Treatment of varicose veins in the legs at home can be carried out using traditional medicine. Proper preparation and use of medicines will help to normalize the work of veins, blood consistency, and metabolism.
What is varicose veins
Varicose veins are a disease of the vascular system, which is accompanied by the expansion, enlargement and modification of veins. The consequence of pathology is a violation of blood flow, a decrease in the performance of venous valves or a complete suppression of functions.
Veins are responsible for transporting blood from tissues and organs to the heart. When the venous valves are destroyed or damaged, the blood stagnates and does not have the ability to fully climb up the vessels. In most cases, it is the veins of the lower extremities that are prone to varicose veins. The disease develops transiently due to the fact that the patient is in a straight position on his legs for a long time and the blood fills the veins.
Pathology is manifested by the appearance of a venous pattern above the skin surface. The veins turn blue, green, blue, or purple. The shape of the vessels depends on the severity of the disease. In advanced cases, the veins twist, swell, and have nodular formations.
According to statistics, women are several times more likely to suffer from varicose veins. This is due to pregnancy, family predisposition, hormonal instability. The disease occurs in patients over the age of 30.
Causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins develop against the background of loss of elasticity of the vein walls, which further leads to disruption of the valves. The elasticity of the vein walls is lost due to the imbalance of collagen and elastin in the patient's body. The reasons for this process cannot be established, but some risk factors leading to varicose veins have been identified.
The following factors can provoke pathology:
- Pregnancy. Bearing a fetus is accompanied by increased venous load. The pelvic area can be limited in full blood flow due to the pressure on the veins by the growing fetus, an increase in the amount of water.
- Hormonal instability, taking oral contraceptives. Human hormonal levels are of great importance for overall health. Violations can cause a malfunction in the production of elastin and collagen, the development of thrombosis.
- Sedentary lifestyle. This factor affects patients whose work requiresto be in one position for a long time (office workers, cooks, salespeople). The valves cease to cope with their functions, and blood stagnates in the lower extremities.
- Excessive physical exertion. The disease affects men and women whose activities are related to sports, hard work. With prolonged physical exertion, intra-abdominal pressure rises, which provokes a decrease in the tone of the vessels of the lower extremities, stagnation of blood in the veins.
- Overweight, low body weight. Significant deviations in weight from the norm cause metabolic disorders. High weight puts a lot of stress on the veins of the lower extremities. The valves work in an enhanced mode and wear out quickly.
- Bad habits. Alcohol and tobacco contain a lot of harmful substances, carcinogens. Long-term exposure to the body with cigarettes and alcohol leads to an increase in blood density. Further, the vessels lose their elasticity, weaken, thrombosis and varicose veins are formed.
- Diabetes mellitus. The disease negatively affects blood vessels, causing a predisposition to venous pathologies, thrombosis.
- Genetic predisposition. There is a gene that is responsible for the structure of muscle and connective tissue. If this gene has undergone a mutation in one generation, then it is passed from parent to child.
Attention!
Varicose veins can develop with regular wearing of uncomfortable shoes, tight and tight clothing. Modern living conditions, improper nutrition leads to an increase in the number of patients with varicose veins.
Stages of varicose veins in the legs
Varicose veins have 4 stages of development. The patient needs medical help from the first stage. But, 90% of patients turn to a specialist when the second and third stages of the disease occur.
Symptoms of the disease depend on the severity of the pathology:
Stage | Description | Symptoms |
1. Compensation | The initial stage, which has no pronounced symptoms. Blood flow disturbances have not yet occurred, but there is a high load on the vein walls. The duration of the stage is from 3 months to 5 years. |
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2. Subcompensation | At this stage, patients most often see a specialist. The blood flow in the legs is disturbed, the valves do not cope with their functions. The stage of subcompensation requires mandatory medical care in order to prevent serious consequences and complications of the pathology. |
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3. Decompensation | Large amounts of blood accumulate in the veins of the lower extremities. The stage is complicated by the risk of trophic ulcers. |
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4. Last | The fourth stage of varicose veins is dangerous with a lethal outcome. Against the background of the development of pathological changes in small and large veins, there is a high risk of heart attack. |
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If the patient experiences rapid leg fatigue, it is advisable to pay attention to the problem. This may be the first sign of the development of varicose veins.
