Varicose veins

What you need to know

Severe cases of this painful and unsightly condition will almost certainly need surgery, but mild varicose veins may well respond to natural remedies - and if you’ve already had an episode of this condition, here are some tips to help you avoid them coming back.

A surprising but very common cause of Varicose veins is Constipation, please refer to this section to learn more.

The most useful Supplements:

Bromelain	2,000G.D.U to 3,000G.D.U per day
Grape seed extract	100mg to 300mg per day
Pine bark extract	100mg to 300mg per day
Rutin	500mg to 1,000mg per day
Vitamin C	1-3 grams per day
Vitamin E	400-800iu per day

The most useful Herbs:

Bilberry	500mg to 2,000mg per day of standardised extract
Butchers broom	500mg to 1,000mg per day
Goto kola	500mg to 3,000mg per day
Horse chestnut	500mg to 2,000mg per day

Externally, distilled Witch hazel or Horse chestnut ointment can be used in gentle massage

Homoeopathy

The following homoeopathic remedies may also help.

Ferrum Metallicum
Hamamelis
Pulsatilla

Aromatherapy

Cypress
Geranium

Put the essential oils into a carrier oil or lotion that can be massaged ABOVE the Varicose veins - NEVER OVER THE VEINS.

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

Diet plays a part, too, so eat lots of fibre - fruit (especially cherries, blackberries and blueberries), plus wholemeal bread, beans, pasta, salad and vegetables

Eat buckwheat for its Rutin content - it can be used to make pancakes, or added to bread or biscuit recipes.

Excessive amounts of caffeine, salt and alcohol all have adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels

Drink at least 2 litres of water every day.

Traditional Remedies:

Fill a large plastic bucket with comfortably hot water and second bucket with 4in/10cm of shingle and water. Stand in the hot bucket for 30 seconds, then stomp up and down in the cold bucket for 10 seconds. Repeat for 10 minutes every day to stimulate the blood flow and strengthen the muscles of the vein walls.

Other useful advice:

You should also take regular exercise and not stand immobile for too long. Support tights really do help - and these days you can buy them in many different colours. The black ones look no different from the opaque, high fashion, highly-priced alternatives in department stores.
Contrast bathing with alternate hot and cold water helps improve circulation, and useful therapies include massage, Reflexology, Yoga and Aromatherapy. Don’t sit with your legs crossed or sit for long periods on hard chairs; both restrict the return flow of blood from the legs to the heart.
Smoking is very detrimental to the health of the circulatory system in general but also damages blood vessels.
If you have a varicose ulcer, then a dressing of sterile gauze spread with organic honey will aid healing.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.