluids and flush them along with heavy toxins out of your system while it also helps to regulate your body’s sodium levels too.

What to do:

  • Simmer 1 tsp of fresh chopped or dried dandelion leaves in 1 cup of water for about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat, cover, and let it steep for 5 minutes more.
  • Strain out the leaves and drink the tea.
  • Repeat this 2 to 3 times per day.
woman getting a foot massage

9. Massage

Nothing is more relaxing than the next remedy on our list of how to get rid of swollen ankles fast. A foot and ankle massage is great for swollen feet because it improves circulation to the area and also encourages excess fluids to drain out of the area where they have collected.

What to do:

  • Rub warm mustard, olive, or coconut oil on your feet and ankles.
  • You can add 3 to 4 drops of your favorite essential oil per each tsp of carrier oil to your massage oil if you like.
  • Massage the area in an upward direction for 5 to 10 minutes on each ankle.
  • Repeat this 2 or 3 times daily.

10. Alternating Hydrotherapy

Alternating hydrotherapy is also a solid remedy when it comes to how to get rid of swollen ankles fast. Alternating between cold and warm water is an effective way to reduce inflammation (cold water) and increase circulation (warm water).

What to do:

  • Fill 2-foot tubs with water- one with cold water and one with warm water.
  • Soak your ankles and feet in the warm water for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove them from the warm water and then put them in the cold water for 1 minute.
  • Continue alternating between the 2 tubs for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Repeat this a couple of times per day.

11. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles with Decrease Salt Intake

A major factor in swelling of the ankles is excess sodium in your body. Consequently, decreasing your salt intake is a major remedy for how to get rid of swollen ankles fast. Salt helps to retain water in your body because with sodium in it, water can be held in higher concentrations. Excess water tends to pool in your ankles and feet, which causes them to become swollen.

What to do:

  • Reduce your intake of salty snacks.
  • Utilize other seasonings in place of salt in your diet.
  • Avoid highly processed or packaged foods, because they tend to have high concentrations of salt as a preservative.

12. Parsley

An effective herbal remedy for how to get rid of swollen ankles fast is parsley. This powerful little herb is among the best natural diuretics which will help rid your body of excess liquid by increasing urine output. This helps you to avoid water retention leading to swollen ankles.

What to do:

  • Add parsley to soups, salads, and other dishes when you cook.
  • In addition, you can make parsley tea by placing 1 tsp of fresh chopped parsley in 8 oz. of boiling water.
  • Reduce the heat and allow the water to simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Cover and allow the water to cool for about 3 minutes before straining the tea and drinking it.
  • Drink this tea 2 to 3 times daily.

13. Grapefruit Essential Oil

An effective essential oil on our list of how to get rid of swollen ankles fast is grapefruit oil. This is a powerful anti-inflammatory substance that will help reduce the swelling in your ankles.

What to do:

  • Add 4 to 5 drops of grapefruit essential oil to a foot tub filled with warm water in order to soak your feet and ankles as mentioned above.
  • Alternatively, you can use grapefruit essential oil in the oil mixture used for the massage above as well.

14. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles with RoseHip

Another powerful ingredient when it comes to how to get rid of swollen ankles fast is rosehip. Rose hips are also a strong diuretic with both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This remedy treats both the symptoms and the causes of swollen ankles.

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What to do:

warm beverage in a cup

15. How to Get Rid of Swollen Ankles Using Stay Hydrated

Though this is the last item on our list of how to get rid of swollen ankles fast, staying hydrated is probably the best remedy on our list. Not only does drinking plenty of water help reduce the sodium ratio in your body and reduce inflammation, but being properly hydrated helps all of your organs and tissues function at optimum levels.

What to do:

  • Drink ½ oz. of water for every pound of your body weight on a daily basis (150 lbs. body weight = 75 oz. of water or 4 ½ quarts.
  • To encourage drinking add 1 tsp of fresh-squeezed fruit juice like lemons, oranges, strawberries, and kiwis to each quart of water.

How Do You Get Rid of Your Swollen Ankles?

A lot of things that we usually do becomes restricted when we have swollen ankles. Standing, walking, and running become very hard to do. The discomfort of swollen ankles often discourages people from getting out and about. Knowing how to get rid of swollen ankles fast will keep you from limiting your lifestyle and get you back into the swing of things in no time. Do you want to get rid of your swollen ankles to do life better? Make use of one or more of our 15 remedies and then comment on your success at reducing your swollen ankles in the section below.