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of varicose veins with traditional medicine can be carried out only after the approval of the attending physician. Homemade medicines have some advantages - cheapness, few side effects. Against varicose veins, ointments, compresses, tinctures and juices from a combination of various plants are used.
Tinctures
Tinctures are prepared on the basis of ethyl alcohol. The advantage of the alcoholic agent is ease of transportation, long shelf life and the ability of ethanol to disclose biologically active substances.
Popular tinctures in the treatment of varicose veins:
- Garlic tincture. For preparation, you will need 150 g of peeled garlic, 20 ml of high-quality vodka, 40 g of honey, 90 ml of propolis extract for alcohol. Chop the garlic with a blender and add vodka. Let it brew in a dark place for 2 weeks. Next, strain the substance through cheesecloth. Add honey and propolis extract to the purified solution. Put the tincture in the refrigerator for 3 days. Start taking the medicine with 1 drop before meals. Further, with each meal, increase the dose by 1 drop. After reaching 25 drops, begin to reduce the dosage by 1 drop with each dose. After completion of treatment, the course can be repeated after 1 month.
- Nutmeg tincture. For preparation, you will need 50 g of chopped nutmegs, 250 ml of vodka. Mix the nut powder with vodka, shake and leave to infuse for 2 weeks. Take 20 drops, diluted in water, 3 times a day.
- Lilac tincture. To prepare the medicine, you need to mix 1 glass of lilac flowers with 1 glass of vodka. Let the product steep for 1 week in the refrigerator. Next, strain the medicine and store in a dark, cool place. Take 1 tablespoon 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month.
Attention!
Tinctures are contraindicated for persons with ethanol intolerance, alcohol dependence, renal and hepatic insufficiency, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Compresses
A compress is a bandage with a healing solution that is applied for a certain time to the affected area of the body. When using the method against varicose veins of the legs, it is necessary to exclude the presence of damage to the skin.
Alternative medicine offers the following types of compresses:
- Honey. Prepare a large gauze bandage, apply a thin layer of lime honey and wrap the leg. Wrap 1 layer of cling film and elastic bandage on top. Keep the compress on your leg for no more than 30 minutes. Apply once every 2 days. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. It can be repeated if necessary after 30 days.
- Essential. Pour 1 liter of room temperature water into a basin, add 4-7 drops of essential oil (pine, lavender or orange). Well soak a gauze bandage in the solution and wrap your leg. The duration of therapy is 20 minutes. The course of treatment is 10 days.
- Grape. For cooking, you need 300 g of seedless grapes, 5 tbsp. tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Grind the grapes and mix with apple cider vinegar. Leave the product to infuse for 4 hours. Next, apply the consistency to the gauze bandage and wrap the leg. The compress should be on the sore part of the limb for no more than 20 minutes a day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
Attention!
Before using the compress, you need to make sure that there are no allergies to the components included in the preparation of the medicine. A properly prepared compress helps to reduce painful sensations, swelling, nourishes and regenerates the skin.
Rubbing
Rubbing against varicose veins is used at any stage of the disease. Means for the procedure are easy to use, they can improve skin regeneration, tone the blood vessels.
There are the following recipes for rubbing with varicose veins:
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Can be bought at the store. For treatment, use only vinegar 6%. The procedure consists in rubbing the areas of the legs where spider veins are located or veins bulge. Do not apply to the surface of trophic ulcers and cracks in the skin.
- Lemon. It is necessary to peel fresh lemon from the zest and rub the areas of the lower extremities affected by varicose veins. Ensure the integrity of the skin before use.
- Horse chestnut tincture. Prepare 1 cup chopped horse chestnut. Pour into a three-liter jar and pour 1 liter of vodka. Let it brew for 30 days in a cool dark place. Next, strain the tincture and rub your feet 3 times a day.
It is not recommended to apply rubbing while using ointments or compresses against varicose veins. Excessive exposure to the skin can cause severe burns, irritation, and a complication of pathology.
Drinks
During the treatment of varicose veins, it is necessary to adhere to the drinking regimen. An adult needs to drink at least 1. 5 liters of water per day (in the absence of kidney problems).
In addition to water, you can drink the following drinks:
- Green tea. Promotes blood thinning and clot dissolution. Vitamin E and polyphenol in tea tones up and nourishes blood vessels.
