Varicose veins is a vascular pathology associated with thinning of the blood vessel wall and the formation of aneurysm-like dilations. The disease occurs both in young and old age, more often in women. The main method of treating varicose veins is surgical. However, the operation is performed only on 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 is varicose veins on the legs treated with folk remedies? What does that require? When should you stop using herbal prescriptions and see your doctor?
The root cause of varicose veins is a weakening of the venous valves of the vasculature of the legs and a decrease in 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 downward, overloading the vessels and stretching them. Later, the muscle fibers responsible for the direction of blood flow atrophy, and the nerve endings that innervate the tone of the veins die off. The disease passes into a stage incurable by therapeutic methods.
Varicose veins do not develop spontaneously, without the influence of provoking factors.
The latter include:
Of course, the presence of a provoking factor does not guarantee the appearance of symptoms of the disease. However, the likelihood 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 in menopause. If signs of varicose veins appear in such a situation, the existing pharmacological therapy scheme should be canceled and a new one should be selected. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to correct the condition of the veins.
Timely diagnosis of varicose veins allows successful vein treatment without the use of complex medical techniques. Unfortunately, the first signs of the disease very often go unnoticed, which causes the patient to seek help too late.
To avoid this, see your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
At a later stage of the disease, patients notice the appearance of transient pain, aggravated after long walks and prolonged standing in an upright position. Visually, in the area of the ankles, there is pasty, swelling. At this stage, conservative therapy is still possible, but it does not stop the process, but only slows it down.
Do not rely on folk remedies and pharmacological therapy for people who have constant severity and pain, leg cramps, itchy skin, which is evidence of trophic disorders. The veins in patients are significantly dilated, deformed, and tightly elastic. Only an operation will help to correct the situation.
Leg dilation has 4 stages of development. At the first stage of the disease, its symptoms may not appear in any way. In some cases, there is a feeling of heaviness in the legs, rapid fatigue, and telangiectasias appear. Patients complain of recurrent swelling of the legs, which, however, can be easily relieved by taking a mild diuretic.
By the beginning of the second stage, the symptoms of the disease intensify, its signs become more vivid and noticeable. Patients complain of the appearance of noticeable nodes in the veins, periodic numbness and itching in the pathological zone, transient pain. Examination of the legs reveals edema, tissue pastiness.
By the third stage of development of varicose veins, the patient's condition is aggravated significantly. Affected veins become significantly thickened, deformed, hard and painful. Painful sensations become permanent. There is a high risk of thrombosis and thromboembolism. Formation of trophic ulcerations is possible.
Note:damage to varicose veins in the third stage of varicose veins can cause profuse bleeding, which can be stopped only in a medical organization.
Primary varicose veins is a form of the disease in which vascular changes develop independently, under the influence of provoking factors and the patient's genetic predisposition. The primary ones include extensions that occur in women during pregnancy, during standing work, and obesity. Also, the disease can be the result of wearing too tight underwear that constricts blood vessels and disrupts normal blood flow.
Secondary varicose veins is 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. A secondary type of disease develops after some infectious processes, with tumors or vascular injuries.
As mentioned above, folk remedies for varicose veins are effective only in the initial (1-2 stages) stages of the disease. The use of traditional medicine techniques should be made 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:
In order to eliminate puffiness, vinegar is used topically, in the form of a compress or a bath. The tool helps to increase the tone of the vascular wall, relieve edema, and activate blood circulation. The drug should be handled with care, as if used incorrectly, it can cause chemical burns to the skin.
For 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. After that, you must lower your legs 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 water temperature for baths should not be lower than 20 ° C.
To apply a compress, the vinegar is diluted with cool water in a ratio of 1: 4 (vinegar: water). A soft cloth or gauze is dipped into the resulting solution, after which it is taken out, squeezed until wet and applied to the shins. A plastic wrap 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 you experience a strong burning sensation or discomfort during the procedure, the treatment should be discontinued. Vinegar in the wrong concentration can negatively affect the skin, including leading to burns.
Blue or green clay is used to treat varicose veins. Before use, it is diluted with water to form a batter. The resulting composition is applied to soft tissue and applied to diseased areas. For convenience, a bandage can be applied over the fabric, but this is not necessary. It is necessary to withstand the compress for 40-80 minutes. The procedure should be carried out every other day, 2-3 months or more, until a satisfactory result is achieved.
The tincture is easy to make yourself. To do this, take 8 tablespoons of dried and crushed white acacia flowers, place them in a container of sufficient size and pour 20 ml of vodka. The resulting mixture is tightly covered with a lid and placed in a dry, dark place for 10 days. For better extraction of medicinal substances, it is recommended to shake the liquid daily. The finished tincture is filtered through a layer of gauze and used to rub the legs.
Use the tincture before bed, after rinsing your feet with cool water. The shins and other areas where there are varicose enlargements are carefully 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 course of therapy is 3 months, the frequency of treatment is daily.
For the treatment of varicose veins, horse chestnut is used in the form of alcohol tincture. To do this, the crushed fruits are mixed with 96% ethyl alcohol in a 1: 3 ratio and infused for two weeks. After that, the agent is filtered and used for applying compresses.
To apply a compress with horse chestnut tincture, soak a piece of soft tissue in the preparation, squeeze it thoroughly and apply to the affected area. After that, the fabric is covered with polyethylene, and several layers of cotton wool or dense fabric are applied on top. The compress is kept for 30-40 minutes, after which the legs are wrapped in a warm blanket.
It is recommended to carry out the procedure before bedtime, every other day. The course of treatment is 1-2 months, but if necessary, it can be extended.
