Varicose veins on the legs are a chronic disease in which the lumen of the veins increases, which leads to poor circulation in the extremities, blood stagnation and swelling. Inflammation subsequently develops and blood clots form. Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies is carried out at an early stage of changes in the veins, the progress of the disease requires taking medications. Different stages of the pathological process are presented in the photo.
Effective home recipes
Folk remedies for varicose veins are recommended for use as a prophylaxis. They contain natural products and herbs that allow them to influence the cause of the pathology without harm. The goal of treatment is to improve blood flow through:
- clean blood vessels from cholesterol deposits;
- blood thinning;
- strengthening of the vascular walls.
Garlic and lemon
The use of lemon and garlic allows you to achieve a positive result in the phase of formation of the vascular network. The product cleans blood vessels, makes them elastic and relieves inflammation.
To prepare the composition, squeeze the juice of 6 lemons, add chopped garlic (5 cloves), honey (two glasses) and golden mustache (three leaves). The ingredients are carefully mixed. Place it in a glass container and store it in a dark place for a week. Take the composition every day for 30 days, 4 teaspoons.
From the mixture you can make compresses and compresses. The duration of procedures in the absence of irritation is approximately one hour.
horse chestnut
Another effective popular treatment for varicose veins is chestnut. Its use is due to the content of tannins, organic acids, vitamins and flavonoids. For venous pathologies, beech-based products have an anti-inflammatory, tonic effect, strengthen the walls of capillaries, improve blood flow and help relieve swelling. To make medicine, not only fruits are used, but also inflorescences of the tree:
- Dried flowers (4 tablespoons) and chopped fruits (6 pieces) are poured with 500 ml of alcohol. Leave to act for 14 days, shaking the container regularly. Before use, dilute 2 tablespoons of product in 5 tablespoons of water. The napkin is moistened in the resulting solution and wrapped for 2 hours. To enhance the effect, cover with cellophane and wrap a towel on top. During the procedure, you must lie down with your limbs raised.
- A decoction is prepared from the flowers: pour two tablespoons with warm water (200 ml), leave for 6 hours in a dark place, then bring to a boil and leave for another hour. Take 75 ml in the morning and evening for 14 days, take a break for a week, the course of treatment lasts up to six months.
The alcoholic tincture is taken orally for a month, 30 drops three times a day.
Datura seeds
Datura is used in the fight against varicose veins due to its ability to relieve spasms and inflammation, restore metabolism and reduce pain. Medicine in the form of a tincture is prepared from the seeds of the plant, one part of which is poured into a glass container and filled with 5 parts of 70% alcohol. Close the jar tightly, put it in a dark place for a week, periodically shake the contents. The cap is used:
- In the form of compresses for star-shaped and painful areas: 25 ml per 100 ml of water.
- For internal use, 2 drops diluted in water (25 ml) are sufficient. Take three times a day, you can eat after 30 minutes. The course of treatment lasts a month and is repeated after six months.
This remedy is contraindicated in cases of allergies and intolerances. It is important not to exceed the dosage, as the plant is poisonous and causes vomiting, heart rhythm disorders, nervous agitation and hallucinations. During pregnancy, breastfeeding and glaucoma, the use of Datura is strictly contraindicated.
apple cider vinegar
Natural apple cider vinegar contains all the valuable components of apples, but in concentrated form. When applied externally, vinegar relieves inflammation, improves blood circulation and eliminates swelling. When used internally, antioxidants, acids and enzymes restore metabolism, strengthen blood vessel walls and eliminate toxins. For varicose veins, only a natural product is used, which is used in the form of:
- Compresses.Soak a napkin in warm vinegar and apply it to problem areas and hold until the fabric is completely dry.
- It envelops.The gauze is folded in several layers, moistened in a vinegar solution, and the excess liquid is squeezed out. The fabric is spread over the limbs, covered on top with cellophane and insulated with a towel.
- Rubbing it.Gently wet the sore limbs with a cloth soaked in vinegar and leave to act until the moisture has dried; no need to rinse.
The procedures are performed in a lying position; it is necessary to raise the limbs and place a pillow under the legs to reduce the load on the veins. For sensitive skin, to avoid irritation, vinegar should be diluted with water 1: 1.
For internal use, prepare a solution of honey, vinegar (one teaspoon) and water (200 ml), to drink in the morning after sleeping. Apple cider vinegar should not be consumed in the presence of gastrointestinal diseases, as there is a risk of exacerbation of the disease.
