Varicose veins, or simply varicose veins, is a dangerous vascular disease that mainly affects the veins of the lower extremities. Pathology appears most often in women, especially during pregnancy, when the load on the legs increases significantly. It develops as a result of thinning of the walls of blood vessels and the appearance of aneurysms resulting from increased blood pressure. The disease is caused by the following factors: a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged standing, constant movement in heels, heredity, some internal pathologies. In men, it is often associated with bad habits, overweight and hard physical labor.
If untreated, the disease leads to serious complications. As a rule, doctors approve of a combination of drug therapy and folk remedies.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities depend on the stage of the disease:
- Stage I is characterized by minor changes and usually goes unnoticed. At this stage, the following signs appear: swelling and heaviness in the legs, rare night cramps, minor pain in the legs. One of the important symptoms is the appearance of spider veins on the legs, which is most often the reason for a woman's visit to a phlebologist.
- At stage II, the symptoms are more pronounced, painful sensations and swelling of the lower extremities become permanent and do not disappear even after prolonged rest. Painful nodules appear on the legs and severe itching in the affected areas of the skin, periodically there is a feeling of numbness in the legs. At this stage, conservative treatment is possible.
- Stage III is characterized by an increase and compaction of venous nodes, their bulging above the level of the skin. The patient is accompanied by constant pain in the places of formation of nodes, the risk of damaging them significantly increases, causing bleeding. This degree is characterized by the short duration or lack of effect from the use of specialized ointments and creams.
- At stage IV, all symptoms are aggravated, trophic ulcers on the legs are added to them. The blood vessels stop supplying the tissues with blood, which leads to necrotic processes.
- Stage V is characterized by persistent and non-healing trophic ulcers.
- At stage VI, the patient has difficulty in moving, trophic ulcers spread to healthy tissues, and infection is possible.
Only the first two stages are amenable to conservative treatment. The neglected forms of the pathological condition require surgical intervention.
Treatment methods
There are several methods of treatment: conservative drug therapy, surgery and the use of folk remedies.
The conservative method consists in the use of venotonics in the form of ointments and tablets, blood thinners, vitamin complexes. At the stage of the appearance of trophic ulcers, medications are used as maintenance therapy. As a rule, prescribe antiseptics for topical use, medicines from the group of antibiotics inside, immunostimulants, vitamins, agents that promote tissue regeneration.
Folk remedies against varicose veins are now widely used in the complex treatment of pathology. Distinguish between external agents, therapeutic baths and compositions for internal use.
Formulations for external use
Among the external methods of traditional medicine, the following recipes are most popular:
- The use of red and green tomatoes has long been considered an effective way to remove puffiness and heaviness in the legs. To do this, it is necessary to cut the fruits into rings, completely cover the legs with them and secure with a tight bandage. The exposure time of the agent reaches from 1 to 2 hours. After that, the compress must be removed and the procedure repeated several more times. The duration of the course is 2 weeks.
- Treatment with apple cider vinegar is considered one of the most effective methods of dealing with varicose veins in the early stages. Its application consists in daily two-time lubrication of the affected areas with a cotton swab dipped in natural apple cider vinegar.
- In the initial stages of the disease, it is allowed to do wraps using honey. The procedure must be carried out monthly for four days in a row. Lubricate problem areas with plenty of natural honey and wrap with a compression bandage, leave for 2 hours. Conduct a session at night.
- At the stage of the appearance of trophic ulcers, simple potatoes will help. The essence of the method consists in applying a grated raw tuber to the foci of trophic changes for 5 hours and fixing the compress with a bandage. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the skin condition.
- One of the simpler recipes involves using fresh cabbage leaves as healing compresses. It is necessary to apply them to the diseased limbs every day for a month and fix them with a bandage. It is better to carry out the procedure at night and leave the compress until morning.
- Homemade peanut butter is an effective remedy for varicose veins. To obtain the composition, you should take unripe fruits, chop and pour olive oil so that the raw materials are completely covered. Heat the mixture a little over low heat and pour into a glass jar, leave for a month to infuse. After this, the agent must be applied daily to lubricate the protruding veins.
- A composition of equal amounts of aloe juice, olive oil and sea buckthorn oil will help reduce itching and relieve irritation in painful areas. The tool must be used to treat the epidermis of the legs in the morning and in the evening.
- St. John's wort oil copes well with ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities. It is not difficult to prepare it at home. It is necessary to pour 100 g of dry raw materials with 400 ml of sunflower oil and heat over low heat for 6 hours. After that, strain the composition and apply as compresses directly to the site of ulceration.
- Pharmacy products are also allowed to be supplemented with natural ingredients. Ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky's ointment should be taken in 10 g each, add 10 g of pork fat, aloe juice and honey to them. Heat a little and treat the lesions, fixing the compresses with a bandage. It needs to be changed once a day.
