Varicose veins, or simply varicose veins, are a dangerous vascular disease that primarily affects the veins in the lower extremities. Pathology most commonly occurs in women, especially during pregnancy, when the load on the legs increases significantly. It develops due to the thinning of the vessel wall and the appearance of aneurysms resulting from increased blood pressure. The disease is caused by the following factors: sedentary lifestyle, prolonged standing, constant movement in the corners, heredity, some internal pathology. In men, it is often associated with bad habits, overweight, and hard physical work.
If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious complications. Doctors generally approve of a combination of drug therapy and folk remedies.
Symptoms of the disease
The symptoms of varicose veins in the lower extremities depend on the stage of the disease:
- Phase 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 important symptom is the appearance of spider veins on the legs, which is most often the reason a woman visits a phlebologist.
- A II. In stage, the symptoms are more pronounced, the painful feelings and swelling of the lower extremities become permanent and do not disappear after a long rest. Painful lumps appear on the legs and severe itching in the affected areas of the skin, with occasional numbness in the legs. Conservative treatment is possible at this stage.
- A III. Stage is characterized by the growth and compression of venous nodes, bulging above the level of the skin. The patient is accompanied by constant pain at the site of node formation, the risk of damage is significantly increased, causing bleeding. This grade is characterized by a short duration or lack of use of special ointments and creams.
- A IV. During this stage, all symptoms worsen, and trophic ulcers of the legs are added to them. The blood vessels stop the blood supply to the tissues, leading to necrotic processes.
- Stage V is characterized by persistent and non-healing trophic ulcers.
- A VI. In this stage, the patient has difficulty moving, trophic ulcers spread to healthy tissues, and infection is possible.
Only the first two stages are suitable for conservative treatment. Neglected forms of the condition require surgery.
Treatment methods
There are several treatments: conservative drug therapy, surgery, and the use of folk remedies.
The conservative method consists of the use of venotonics in the form of ointments and tablets, blood thinners, vitamin complexes. In the stage of appearance of trophic ulcers, drugs are used as maintenance therapy. Usually prescribe antiseptics for topical use, drugs from the group of antibiotics, immunostimulants, vitamins, agents that promote tissue regeneration.
Folk remedies for varicose veins are now widely used in the complex treatment of pathology. A distinction must be made between external agents, therapeutic baths and preparations intended for internal use.
Preparations for external use
Among the external methods of traditional medicine, the following recipes are the most popular:
- The use of red and green tomatoes has long been considered an effective way to eliminate puffiness and heaviness in the legs. To do this, the fruits should be cut into rings, completely cover the legs with them, and fastened with a tight bandage. The exposure time of the active substance is 1-2 hours. The compress should then be removed and the procedure repeated several more times. The duration of the course is 2 weeks.
- Apple cider vinegar treatment is considered to be one of the most effective methods for treating varicose veins at an early stage. Its application consists of lubricating the affected areas twice a day with cotton wool dipped in natural apple cider vinegar.
- In the initial stages of the disease, wrapping using honey is allowed. The procedure should be performed on four consecutive days per month. Lubricate the problem areas with plenty of natural honey and wrap in a compression bandage, leave for 2 hours. Have a meeting at night.
- In the stage of the appearance of trophic ulcers, simple potatoes help. The essence of the method is that a grated raw tuber is applied to the foci of trophic changes for 5 hours and the compress is fixed with a bandage. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the skin condition.
- One of the simpler recipes includes fresh cabbage leaves as a healing compress. It is necessary to apply them to the diseased limbs every day for a month and secure them with a bandage. It is better to perform 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 need to pick unripe fruits, chop them and pour olive oil so that the ingredients are completely covered. Heat the mixture slightly over low heat and pour into a glass jar, allowing to pass for a month. Thereafter, the product should be applied daily to lubricate protruding veins.
- The composition of equal amounts of aloe juice, olive oil and sea buckthorn oil helps reduce itching and relieves irritation in painful areas. The tool should be used to treat the epidermis of the legs in the morning and evening.
- St. John's wort oil copes well with ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities. It is not difficult to prepare at home. It is necessary to pour 100 g of dry raw material with 400 ml of sunflower oil and heat on low heat for 6 hours. Then filter the product and apply as a compress directly to the ulcer site.
