In order to stop swelling swiftly, you must act fast. Swelling is your body's reaction to trauma. Fluid quickly forms around the spot of the trauma. If the swelling is not stopped immediately, there will be more damage to the area, and it will take longer to heal. As soon as you notice swelling, take these actions.

Stop swelling fast by applying ice. This slows the circulation of blood around the area of trauma and forces the swelling to go down. You must do this quickly. If the swelling has a chance to sit for more than a few minutes, the ice will not be as effective. You can wrap ice in a towel. Hold it on the spot of the swelling with gauze.

Raise the spot of the swelling. It is important to have the swelling above your heart. This will help the fluid drain away from spot of the swelling. If this is on an arm or a leg, prop the limb up on a table or chair. If it is on the head, sit up while you are icing the swelling.

Take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These are commonly purchased over the counter at pharmacies as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. They are known by many brand names such as Excedrin, Bayer and Motrin. Tylenol is not an anti-inflammatory. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective in reducing swelling fast. Take the recommended dose even if you are not experiencing pain. Keep taking them until the swelling is gone. Never more than what is recommended on the bottle.

Ask your doctor to prescribe a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These steroids are even more effective at reducing swelling fast. Don't worry, they are not the kind of steroids that will turn you into the Incredible Hulk or make you fail a drug test.

Eat anti-inflammatory foods to stop swelling. Spicy chili peppers, fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and some herbs are known to reduce swelling. Ginger has been touted as an anti-inflammatory in Asia for centuries. Eating these foods immediately after experiencing swelling wont help much. However, if you eat them all the time, they will reduce your inclination to swell.