Often when a bulimia sufferer is on the road to recovery, the most distressing sight to witness is the swollen face. Especially when working on bulimia recovery with a determination to stop vomiting, noticing that swollen neck glands cause the patient to vomit again in an attempt to bring down the swollen neck glands.

Often this strong motivation to beat bulimia is sabotaged by the continued development of swollen glands, making 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 the average person, any form of swollen glands is usually a normal response of the body to injury, infection, disease, or abnormal growth of this area.

Unlike an infection of the glands where a response to a course of antibiotics would eliminate any bacterial invasion, facial swelling in the cheek and jaw regions due to bulimia is NOT curable with conventional medications. The simple fact is as long as a person with bulimic tendencies continues to vomit; she or he will always have signs of swelling in the facial area.

Vomiting damages the glans tissue due to the constant attack of stomach acids. Bloating is a normal defense reaction to cure any irritation caused by vomiting. Most of this swelling is simply water retention in the glands, as well as the glands themselves working to compensate for fluid loss elsewhere in the body.

This means that when you vomit, all you are doing is getting rid of water from your glands, such as your salivary glands and parotid glands. So it gives the impression of reduced swelling, but this is only temporary because your body immediately tries to repair the damaged glands and starts retaining water again, creating a vicious cycle.

The only way to treat this is to stop vomiting completely, but gradually. For most bulimia sufferers like you, that means stopping the binges that occur, which is much easier to control than the automatic reflex to throw up.

Binge eating and purging are an automatic learned response; because it is a learned behavior, you can choose to unlearn it in no time. Once you stop vomiting, after a few months you should see your face return to normal. But be patient, the return to your normal facial size could take time, depending on your own healing process, as well as where the other serious damage is in your body (for example: stomach lining, ulceration of the digestive tract, load in your heart/liver/kidney functions, electrolyte abnormalities, damage to teeth and gums, knuckles, etc.).

Here are some natural remedies you can try:

Many natural remedies can also help you get your face back much faster by taking better care of it and giving it the best conditions for your own body to heal itself.

Gargling with rock salt water daily (use lukewarm water) can help flush out any minor infections, as the iodine found in the rock salt will help speed up this recovery process.

Nutritionally you can also do a lot:

. Eating mackerel can reduce inflammation through the active release of prostaglandins (hormone-like substance).
. Berries are a good source of vitamin C, which helps with any thyroid gland problems due to 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 support any endocrine system, including the parotid glands in the neck.
. Eating carrots can help soothe the mucous membrane throughout the digestive tract, reducing irritation and inflammation. It is also very good for cleansing your overworked liver with toxins.

Onion, on the other hand, acts against 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-inflammatory properties, but it also gives a fantastic aroma and color to your dish.

Avoid foods such as coffee, colas, sugary foods, cabbage, as well as eating salt (instead of gargling) as they make it harder for damaged tissue to heal and delay recovery.

Natural interventions to treat your swollen glands from purging, it takes dedication and patience on your part! Avoid expecting overnight miracles for the effects of bulimia to wear off, while accepting your own personal responsibilities to stop purging. If you take better care of yourself, bulimia symptoms such as swollen glands, sore throat, constant loss of voice, and regular infection in this area will lessen over time and you will see a marked difference in the size and shape of your face.