Holistic Recommendations for Varicose Veins
Antoaneta Sawyer, PhD
Varicose veins (VV) are the bluish, painful bulges that appear on the legs when blood pools in the veins. Diseases of the venous system are widespread disorders sometimes associated with modern civilization. Of all the veins in our body, leg veins have the hardest time carrying blood back to the heart. Because of their location in the lower extremities, the circulatory tissues in the legs are comprised of perhaps the hardest-working blood vessels in your entire body. Not only must they deliver nutrient-rich oxygenated blood to your legs, but also they must then battle against gravity to transport deoxygenated blood and waste products back to your heart and internal organs for cleansing. When the valves weakened, especially with aging, blood can become clogged and cause veins to swell abnormally. As we age, we become more aware of the uncomfortable burden that gravity can place on circulation in our lower extremities.
Causes of Varicose Veins
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Having an advanced age are the strongest predictors of varicose veins, other factors such as a high BMI, poor health status, genetics, hemorrhoids and some professional categories may be also important factors in their presentation.
- Genetical make up. Simple genetics may explain why some people get varicose veins. People whose mother, father, brother or sister has varicose veins are more likely to have VV, than those with no family history to develop the condition.
- Extreme stress and dietary deficiencies or the loss of skin elasticity due to aging are contributory factors.
- Any condition that puts excessive pressure on the legs or abdomen can lead to varicosity.
- Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause may be responsible for the high proportion of varicosities among women.
- Prolonged standing or sitting.
- Chronic constipation.
- Lack of exercise.
- Extreme obesity.
- Repeated heavy lifting can interfere with normal circulation to increase the likelihood that varicose veins will develop-and can worsen existing varicosities.
- In chronic disease or cases, the distended veins may be accompanied by aching pain or itching, and if the stretched skin breaks down, open sores may form.
- Men and women who are relatively tall, and women who are obese were also more likely to show signs of varicose veins than others.
- Metabolic syndrome, obesity or simply a body mass index of 30 kg/m2, a poor self-reported health status and hemorrhoids were significantly associated with the presence of varicose veins. Employers showed higher risk than workers.
- A moderate alcohol consumption was even associated with a protective effect.
Exact Mechanism:
Despite not always VV may result from a chronic increase in blood pressure, which dilates the vein. When the vein walls are pushed apart, the valves no longer seal properly, making it difficult for the muscles to push the blood 'uphill.' Instead of flowing from one valve to the next, the blood begins to pool in the vein, increasing venous pressure and the likelihood of congestion while causing the vein to bulge and twist. Because superficial veins have less muscular support than deep veins, they are more likely to become varicose.
Symptoms:
Prominent dark blue ropelike bulging blood vessels, especially in the legs and feet.
Aching, tender, heavy, or sore legs; often accompanied by swelling in the ankles or feet after standing for any length of time.
Discolored, peeling skin even skin ulcers
Heaviness in a limb, sometimes with swelling, but without any prominent or visible blue vein, may signal a deep varicose vein.
What to do for prevention
To insure a healthy vascular system, increase dietary intake of fibers and flavonoid rich foods such as yams, onions, grapes and berries.
Avoid excessive periods of standing or sitting.
Exercise regularly.
Folk Therapy:
Apply a cloth saturated with apple cider vinegar on the varicose veins for 30 minutes twice a day. Follow this with a drink of 2 teaspoons of the vinegar in a glass of water.
Prepare a poultice of bruised cabbage leaves, rotten apples, chopped brown onions, or a half-and-half blend of cod liver oil and raw honey. Apply this overnight. This is believed to heal varicose sores.
General recommendations:
- Try to exercise regularly.
- Prefer eating foods low in fat, sugar, and salt.
- Drink plenty of water.
- You can consider adding supplements of vitamins C and E that are beneficial for you.
- If you smoke, please try to quit.
- If needed try to wear support stockings
- Take occasional breaks and put your feet up
- Avoid high heels in favor of flat shoes.
- Fresh fruit juices can be very helpful for you. One or two glasses daily of fresh fruit or vegetable juices- especially any combination of apple, beet, carrot, celery, citrus, parsley, or pineapple-and dietary supplements may be helpful in preventing and treating varicosities. Dark-colored berries such as cherries, blackberries and blueberries contain anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, pigments that tone and strengthen the walls of the veins. Pineapples are rich in the enzyme bromelain, which helps prevent blood clots, an uncommon but serious complication of varicose veins.
Herbal therapies:
Witch hazel ; Horse chestnut; Bilberries; Butcher's broom; Gotu Kola; Ginkgo Biloba - Strengthens blood vessels and improve peripheral circulation.