Popular recipes
There are many popular recipes for varicose veins on the legs that can eliminate the signs of the pathology. Here are some of them:
- Laundry soap is used in combination with acetylsalicylic acid powder to relieve pain and eliminate vascular defects. For a compress, grate the soap, knead the acetylsalicylic acid (10 tablets) and dissolve it in vodka (250 ml). The components are mixed and applied to painful areas, bandaged and kept for 30 minutes.
- An effective remedy against inflammation of the veins is cabbage leaf, which is used in the form of compresses. It is beaten to release the medicinal juice, one side is covered with any vegetable oil and applied to the diseased vein, left for a day. The compress is fixed on top with a bandage.
- Ginger for varicose veins has internal and external use. Tea with the addition of a small piece of root is suitable for the prevention and treatment of venous diseases, especially in overweight patients. For a compress, the spice is grated and mixed with honey. The paste is applied for 3 hours, covered with polyethylene and wrapped on top with a towel.
- A compress of woodlice and burdock helps restore lightness to the legs. First, a tender louse is applied to the diseased area of the limb, a burdock leaf is wrapped on top and fixed with a bandage. The louse is replaced when the grass dries, the burdock - after 2 hours. They carry out the procedures for a long time until an improvement is noticed.
Furthermore, you can use baths or massages with aromatic oils; Juniper, mint, lavender and lemon esters are suitable. Chamomile, almond, peach and rosemary oils have proven effective.
Pharmaceutical products
Treatment of ulcers that appear on the legs due to varicose veins involves the prescription of drugs with local and systemic action.
Venotonic
Phlebotonics belong to this group, whose action is aimed at the microcirculatory areas of the extremities. The drugs improve the tone of the veins, which has a positive effect on muscle contractility. In addition, due to increased lymphatic outflow, swelling disappears. Medicines have the ability to reduce inflammation. Venotonic agents are used to prevent the disease, in ongoing therapy for varicose veins and thrombosis, before and after surgery on the veins.
Saponins include horse chestnut, plant extracts consist of grape leaves and blueberries. For local use, a rutin-based ointment is prescribed.
Blood thinners
Anticoagulants are indicated to improve blood flow and prevent blood clots from forming. Glycosaminoglycan products are used topically. Antiplatelet drugs fight blood stagnation.
Anti-inflammatory
Internal varicose veins are accompanied by severe pain, inflammation, tissue swelling and increased temperature. In order to reduce symptoms, prevent the development of thrombosis and inflammation of the vascular walls, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Modern techniques
Treatment options for varicose veins on the legs are varied; the choice of a method depends on the severity of the disease. In the initial stages, an integrated approach is used which involves the use of compression garments, gymnastic exercises, hirudotherapy and the taking of drugs. Symptoms and cosmetic defects of small veins are eliminated using minimally invasive procedures: sclerotherapy and laser. Serious problems can be solved with surgery.
Sclerotherapy
The procedure is a minimally invasive method of eliminating varicose veins and is used in the initial stage of the disease when varicose veins appear. The event involves injecting a sclerosant into the damaged area, which causes the walls of the veins to stick together and prevent blood flow. As a result, the skin defect disappears without a trace.
Laser method
Laser coagulation involves gluing a vein with a laser beam to stop the flow of blood. The operation is performed in the absence of inflammation and blood clots, with a smooth course of the vessel trunk up to 1 cm wide. After local anesthesia, a laser light guide is inserted into the vein through a puncture and, under the control of an ultrasound machine, moves over the affected area. The energy generated by the emitter is absorbed by the hemoglobin and the heat generated welds the walls of the cavity.
After the procedure, no bruises or scars remain on the body and there is no relapse in the area.
Leeches
Hirudotherapy in the treatment of varicose veins is widely used, but it is not recommended to resort to this type of therapy on your own; only a phlebologist should prescribe the procedure. The effect is achieved due to the content of the peptide hirudin in the salivary glands of leeches. Penetrating under the skin, the substance has a therapeutic effect:
- thins the blood;
- prevents thrombosis;
- dilates blood vessels;
- relieves inflammation;
- eliminate swelling.
By reducing the volume of circulating blood, annelids eliminate the load on the vessels of the extremities. Treatment with leeches is allowed at an early stage of the disease, but does not have a long-lasting effect, so the symptoms of the pathology may recur over time. Leeches are contraindicated for ulcers and lesions.
