Varicose veins are a vascular pathology associated with thinning of the blood vessel wall and the formation of aneurysm-like enlargements.The disease occurs in both young and old people, more often in women.The main method of treating varicose veins is surgery.However, the operation is performed only in patients with severe forms of the pathology.The initial stages of varicose veins are amenable to drug therapy and therapy with drugs from the arsenal of traditional medicine.How are varicose veins of the legs treated with folk remedies?What is required for this?In what cases should you stop using herbal recipes and consult a doctor?
Causes of varicose veins on the legs
The main cause of varicose veins is the weakening of the venous valves of the vascular network of the legs and the reduction of the muscle tone of the vascular wall.The described phenomenon leads to the fact that part of the blood in the venous vessels begins to flow down, overloading the vessels and stretching them.Later, the muscle fibers responsible for directing the blood flow atrophy and the nerve endings that innervate the tone of the veins die.The disease reaches a stage that is incurable by therapeutic methods.
Varicose veins do not develop spontaneously, without exposure to provoking factors.
The latter include:
- overweight (BMI 27 kg/m2 and more);
- long-term static loads standing in one place (surgeons, salesmen, loaders);
- genetic predisposition and congenital weakness of the venous valve mechanism;
- thrombophlebitis;
- chronic alcoholism;
- hormonal disorders, including those occurring in women during pregnancy;
- constipation;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Of course, the presence of a provoking factor does not guarantee the appearance of symptoms of the disease.However, the probability of such a development of events increases significantly.
Note:varicose veins can also be iatrogenic.Changes occur under the influence of hormonal drugs that are used in the treatment of osteoporosis, as well as during menopause.If signs of varicose veins appear in such a situation, the existing regimen of pharmacological therapy should be discontinued and a new one selected.Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to correct the condition of the veins.
How to recognize varicose veins in time?First signs!
Timely diagnosis of varicose veins allows successful treatment of veins without the use of complex medical techniques.Unfortunately, the first signs of the disease very often go unnoticed, which makes the patient seek help too late.
To avoid this, you should consult a doctor if the following symptoms appear:
- heaviness in the legs, worse when standing;
- pain in the shin area;
- telangiectasia;
- local expansion of the veins, which at this time still have a soft consistency, easily collapse when pressed.
At a later stage of the disease, patients note the appearance of transient pain, which intensifies after prolonged walking and prolonged standing.Visually there is pastiness and swelling in the area of the ankle.At this stage, conservative therapy is still possible, but it does not stop the process, but only slows it down.
People who have constant heaviness and pain, leg cramps and skin itching, which is evidence of trophic disorders, should not rely on folk remedies and pharmacological therapy.Veins in patients are significantly enlarged, deformed, densely elastic.Only surgery can correct the situation here.
Stages of varicose veins on the legs
Vasodilatation in the legs has 4 stages of development.In the first stage of the disease, symptoms may not appear at all.In some cases, there is a feeling of heaviness in the legs, rapid fatigue, telangiectasias appear.Patients complain of periodic swelling of the legs, which, however, can be quite easily relieved by taking a mild diuretic.
By the beginning of the second stage, the symptoms of the disease intensify, its signs become brighter and more noticeable.Patients complain of the appearance of noticeable nodules in the veins, periodic tingling and itching in the pathological area and transient pain.Examination revealed swelling and pasty tissue of the legs.
By the third stage of the development of varicose veins, the patient's condition worsens significantly.The affected veins become significantly thicker, deformed, hard and painful.The pain becomes constant.There is a high risk of thrombosis and thromboembolism.The formation of trophic ulcers is possible.
Note:Damage to varicose veins in the third stage of varicose veins can cause profuse bleeding, which can only be stopped in a medical organization.
Primary varicose veins
Primary varicose veins are a form of the disease in which vascular changes develop independently, under the influence of provoking factors and genetic predisposition of the patient.Primary include enlargements that occur in women during pregnancy, while working in a standing position and obesity.The disease can also be the result of wearing too tight underwear, which compresses blood vessels and disrupts normal blood flow.