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) - Strengthens blood vessels and improve peripheral circulation.
Herbal Tea: Hawthorn berries 3 parts; Yarrow 2 parts; Horsechestnut 3 parts; Ginger 1 part; Prickly ash bark 2 parts. Use two teaspoonfuls of the mixture. Infuse for fifteen minutes. Drink three times daily.
Camomile, Comfrey, Oat straw, White Oak Bark, or Witch Hazel are believed especially beneficial.
Aloe Vera gel can be used to soothe itchy or irritated varicosities
Aesculus hippocastanum, Ruscus aculeatus, Centella asiatica Green Tea, Hamamelis virginiana, Vit C + bioflavonoids- may prevent time-consuming, painful, and expensive complications of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
Oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) massaged gently into an affected area may help stimulate circulation by causing capillaries to dilate.
Oils of cypress and chamomile (Matticaria recutita) may soothe swelling and inflammation and help relieve pain
Aromatherapy- Blend 12 drops each of cypress and geranium essential oils in four ounces of a carrier oil such as almond, soy or sunflower. Gently apply the mixture to the legs by stroking upward, in the direction of the heart. Don't massage directly on the veins. Instead, massage the surrounding area and gently stroke the oil over the veins.
Reflexology - Massage the whole feet or hands and press the following points three times per day for five minutes each point after massaging the whole feet
Hydrotherapy-It is beneficial to alternate between hot and cold baths. This is believed to stimulate circulation in the legs. It is easy to do this. You need two buckets or plastic wastebaskets tall enough to submerge the legs up to the knees. Fill one container with enough comfortably hot water to cover the lower legs and the other container with the same amount of cold water. Add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts per quart of water or you can add aromatherapy oil to the water. Soak your feet and legs in the hot water for about three minutes, and then immerse them in the cold water for about 30 seconds. Repeat three times, finishing with the cold soak. Perform this treatment once a day for at least one month to see results. If you have diabetes, use warm (not hot) water.
Diet: Diet is maybe the most important factor in dealing with VV. A high-fiber diet helps prevent straining of your stool, which can build up pressure and aggravate varicose veins. It is recommended that you consume at least 30 grams of fiber a day. To accomplish this, build your meals around whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, adding these foods to your diet as often as possible. Eat plenty of blackberries and cherries. They are rich in compounds that may prevent varicose veins or lessen the discomfort they cause. To disperse buildup of a protein that makes skin near varicose veins hard and lumpy, try eating more cayenne (Capsicum frutescens), garlic (Allium sativum), onion, ginger (Zingiber officinale), and pineapple, which contains bromelain, an enzyme that promotes breakup of fibrin. Preferred Foods: Whole foods diet with emphasis on the following foods: fresh fruits, including berries and cherries, and citrus fruit making sure to nibble on the inside of the rinds, whole grains especially buckwheat and millet, garlic, onions, ginger, and cayenne pepper. Eat plenty of fish and cut down on red meat as much as possible. Moderately restrict fats and refined carbohydrates in diet. Foods to avoid: Sugar, salt, alcohol, fried foods, processed and refined foods, animal protein, cheeses, and ice cream.
Exercise: Maintaining overall level of fitness, both nutritionally and physically, is most essential to preventing varicose veins from developing. Any program of regular exercise stimulates circulation, improves muscle tone, and helps prevent varicosities. However, high-impact aerobics, jogging, strenuous cycling, or any intense activity may increase blood pressure in the legs and accentuate varicose veins. Walking and swimming are considered excellent therapy, as are gentle leg-muscle stretches and utilizing a rocking chair while watching television. Elevating the feet higher than the hips with a recliner or ottoman, and raising the foot of the bed a few inches, helps blood flow back to the heart from the legs. Starting with a brisk walk or finishing your day with a swim or bike ride is a good choice also. There are also programs specially designed under the direction of a trained exercise therapist who is knowledgeable about the condition's particular needs.
Yoga- Yoga is an effective protocol for preventing and treating varicose veins. The posture that is known to be clinically most effective in both cases is sarvangasana, where the legs are inverted and the pressure of gravity is reversed. In this pose, the blood and the lymph drain from the lower extremities back to the heart, thereby reducing the pressure of the pooled blood in the veins. This pose should be done once daily, for about three to five minutes.
Massage-Regular massage can significantly alleviate discomfort associated with varicose veins. But there are rules that must be followed. The best and safest way is to use the help of a trained massage therapist. He will start at the feet and will massage your legs up to the hips and along the lymphatic system, to mobilize congested body tissues. There is one thing that must be always remembered- to never massage directly on varicose veins. This can be done daily for at about five minutes on each leg.