- Juices, fruit drinks from sea buckthorn berries, mountain ash and black currant. Contains vitamins A, B, C, which nourish veins, normalize blood flow and vascular wall tone.
- Carrot, pumpkin and cranberry juice. Reduces leg swelling, activates metabolism in vascular tissues.
- Fruit compote with a high content of apples. Endows the body with vitamins and minerals that are necessary for normal metabolism, the work of the cardiovascular system.
At the same time, exclude coffee, alcohol and carbonated water from consumed drinks.
Ointments
Ointment against varicose veins can be used only in the early stages of the disease. It is forbidden to use the product in the presence of cracks, trophic ulcers on the skin. A properly prepared product helps to prevent inflammation in the walls of blood vessels, strengthens and tones up veins, reduces swelling and slows down the process of thrombus formation.
Recipes for making ointment against varicose veins:
- From calendula flowers. You will need 1 cup of pork fat, 0. 5 cups of dried calendula flowers. The fat must be melted in a water bath, mixed with calendula flowers. Boil for 2 minutes, then pass the mixture through 2 layers of cheesecloth. Pour the resulting mixture into a small glass container made of dark glass and put in the refrigerator. Apply to affected areas with a thin layer 1 time per day, preferably at night. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
- Garlic ointment. For cooking, you need 150 gr. peeled garlic, 250 gr. natural butter. Grind the garlic in a blender until puree, add oil, mix thoroughly. Store the ointment in the refrigerator. It is necessary to apply the product on the legs once a day. The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
- Egg yolk. To create an ointment, you will need 1 glass of sunflower oil, boiled egg yolk, 60 gr. yellow pharmacy wax. Put the oil and wax to simmer in a water bath until completely dissolved. Add finely chopped yolk in small portions to the mass of wax and oil. Keep on fire for another 30 minutes and pour into a glass container. Store the ointment in the refrigerator. Apply a thin layer to the legs once a day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
Attention!
The effect of applying the ointment will appear only with regular use and following the recommendations of a specialist. The use of the agent as the only way to treat varicose veins will not bring the expected results.
Nutrition, diet
Normalization of nutrition in the treatment of varicose veins is one of the basic requirements for a speedy recovery. To restore blood vessels, the body needs to receive vitamins and minerals, to strengthen the immune system.
When compiling a diet, the patient should familiarize himself with the list of foods that should not be consumed or, conversely, should be added to the diet:
List of Allowed Foods and Drinks | List of prohibited foods and drinks |
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Despite some food restrictions, there are many dishes that are prepared from healthy foods.
Patients with varicose veins are advised to adhere to the following menu:
Meal | Menu |
Breakfast |
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Lunch |
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Lunch |
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Snack |
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Dinner |
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Shows options for meals that can be included in the diet. It must be remembered that you can eat no more than 250 grams. every dish. Compliance with a diet will help normalize excess weight and improve the work of the vascular system.
Prevention
In order to reduce the likelihood of developing varicose veins, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- Give up bad habits.
- Control body weight.
- Regularly do morning exercises, go jogging several times a week, visit the pool.
- Reduce the likelihood of physical overstrain.
- Adhere to proper nutrition, avoid constipation.
- Exclude tight, tight clothes, uncomfortable shoes from the wardrobe.
- Combine rest with work evenly.
- If the work requires prolonged standing or sitting, perform leg exercises.
- Adhere to the correct daily routine, eliminate nervous overstrain.
Attention!
Prevention of varicose veins is necessary to slow down the progressive disease and prevent pathology in the future.
Reviews
My varicose veins began at the age of 15. As I later learned, the disease in our family is inherited. So I had to quit weightlifting and learn how to plan physical activity for my body. I use a garlic ointment every 6 months to keep varicose veins in check. "
Age takes its toll. 15 years ago I met with varicose veins. Like many, he missed the first stage of the disease, when it was possible to be completely cured. Now I support varicose veins at 2 stages with the help of medicines and herbal tinctures.
I don't have varicose veins, but I regularly use tinctures and ointments against the disease, I adhere to preventive measures. Maybe that's why the disease hasn't caught me yet. A compress with honey is excellent for my wife.
Conclusion
Varicose veins are a disease that can affect men and women of all ages. There are many recipes from alternative medicine that can slow down or completely cure pathology. The only condition is the obligatory appeal to a specialist and coordination with him of all actions.