Secondary varicose veins
Secondary varicose veins are a consequence of another disease, as a result of which the structure of the venous valve, its tone, as well as the structure and muscle layers of the vascular wall are disturbed.The disease of the secondary type develops after certain infectious processes, with tumors or vascular damage.
Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies at home
As mentioned above, folk remedies for the treatment of varicose veins are effective only in the initial (stage 1-2) stages of the disease.The use of methods of traditional medicine should be carried out after consultation with the attending physician and a qualified assessment of the effectiveness of the selected drug.Today, herbalists consider the following herbal remedies to be the best:
Apple cider vinegar for swollen feet
To remove swelling, vinegar is used locally, in the form of a compress or bath.The product helps to increase the tone of the vascular wall, relieve swelling and activate blood circulation.The drug should be handled carefully, as it can cause chemical burns to the skin if used incorrectly.
To make a foot bath with apple cider vinegar, pour 10 liters of cold water into a basin and add 0.5 liters of vinegar to it.Then you need to lower your feet into the resulting solution.The duration of the procedure is 7 minutes, the frequency is daily.The course of treatment can be 2-3 months or more.The temperature of the bath water should not be lower than 20 ° C.
For compresses, vinegar is diluted with lukewarm water in a ratio of 1:4 (vinegar: water).A soft cloth or gauze is dipped in the resulting solution, then taken out, squeezed until moistened and applied to the shins.A plastic film is placed over the fabric and a bandage is applied.The duration of the procedure does not exceed one hour.The compress should be applied every other day for 1-2 weeks.
Note:If a strong burning sensation or discomfort occurs during the procedure, treatment should be discontinued.Vinegar in the wrong concentration can have a negative effect on the skin, including causing burns.
Clay lotions and compresses
Blue or green clay is used to treat varicose veins.Before use, dilute with water to a liquid dough.The resulting composition is applied to the soft tissues and applied to the diseased areas.For convenience, you can put a bandage on the fabric, but this is not necessary.Leave the compress for 40-80 minutes.The procedure should be carried out every other day, for 2-3 months or more, until a satisfactory result is achieved.
Tincture of acacia flowers
The tincture is easy to make yourself.To do this, take 8 tablespoons of dried and crushed flowers of white acacia, put them in a container of sufficient size and pour 20 ml of vodka.The resulting mixture is tightly closed with a lid and placed in a dry and dark place for 10 days.For a better extraction of the medicinal substances, it is recommended to shake the liquid daily.The finished tincture is filtered through a layer of gauze and the feet are rubbed with it.
The tincture should be used before going to bed, after rinsing the feet with lukewarm water.Lower legs and other areas where there are varicose veins are thoroughly rubbed with the composition and allowed to dry.After that, it is recommended to place the limbs on the roller so that they are in a raised position.The duration of the treatment course is 3 months, the frequency of treatment is daily.
Horse chestnut for varicose veins of the legs
For the treatment of varicose veins, horse chestnut is used in the form of an alcohol tincture.To do this, crushed fruits are mixed with 96% ethyl alcohol in a ratio of 1:3 and infused for two weeks.The product is then filtered and used for compresses.
To make a compress with horse chestnut tincture, you need to soak a piece of soft cloth in the preparation, squeeze it well and apply it to the sore spot.The fabric is then covered with polyethylene, and several layers of cotton wool or thick fabric are applied on top.The compress is kept for 30-40 minutes, after which the legs are wrapped with a warm blanket.
It is recommended to perform the procedure every other day before going to bed.The course of treatment is 1-2 months, but if necessary, it can be extended.