- Pharmacy products can also be supplemented with natural ingredients. Ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky ointment should be taken in 10 g each, add 10 g of lard, aloe juice and honey. Warm up a bit and treat the ulcer lesions, fix the compress with a bandage. It must be replaced once a day.
- Fresh purple leaves help eliminate swelling and heaviness in the legs. To do this, place them on your feet, secure them with a bandage and leave them for 2 hours. Repeat the procedure several times during the day.
- Fresh birch leaves help treat varicose veins at home. To do this, you need to find the high bags, fill them with raw materials, and insert your feet. If the limbs are sweating heavily, the session should be terminated. Next time you will need fresh mail. Usually 2-3 procedures are enough to eliminate the bloating and heaviness of the legs.
- In summer, the use of fresh wormwood is allowed. It is necessary to cut several branches of the plant, wash, dry, chop, mix with the same amount of yogurt. Divide the product into napkins made of natural fabric and wrap the affected limbs, leave for 30 minutes. It is recommended to lie down while raising the agent with the legs raised. This recipe should be used daily for a month.
Herbs in the form of decoctions and tinctures have long been used to treat varicose veins. The following recipes have worked:
- The decoction of the hop cone is used for compression. Make 2 tablespoons of crushed raw material and 500 ml of water. The preparation should be boiled for 15 minutes, filtered and cooled. We recommend that you moisten a napkin made of natural fabric and wrap the sore limbs.
- The alcoholic tincture of the white acacia flower effectively fights the nodules in the lower limbs. For 100 ml of vodka you will need 80 g of dry crushed flowers. It should be infused for 10 days and used daily to treat the affected areas until the condition improves.
- Celandine broth is allowed for compression. The preparation is simple: 4 tablespoons of dry raw material should be boiled in 20 liters of water for 20 minutes, filtered by infusion for 12 hours. Dampen a napkin in the resulting liquid and wrap around the lower leg, leaving for an hour after fixing it with a bandage earlier. After removing the bandage, it is recommended to lubricate the legs with sunflower oil. The duration of treatment is one week, after which it is recommended to take a break of 10 days and repeat it. You will need 2-3 courses for full recovery.
- Kalanchoe tincture used for rubbing and massage has healing properties. It is easy to prepare: fill half a glass jar with chopped plant leaves to a volume of half a liter, pour vodka so that the whole container is full. Insist for a week in a dark place, drain. Use the product daily before going to bed, rubbing your feet from foot to knee with light massage movements.
- The treatment of varicose veins in the trophic ulcer stage can be done with a decoction of herbs: chamomile, calendula, yarrow, St. John's wort, horseradish. The ingredients should be mixed in equal amounts, take a tablespoon of the mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water, boil for a few minutes. Use the finished composition for compresses or for washing injuries.
Many herbs and folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so it is recommended to consult your doctor before use.
Healing baths
The use of natural remedies as a spa significantly alleviates the patient’s condition. The compositions required for the process can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- The decoction of willow and oak bark effectively fights the edema of the lower limbs. It is simple to prepare: 50 g of dry, crushed raw material should be taken up, boiled in 5 liters of water for a few minutes, cooled and lowered for 20 minutes.
- Chestnut baths are an effective cure for varicose veins. Pour 100 g of chestnut peel 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 who are prone to thrombosis or have been diagnosed with thrombophlebitis.
Products for internal use
The use of alternative medicine strengthens the walls of blood vessels from the inside and promotes rapid healing. Effective preparations can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- Herbal tea can be made from the top of the carrot, both fresh and dried. To do this, you need to stick a teaspoon of raw material to a glass of boiling water for an hour. You should take this medicine three times a day.
- The 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, mix it with a kilogram of honey, and eat a spoonful of the mixture before main meals.
- It is recommended to infuse dry nettle 3 times a day in 125 ml. Preparation is simple: take 2 tablespoons of herb to 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 evening.
- You can take 1 tablet of Shilajit in the morning and in the evening, which you have previously dissolved in water.
- The alcohol tincture can be prepared based on nutmeg. To do this, pour 200 g of crushed raw material with a liter of high-quality vodka, leave for 14 days. Drink 20-30 drops until the product runs out.
- Infusion of hazelnut leaves effectively fights diseases. A spoonful of dry raw material should be adhered to a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Take 100 ml 4 times a day.
Devices 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.
The lower extremities are varicose veins in severe condition. Ignoring the symptoms has serious consequences. It is not worth starting the disease as the only treatment option in the later stages is surgery.