When it is very prominent, you can press your thumb firmly against the side of the shin bone, hold for half a minute and note that a thimble-sized dimple will be left behind.

Dietary Changes That May Be Helpful.
High salt intake should be avoided, as it leads to water retention and may worsen oedema in some people. A controlled trial found that a low sodium diet (less than 21,000 mg sodium per day) resulted in reduced water retention after two months in a group of women with unexplained Oedema.

Lifestyle Changes That May Be Helpful.
If Oedema is affecting one limb, the limb should be kept elevated whenever possible. This allows fluids to drain more effectively from the congested area. To decrease fluid build-up in the legs, people should avoid sitting or standing for a long period of time.

Vitamins That May Be Helpful.
Several researches have found that 400 mg per day of coumarin, a flavonoid, found in a variety of herbs, can improve many types of Oedema, including lymphedema after surgery.

A group of semi-synthetic flavonoids are also benerficial for some types of Oedema. One trial found that 2 grams per day of hydroxyethylrutosides reduces ankle and foot oedema in people with venous disorders after four weeks.

Another trial found that 3 grams per day of hydroxyethyrutosides significantly reduced lymphedema of the arm or leg and lessened the associated uncomfortable symptoms.

In a preliminary study, individuals with Oedema of the arm or head and neck region were treated with approximately 230 mcg of selenium per day, in the form of sodium selelnite, for four to six weeks.