Treatment of varicose veins with tomatoes
Green tomatoes, which contain substances similar to acetylsalicylic acid, are used to treat varicose veins.They have anti-aggregant and anti-inflammatory effects.For the purpose of treatment, tomatoes are cut into circles, applied to the diseased areas and fixed with cling film.The duration of the procedure is 8-12 hours (compress with tomatoes is made at night).The course of treatment is every day before going to bed until the external manifestations of the disease disappear (usually no more than 3 months).
Cabbage treatment
Cabbage, like tomatoes, has some vasoprotective effects.The leaves of the vegetable are sprayed with water, after which they are placed in the general chamber of the refrigerator for a day.After the required period, the product is applied to the legs and fixed with polyethylene.The duration of the procedure is 5-6 hours, the frequency is daily.The duration of the treatment course is 1 month.
Potato treatment
To eliminate the symptoms of varicose veins, several large potato tubers are peeled, washed and grated on a fine grater.The vegetable should acquire the consistency of porridge.The resulting product is applied to the legs and feet, spreading it over the skin.Additional fixation of the pulp on the legs is not carried out.The duration of the procedure is 1 hour, the frequency is daily, the duration of the course is 2 months.
Apitherapy for varicose veins: honey, propolis, dead bees, poison
Both dead bees, honey, propolis and other bee products contain anti-inflammatory and heparin-like substances that help thin the blood.To treat varicose veins, honey and propolis are used locally, dead fruits are used internally, and poison is used in the form of bee stings on the affected areas.
Compress with honey is applied in accordance with the general rules for applying compresses.To do this, the substance is applied to a cloth or gauze, applied to the affected area and covered with polyethylene.The bandage is then insulated with cotton wool and secured with a bandage.A compress with propolis does not differ in technique from a compress with honey.The medicinal composition is prepared by mixing propolis and vodka in a ratio of 1:5.The duration of the procedure with honey is 2 hours, once a day;with propolis – 40 minutes once a day.The frequency of manipulation is every other day for 2-3 months.
Dead bees are used in the form of an alcohol tincture.To prepare it, you need to take 1 tablespoon of the drug and mix it with 200 ml of 70% ethanol or vodka.The medicine is then left to infuse for 3 weeks in a dark, dry place.The tincture should be taken 20 drops, 3 times a day, for 2 weeks.You can repeat the course after an equal break.
Bee venom is administered by sting.The procedure must be performed by a competent apitherapist, so it is not advisable to consider the specifics of its implementation in the form of this article.Bee venom thins the blood, contains more than 50 substances useful for the human body, increases the tone of the vascular wall.Stinging is performed directly on the areas affected by varicose veins.
Decoction of nettles
Nettle decoction is prepared from fresh or dried leaves of the plant.In this case, fresh leaves are ground into pulp, dry leaves are ground into powder.The prepared raw materials are poured with boiling water.The ratio of solid and liquid fractions of the composition should be 1:8.The mixture is placed on low heat and boiled for 3-5 minutes.Then it is cooled, filtered and taken orally 1/3 cup (70 ml) three times a day.The course of treatment is 1 month.
Decoction of nutmeg
A decoction of nutmeg is prepared in a manner similar to the preparation of a decoction of nettles.The ratio of nuts to water in the mixture should be approximately 1:5.The nut is pre-crushed.You should take the finished medicine three times a day.The course of treatment is 3-4 months or more.
Treatment with laundry soap
The laundry soap itself has no noticeable anti-varicose effect.However, it is actively used to prepare multicomponent ointments.
The following recipe is considered the most effective:
- Mix laundry soap, Vishnevsky ointment, honey, aloe juice, ichthyol ointment, onion juice and lard in equal amounts.
- The resulting mass is heated to body temperature and applied to the affected areas;
- The applied ointment is covered with polyethylene, and the limb is isolated with cotton wool or a blanket.
The duration of administration of the drug is 10 hours, the frequency of treatment is daily.The course of treatment is 20 procedures.