- Fresh lilac leaves will help eliminate swelling and heaviness in the legs. To do this, you need to put them on your legs, fix with a bandage and leave for 2 hours. Repeat the procedure several times throughout the day.
- Fresh birch leaves will help to treat varicose veins at home. To do this, you need to find tall bags, fill them with raw materials and insert your legs into them. When the limbs are sweating a lot, it is required to end the session. You will need fresh leaves for next time. As a rule, 2-3 procedures are enough to get rid of puffiness and heaviness in the legs.
- In summer, the use of fresh wormwood is allowed. It is necessary to cut off several branches of the plant, wash, dry, chop, mix with the same amount of yogurt. Distribute the composition on napkins made of natural fabric and wrap the affected limbs, leave for 30 minutes. During the period of exposure to the agent, it is recommended to be in the supine position with the legs raised up. This recipe should be used daily for a month.
Medicinal plants in the form of decoctions and tinctures have long been used to treat varicose veins. The following recipes have proven themselves:
- A decoction of hop cones is used for compresses. It should be prepared from 2 tablespoons of crushed raw materials and 500 ml of water. The composition must be boiled for 15 minutes, filtered, cooled. It is recommended to moisten a napkin made of natural fabric and wrap the sore limbs.
- Alcohol tincture of white acacia flowers effectively fights nodules on the lower extremities. For 100 ml of vodka, you will need 80 g of dry crushed flowers. They need to be infused for 10 days and used to treat the affected areas daily until the condition improves.
- A decoction of celandine is allowed to be used for compresses. It is simple to prepare the composition: 4 tablespoons of dry raw materials must be boiled in a liter of water for 20 minutes, infused for 12 hours, filtered. Moisten a linen napkin in the resulting liquid and wrap around the lower leg, leave for an hour, having previously secured with a bandage. After removing the bandage, it is recommended to lubricate the shins with sunflower oil. The duration of treatment is a week, then it is recommended to take a break for 10 days and repeat. For a complete recovery, you will need 2-3 courses.
- Kalanchoe tincture, which is used for rubbing and massage, has healing properties. It is simple to prepare it: fill half a jar with a volume of half a liter with chopped plant leaves, pour vodka so that the entire container is filled. Insist a week in a dark place, drain. Use the product daily before bed, rubbing your legs from foot to knee with light massage movements.
- Treatment of varicose veins at the stage of trophic ulcers can be carried out with the help of a decoction of medicinal herbs: chamomile, calendula, yarrow, St. John's wort, horsetail. The components must be mixed in equal quantities, take a tablespoon of the mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water, boil for several minutes. Use the ready-made composition for compresses or washing lesions.
Many medicinal plants and folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so it is recommended that you consult your doctor before using them.
Healing baths
The use of natural remedies as healing baths significantly alleviates the patient's condition. Compositions for the procedure can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- A decoction of willow and oak bark effectively fights edema of the lower extremities. It is simple to prepare it: you need to take 50 g of dry crushed raw materials, boil for several minutes in 5 liters of water, cool and lower your legs into the composition for 20 minutes.
- Chestnut baths are considered an effective remedy against varicose veins. Pour chestnut peel in the amount of 100 g with 2 liters of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, leave for 6 hours and add to a bowl of water. Lower limbs for 20 minutes.
The use of hot therapeutic baths is categorically contraindicated in patients with a tendency to thrombosis or diagnosed with thrombophlebitis.
Products for internal use
Taking alternative medicine strengthens the walls of blood vessels from the inside and promotes a speedy recovery. Effective formulations can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- Carrot tops, both fresh and dried, can be used to make medicinal tea. To do this, it is necessary to insist a teaspoon of raw materials for an hour in a glass of boiling water. You need to take the composition three times a day.
- A recipe based on garlic and honey has long been used to treat blood vessels. It is necessary to grind 700 g of garlic into porridge, combine with a kilogram of honey and eat a spoonful of the mixture before the main meals.
- An infusion of dry nettle is recommended to be consumed 3 times a day, 125 ml. It is simple to prepare it: take 2 tablespoons of herbs for 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour.
- It is recommended to take juice from fresh chestnut flowers in 25 drops, dissolved in a glass of water, in the morning and in the evening.
- Shilajit is allowed to take 1 tablet in the morning and in the evening, previously dissolved in water.
- Alcohol tincture can be prepared on the basis of nutmeg. To do this, you need to pour 200 g of crushed raw materials with a liter of high-quality vodka, leave for 14 days. Drink 20-30 drops until the product runs out.
- Infusion of hazel leaves effectively fights disease. A spoonful of dry raw materials should be insisted for 30 minutes in a glass of boiling water. Consume 100 ml 4 times a day.
Means for internal use not only contribute to the treatment of the disease, but also strengthen the body, which is necessary during the period of therapy.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a serious condition. Ignoring the symptoms leads to serious consequences. It is not worth starting the disease, since in the later stages, the only treatment option is surgery.