Often when a bulimia sufferer is on the path of recovery, the most distressing sight to witness is the swollen face. Especially when working on bulimia recovery with a resolve to stop vomiting, noticing the swollen glands brings the sufferer back to throwing up in an attempt to bring the swollen neck glands back down.
Often this high motivation to beat bulimia is sabotaged by continually developing swollen glands, which makes recovery very difficult. If this is the vicious cycle you can relate to, then there are things you can do to regain a sense of health, well-being and your usual face shape and form.
In an ordinary person, any form of gland swelling is usually a normal body response to an injury, infection, disease or abnormal growth of this area.
Unlike an infection of the glands where a response to a course of antibiotics would flush out any bacterial invasion – facial swelling in the cheek and jaw regions due to bulimia is NOT curable using conventional medicines. The simple fact is as long as a person with bulimic tendencies continues to throw-up; she or he will always have signs of swelling in the facial area.
Vomiting damages the gland tissue by constant attack from the stomach acids. Swelling is a normal defense reaction to healing any irritation caused by vomiting. Most of this swelling is simply water retention in your glands, as well as the glands themselves working to over compensate the loss of fluid elsewhere in the body.
This means when you vomit, all you are doing is getting rid of the water from your glands such as Salivary glands & Parotid glands. Thus giving the impression of reduced swelling, but this is only temporary because your body immediately tries to repair the damaged glands and starts to retain water again – bringing about a vicious circle.
The only way to treat this is to stop vomiting all together, but gradually. For most bulimia sufferers like you, that means actually stopping the binges that takes place – which is far easier to control than the auto-reflex of vomiting.
Binging and purging is an automatic learned response; because it is a learned behavior, you can choose to un- learn it in no time. Once you stop vomiting, after a few months you should see your face returning to normal. But be patient, return of your normal facial size could take time, depending on your own healing process as well as where the other severe damages are found in your body (eg: stomach lining, ulceration of digestive tract, load on your heart/liver/kidney functions, abnormalities of electrolytes, teeth and gum damage, knuckles and so on).
Here are some natural remedies you can try:
Many natural remedies can also help you recover your face that much faster by taking better care and giving it the best condition for your own body to heal itself.
Gargling every day with rock-salt water (use warm water) can help to clear any minor infection, as the Iodine found in the rock salt will help to speed up this recovery process.
Nutritionally you can do a lot too:
. Eating Mackerel can reduce inflammation by the active release of prostaglandins (hormone like substance).
. Berries are a good source of vitamin C – which helps with any Thyroid glands problem due to the immune boosting abilities.
. Sea vegetables such as seaweed are a rich source of iodine, as is Salmon which also contains Omega-3 Fatty acids.
. Brazil nuts contain Selenium, which helps to maintain any endocrine systems including Parotid glands in your neck.
. Eating carrots can help to soothe the mucous membrane throughout the digestive tract, reducing irritation and inflammation. It is a very good to cleanse your overworked liver with toxins too.
Onion on the other hand counter acts fluid retention, and helps with Gout (swelling) in the neck region.
You can also flavor your food with a pinch of Saffron, as it has anti-inflammation properties, but also gives you a fantastic aroma and color to your dish.
Avoid foods such as coffee, cola, sugary foods, cabbage as well as eating salt (as opposed to gargling it) – as they hinder healing of the damaged tissue and slows recovery.
Natural interventions to treat your swollen glands due to purging, needs dedication and patience from your part! Avoid expecting over-night miracles, for the bulimia effects to wear off, as you accept your own personal responsibilities for weaning off purging. If you take better care of yourself, bulimia symptoms like swollen glands, sore throat, constant loss of voice and regular infection in this area will diminish with time and you will see a marked difference in the size and shape of your face!