7 Home Remedies To Treat Varicose Veins
Both to avoid its appearance and to avoid its aggravation, it is essential that you maintain an active lifestyle, in addition to following the doctor’s instructions.
According to popular beliefs, there are some home remedies to treat varicose veins that can help relieve symptoms.
Varicose veins or varicose veins are venous dilations that make it difficult for blood to return to the heart and that mainly affect the lower limbs. They occur when there is an alteration that prevents blood flow correctly.
Why do varicose veins occur?
Varicose veins develop when the venous valves do not close properly and dilate as blood accumulates. The risk factors for this problem are the following that we are going to discuss.
Obesity
Obesity is a disease that affects the cardiovascular system and can hinder blood circulation in general. This can lead to different diseases, such as hypertension for example, as well as varicose veins.
According to Cinfa experts, excessive body weight increases the pressure in the veins and aggravates their condition, which leads to an increased risk of chronic venous insufficiency and associated complications.
Sedentary lifestyle
It has been shown that not exercising daily and staying in the same position for many hours a day can significantly impede circulation, which can lead to varicose veins.
When we sit for many hours a day, both the venous return pump and the leg muscles are affected. Then, sedentary lifestyle causes blood to stagnate and there is a valve overload, which results in the appearance of varicose veins.
Staying in the same position for long periods of time
Both sitting and standing for very long periods of time is detrimental to the cardiovascular system, since the complete return of blood is difficult, because it always has to work against gravity.
Contraceptives
Regular use of contraceptives can lead to fluid retention and reticular vein valve failure. For this reason, there are women who may notice vascular ‘spiders’ on their legs.
Background
The history can be family or personal, both of deep vein thrombosis varicose veins and problems in the lower limbs.
Other risk factors
Also influence smoking, hypertension and high cholesterol. Any of them can be a direct or indirect cause of varicose veins and vein problems.
Home remedies to treat varicose veins
According to popular beliefs, in addition to following the doctor’s instructions and maintaining good lifestyle habits, the following remedies could be used to treat varicose veins, as a complement.
1. Blueberries
Due to its content of antioxidants, vitamin P and other nutrients, blueberries could help to supplement the diet and contribute to cardiovascular health.
You can consume them raw as a dessert or snack, or prepare an infusion with a tablespoon of the nuts for each cup of water.
2. Horsetail
Due to its diuretic effect, the infusion of horsetail could help alleviate the discomforts derived from varicose veins, such as swelling and fluid retention. However, it must be borne in mind that its consumption is not capable of curing varicose veins as such.
This drink is not recommended for pregnant women, with heart problems or thrombophlebitis.
3. Calendula
Calendula is a flower that has been used in the production of all kinds of products because it helps soothe pain and reduce inflammation. Therefore, there are those who use it as an ally when they have varicose veins in the legs.
4. Aloe vera
Although it has not been proven that the consumption of aloe vera can make a significant contribution to health, there are those who consider that this may be a suitable remedy to treat discomfort associated with varicose veins, such as fluid retention.
Some people prepare smoothies with aloe, to obtain tasty, hydrating and different drinks.
5. Essential oils
Massages are a good solution when legs hurt from varicose veins. Also when it comes to preventing a sedentary lifestyle from taking a toll on the body. The movement must be circular and begin at the ankles and work up to the thighs.
You can, for example, use olive oil to facilitate blood circulation and prevent obstruction of the veins. Make sure the oil is warm when you use it.
6. Cypress
It is considered that the infusion of cypress bark and leaves can help relieve varicose veins. Some take advantage of them in capsules or pills and others as an infusion.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of tree leaves and bark (20 g).
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation
- Heat the liter of water and, when it comes to a boil, add the cypress leaves and bark.
- Allow the decoction to take place for 10 minutes. Strain and let cool.
- You can also use this treatment topically, soaking a cotton ball and spreading the liquid (which would work as a kind of tonic) over the affected area.
7. Horse Chestnut
Due to its flavonoid content, it is considered that the best home remedies to treat circulatory discomfort and varicose veins are those that include horse chestnut in their composition. To prepare it you will need:
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons of horse chestnut bark (50 g).
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation
- Bring the water to a boil and add the bark of the horse chestnut. Let it infuse for 10 minutes.
- After the recommended time, strain the preparation and once it has warmed up, drink the liquid.
Phytotherapy can provide some help
According to some hypotheses, some plants and herbs have venotonic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous properties. Therefore, herbal medicine is considered a viable option in the treatment of varicose veins.
It is interesting to know that both horse chestnut and chamomile have been widely studied as complementary treatments for varicose veins, given the positive effects they have been shown to have in patients.
Keep in mind that the remedies mentioned here do not replace the doctor’s guidelines or the benefits that practicing good lifestyle habits can provide. Therefore, always consider them an additional help. Not as a treatment as such.