Surgical correction of the problem
For varicose veins of the lower extremities, surgery is indicated if a person experiences severe pain and extensive damage to the veins is diagnosed. When the threat of thrombophlebitis exists, tissue trophism is disrupted and ulcers may form. The surgery aims to remove the affected vein. To carry out the procedure, the doctor chooses an acceptable method depending on the degree of destruction of the vessel and the complications of the disease.
- Traditional phlebectomy involves ligation of the saphenous vein through incisions in the groin and ankle. Then it is extracted using a rigid probe.
- During stripping, a section of the venous trunk is removed.
- Miniphlebectomy is one of the least traumatic operations; allows you to remove a section of a problematic vein through a puncture in the skin. The surgeon inserts a hook into the hole, pulling out the vein, then ties the vessel and removes the damaged part.
Surgery for varicose veins is an effective treatment method that does not cause relapses. The technique for performing manipulations has been developed for decades, so complications are rarely observed.
Diet
A balanced diet for varicose veins helps to normalize pressure in blood vessels, reduce blood viscosity and improve circulation. Proper nutrition ensures the strengthening of the walls of blood vessels and the restoration of tone, the reduction of edema and excess body weight. Recommended products for the disease:
- Fruit and berries are a source of precious elements for the body, vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamins C, A, E are particularly important.
- Cabbage, carrots, wholemeal bread and cereals contain fiber. Fiber is not digested by food enzymes, but supports a long-term supply of nutrients, removes toxins and cholesterol from the intestine and reduces weight.
- Dried fruit, an alternative to sugar and sweets, helps thin the blood. Seasonings such as curry, thyme and ginger have these properties.
- It is preferable to replace animal fats with sunflower or olive oil.
- Legumes and nuts are included in the diet as sources of plant proteins.
- Sea kale is useful for increasing the elasticity of blood vessels: it contains microelements and fiber. Additionally, seaweed reduces appetite.
- Seafood and fish are rich in easily digestible proteins and amino acids.
- It is allowed to eat lean meat. The liver is necessary to produce hemoglobin and supply oxygen to vascular cells.
- Lemonade is replaced with freshly squeezed juices and fruit drinks. It is good to prepare currant and raspberry leaves.
To eliminate toxins and restore water balance, it is important to drink water, at least 2 liters a day. It is necessary to eat small meals, do not overeat, especially at night.
To thin the blood, it is recommended to prepare herbal teas based on lemon balm, raspberries, currant leaves, St. John's wort, lime flowers, mint and thyme.
To improve the condition of the veins, it is necessary to exclude harmful foods from the diet:
- Alcohol poisons the body, causes swelling, increases blood pressure and damages the vascular system.
- Fats lead to weight gain and the deposition of cholesterol plaques. The process leads to inflammation of the venous walls, poor circulation and increases the risk of thrombosis.
- Due to the content of fast carbohydrates, sweets negatively affect weight and cholesterol production, cause a strong release of insulin into the blood, straining the pancreas. As a result, sugar in the body increases.
- You need to reduce your salt intake to prevent excess fluid buildup.
Harmful foods also include fatty meats, fried foods, canned foods, smoked foods, and coffee.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics for varicose veins is part of the prevention and treatment of the disease. Exercises help restore blood flow in veins, arteries and peripheral vessels, strengthen muscles, increase the tone of vascular walls and relieve swelling. Low physical activity leads to stagnation, which becomes the cause of varicose veins. Therefore, walking, cycling and swimming are recommended for people with vein problems. Before undertaking therapeutic exercises, you should consult your doctor. The specialist will select exercises that correspond to the degree of the disease and give recommendations for implementation. The following exercises can be performed for the legs:
- In a lying position, alternately raise your limbs. First it is performed lying on your back, then on your stomach.
- The "bicycle" exercise resembles pedaling only in a lying position. The legs are supported.
- Toe-to-heel rolling is performed up to 20 times.
- Raising your hips high, you need to march alternately on the balls of your feet, then on your heels.
- Stand straight, while inhaling, slowly rise on the balls of your feet and exhale, return to the starting position.
- To unload the veins you need to lie down and relax, raise your legs at an angle of 20°, placing a pillow or pillow. Breathing should be even and calm.
Gymnastics involves 15 minutes in the morning and evening with 5 minute breaks. Do not lift weights or overload your limbs. If it is difficult to perform the entire complex, you should start with simple movements.