Green tomatoes are used to treat varicose veins, which contain substances similar to acetylsalicylic acid. They have antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory effects. For the purpose of treatment, tomatoes are cut into circles, applied to diseased areas and fixed with cling film. The duration of the procedure is 8-12 hours (a compress with tomatoes is applied at night). The course of treatment is daily before bedtime, until the external manifestations of the disease disappear (usually no more than 3 months).
Cabbage, like tomatoes, has some vasoprotective effect. Vegetable leaves are sprinkled with water, after which they are placed in a common refrigerator chamber 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 course of therapy is 1 month.
To eliminate the symptoms of varicose veins, several large potato tubers are peeled, washed and grated on a fine grater. The vegetable should acquire a gruel consistency. The resulting product is applied to the legs and feet, smearing it over the skin. Additional fixation of the gruel 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.
Both bee submore and honey, propolis and other beekeeping products contain anti-inflammatory and heparin-like substances that help thin the blood. For the purpose of treating varicose veins, honey and propolis are used locally, submerged inside, poison - in the form of bee sting on the affected areas.
The honey compress is applied in accordance with the general rules for applying compresses. For this, the substance is applied to a cloth or gauze, applied to the affected area and covered with polyethylene. Next, the bandage is insulated with cotton wool and fixed with a bandage. Compress with propolis by the technique of execution does not differ from honey. The medicinal composition is prepared by mixing propolis and vodka in a 1: 5 ratio. The duration of the procedure with honey is 2 hours, once a day; with propolis - 40 minutes once a day. The frequency of performing the manipulation is every other day for 2-3 months.
Beesworm is used as an alcoholic tincture. To prepare it, you need to take 1 tablespoon of the medicine and mix with 200 ml of 70% ethanol or vodka. After that, the drug is left to infuse for 3 weeks in a dark, dry place. The tincture should be taken 20 drops, 3 times a day, in a course of 2 weeks. You can repeat the course after an equal break.
Bee venom is administered by stinging. The procedure should be carried out by a competent specialist apitherapist, therefore, it is inappropriate to consider the features of its implementation in the format 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. The stinging is performed directly in the areas affected by varicose veins.
Nettle decoction is prepared using fresh or dried leaves of the plant. At the same time, fresh leaves are ground into gruel, dry ones are ground to a powder state. Prepared raw materials are poured with boiling water. The ratio of solid and liquid fractions of the composition should be equal to 1: 8. The mixture is put on low heat and boiled for 3-5 minutes. After that, it is cooled, filtered and taken orally 1/3 cup (70 ml) three times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month.
Nutmeg decoction is prepared in a manner similar to the preparation of nettle decoction. The ratio of walnut to water in the mixture should be approximately 1: 5. The nut is pre-crushed. It is necessary to take the finished medicine three times a day. The course of therapy is 3-4 months or more.
Laundry soap itself does not have a noticeable anti-varicose effect. However, it is actively used for the preparation of multicomponent ointments.
The following recipe is considered the most effective:
Duration of application of the drug - 10 hours, frequency of treatment - daily. The course of therapy is 20 procedures.
The broth is prepared from dried calendula flowers, 2 tablespoons of which are poured with 400 ml of boiling water, put on fire and boiled for 15 minutes. After that, the agent is allowed to cool, filtered and taken 4 times a day, 100 ml. The course of treatment is until the symptoms of the disease disappear. A decoction of calendula is recommended as an auxiliary method of therapy.
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. The leeches are applied by a hirudotherapist. You should not use this method of treatment on your own. The course of therapy is 5 sessions, after which it is necessary to take a break for 2 months.
Treatment of varicose veins at home is not always possible. For therapy to be successful, it is necessary to consult a doctor and strictly follow his instructions.
Otherwise, the possible negative consequences of treatment, such as:
Contraindications for the treatment of varicose veins include the 3rd and 4th degree of pathology. In this case, the disease can only be eliminated by surgery. Also, traditional medicine is not applicable with a high risk of thromboembolism, exacerbation of vascular insufficiency, severe course of the disease with cramps of the calf muscles, deposition of large amounts of blood in the affected vessels, and a high volume of the affected area.
Running with varicose veins is possible at the first and second stages. At the same time, it is recommended to avoid significant loads on the legs, giving preference to jogging and race 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 by running only at the very beginning of the disease, when the veins are not yet stretched. At this stage, the clinical symptoms of the disease are absent. 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.
Seeing a doctor for varicose veins should occur as early as possible. The more advanced the disease is by this time, the less likely the patient will be completely cured. Ideally, if a person visits the clinic at the time of detection of the first signs: heaviness in the legs, flying pains when standing for a long time, puffiness.
With varicose veins, diet plays a significant role in stabilizing the patient's condition and restoring vascular tone.
Recommended to eat:
Dietary restrictions are consistent with an overall sparing diet. It is forbidden to take alcoholic beverages, excessively salty, spicy, sour and other foods that have irritating properties. Also, do not consume large quantities of coffee, tea and other drinks that have diuretic properties.
Prophylaxis of VRV is based on the rejection of a sedentary lifestyle and static loads on the legs. It is recommended to take a short jog or walk a few kilometers every day. During the working day, you should take short breaks dedicated to leg gymnastics. In addition, you should eat the foods described in the previous section and wear compression tights if necessary. Moderate compression improves blood flow in the superficial veins.
Note:Even walking to the place of work will help prevent varicose veins, if it is located at a distance of 2-5 kilometers from the place of residence. Refusal of a vehicle in favor of hiking will save money, prevent the development of varicose veins, and get a portion of a good mood before starting the working day.
Despite the seeming safety, varicose veins is a disease that, under certain conditions, poses a threat to human life. This is especially true for the later stages of the development of pathology, in which the vascular wall becomes thinner, and its integrity is very easily disturbed. Therefore, therapy using folk recipes should be started as soon as possible.
In order to avoid mistakes and the use of incorrect methods of treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor before starting it.