Calendula decoction
A decoction of dried calendula flowers is prepared, of which 2 tablespoons are poured with 400 ml of boiling water, put on fire and boiled for 15 minutes.After that, the product is allowed to cool, filtered and taken 4 times a day for 100 ml.The course of treatment is until the symptoms of the disease disappear.Calendula decoction is recommended to be used as an auxiliary method of treatment.
Treatment of varicose veins with leeches - hirudotherapy
With the help of hirudotherapy, it is possible to reduce the level of blood viscosity, improve its fluidity and prevent the formation of blood clots.Leeches are applied by a hirudotherapist.You should not use this treatment method alone.The course of treatment consists of 5 sessions, after which it is necessary to take a break for 2 months.
Possible consequences of home therapy, contraindications
Treatment of varicose veins at home is not always possible.In order for the treatment to be successful, you must consult a doctor and strictly follow his instructions.
Otherwise, there may be such negative consequences of treatment as:
- ineffectiveness of therapy and deterioration of veins;
- allergic reactions and intolerance to the products used;
- skin burns due to incorrect application of compresses with burning substances;
- vascular ruptures and thromboembolism, if the treatment is carried out against the background of existing contraindications.
Contraindications for the treatment of varicose veins include the 3rd and 4th degrees of pathology.In this case, the disease can only be eliminated surgically.Also, traditional medicine is not applicable in case of high risk of thromboembolism, exacerbation of vascular insufficiency, severe course of the disease with calf muscle cramps, deposition of a large amount of blood in the affected vessels and large volume of the affected area.
Get rid of varicose veins by running
Running with varicose veins is possible in the first and second stage.It is recommended to avoid significant stress on the legs, preferring jogging and competitive walking.In the presence of thrombosis, as well as in the later stages of the disease, jogging is not recommended.
It is possible to get rid of varicose veins with the help of running only at the very beginning of the disease, when the veins are not yet stretched.At this stage, there are no clinical symptoms of the disease.Therefore, the patient simply does not know about the need to start classes.At the moment when the diagnosis of varicose veins is made, jogging is no longer able to completely cure the pathology.
When to contact a phlebologist?
A visit to a doctor for varicose veins should happen as early as possible.The more advanced the disease is at this point, the less likely it is that the patient will be completely cured.It is ideal that a person visits the clinic at the moment of discovering the first signs: heaviness in the legs, flying pain when standing still for a long time, swelling.
Nutrition, diet for varicose veins
In varicose veins, diet plays an important role in stabilizing the patient's condition and restoring vascular tone.
Recommended to eat:
- seafood (clams, shrimps, squids);
- fruits rich in vitamin C (kiwis, blackcurrants, citrus fruits);
- blood thinning products (garlic, lemon, onion, cherry).
Dietary restrictions correspond to a general sparing diet.It is forbidden to take alcoholic beverages, excessively salty, spicy, sour and other foods that have irritating properties.You should also not drink large amounts of coffee, tea and other drinks that have diuretic properties.
Prevention measures
The basis for preventing varicose veins is the rejection of a sedentary lifestyle and static loads on the legs.It is recommended to do a short jog or walk a few kilometers every day.During the working day, you should take short breaks dedicated to leg exercises.You should also eat the foods described in the previous section and, if necessary, wear compression stockings.A moderate degree of compression helps improve blood flow in the superficial veins.
Note:Even walking to work will help prevent varicose veins if it is located at a distance of 2-5 kilometers from the place of residence.Giving up a vehicle in favor of hiking will save money, prevent the development of varicose veins, and give you a dose of good mood before the start of the work day.
Despite its apparent safety, varicose veins are a disease that, under certain conditions, poses a threat to human life.This applies especially to the later stages of the development of the pathology, during which the vascular wall becomes thinner and its integrity is very easily damaged.Therefore, treatment with traditional recipes should be started as soon as possible.
To avoid mistakes and the use of incorrect treatment methods, you should consult your doctor before starting.