Varicose veins or simply varicose veins are a dangerous vascular disease that mainly affects the veins of the lower extremities. The pathology occurs 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 as a result of high blood pressure. The disease is caused by the following factors: sedentary lifestyle, prolonged standing, constant movement in the heels, heredity, some internal pathologies. In men, it is often associated with bad habits, overweight and hard physical labor.
If left untreated, the disease leads to serious complications. As a rule, doctors approve a combination of drug therapy and folk remedies.
Symptoms of the disease
The 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 leg pain. One of the important symptoms is the appearance of spider veins on the legs, which is the most common reason for a woman to visit a phlebologist.
- In stage II the symptoms are more pronounced, the painful sensations and swelling of the lower extremities become permanent and do not disappear even after prolonged rest. Painful nodules and severe itching appear on the legs in the affected areas of the skin, there is a period of tingling sensation in the legs. Conservative treatment is possible at this stage.
- Stage III is characterized by enlargement and thickening of the venous nodes, their protrusion above the level of the skin. The patient is accompanied by constant pain at the sites of nodule formation, the risk of their damage increases significantly, causing bleeding. This degree is characterized by a short duration or lack of effect from the use of specialized ointments and creams.
- In stage IV, all symptoms worsen, to which are added trophic ulcers on the legs. Blood vessels stop supplying tissues with blood, which leads to necrotic processes.
- Stage V is characterized by persistent and non-healing trophic ulcers.
- In stage VI, the patient has difficulty moving, trophic ulcers spread to healthy tissues, and infection is possible.
Only the first two stages are amenable to conservative treatment. Neglected forms of the pathological condition require surgery.
Methods of treatment
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 trophic ulcers, the drugs are used as maintenance therapy. As a rule, antiseptics are prescribed for topical use, drugs from the group of antibiotics inside, immunostimulants, vitamins, agents that promote tissue regeneration.
Folk remedies for varicose veins are now widely used in the complex treatment of pathology. Distinguish external means, therapeutic baths and compositions 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, you need to cut the fruit into rings, completely cover the legs with them and secure them with a tight bandage. The exposure time of the agent reaches from 1 to 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 to deal with varicose veins in the early stages. Its application consists in daily double 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 make shells with honey. The procedure should be performed monthly for four consecutive days. Lubricate the problem areas with a lot 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 will help simple potatoes. The essence of the method consists in applying grated raw lump 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 the use of fresh cabbage leaves as healing compresses. It is necessary to apply them on the affected limbs every day for a month and fix them with a bandage. It is better to perform the procedure at night and leave the compress until the morning.
- Homemade peanut butter is an effective remedy for varicose veins. To get the composition, you need to take unripe fruit, cut and pour olive oil so that the raw materials are completely covered. The mixture is heated a little over low heat and poured into a glass jar, leave for a month to infuse. The agent should then be applied daily to lubricate the bulging veins.
- The 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 should be used to treat the epidermis of the feet in the morning and evening.
- St. John's wort oil copes well with ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities. Preparing it at home is not difficult. It is necessary to pour 100 g of dry raw materials with 400 ml of sunflower oil and heat on low heat for 6 hours. Then strain the composition and apply as compresses directly on the ulcer site.
- Pharmacy products can also be supplemented with natural ingredients. Ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky's ointment should be taken 10 g each, 10 g of lard, aloe juice and honey should be added to them. Warm up a bit and treat the ulcer lesions by fixing the compresses with a bandage. It should 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 feet, fix with a bandage and leave for 2 hours. Repeat the procedure several times throughout the day.
- Fresh birch leaves will help treat varicose veins at home. To do this, you need to find tall bags, fill them with raw materials and insert your feet into them. When the limbs sweat a lot, it is necessary to end the session. Next time you will need fresh leaves. As a rule, 2-3 procedures are enough to get rid of puffiness and heaviness in the legs.
- The use of fresh wormwood is allowed in summer. It is necessary to cut several branches of the plant, wash them, dry them, chop them, mix them with the same amount of yoghurt. Spread 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 that you lie down with your legs raised. 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 been proven:
- 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 should be boiled for 15 minutes, filtered, cooled. It is recommended to moisten a napkin made of natural fabric and wrap the affected limbs.
- The alcoholic tincture of white acacia flowers effectively fights the nodules of the lower extremities. For 100 ml of vodka you will need 80 g of dried crushed flowers. They should be infused for 10 days and used for daily treatment of the affected areas until the condition improves.
- Celery broth is allowed to be used for compresses. The preparation of the composition is simple: 4 tablespoons of dry raw materials should be boiled in a liter of water for 20 minutes, infused for 12 hours, filtered. Soak a linen napkin in the resulting liquid and wrap around the lower leg, leave for an hour, pre-fixed with a bandage. After removing the bandage, it is recommended to lubricate the shins with sunflower oil. The duration of treatment is a week, after which it is recommended to take a break for 10 days and repeat. For a full recovery you will need 2-3 courses.
- Kalanchoe tincture, which is used for rubbing and massage, has healing properties. Preparation is simple: fill half a jar with a volume of half a liter of chopped leaves of plants, pour vodka so that the whole container is filled. Insist a week in a dark place, drain. Use the product daily before bed, rubbing your feet from foot to knee with light massage movements.
- The 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 should be mixed in equal amounts, take a tablespoon of the mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water, boil for several minutes. Use the finished composition for compresses or washing lesions.
Many medicinal plants and folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so it is recommended to consult your doctor before using them.
Healing baths
The use of natural remedies such as healing baths significantly alleviates the patient's condition. Compositions for the procedure can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- Decoction of willow and oak bark effectively fights swelling of the lower extremities. Its preparation is simple: you need to take 50 g of dry crushed raw materials, boil for a few 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 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 strongly contraindicated in patients with a tendency to thrombosis or diagnosed with thrombophlebitis.
Products for internal use
The adoption of alternative medicine strengthens the walls of blood vessels from the inside and promotes rapid 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, you need to insist one teaspoon of raw materials for an hour in a glass of boiling water. You should 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 a pulp, combine with a kilogram of honey and eat a spoonful of the mixture before main meals.
- Tincture of dry nettle is recommended to be consumed 3 times a day in 125 ml. Its preparation is simple: take 2 tablespoons of herbs per 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour.
- It is recommended in the morning and evening to take the juice of fresh chestnut flowers in 25 drops dissolved in a glass of water.
- Shilajit can take 1 tablet in the morning and evening, pre-dissolved in water.
- Alcoholic 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 is finished.
- The infusion of hazelnut leaves effectively fights the disease. One tablespoon of dry raw materials should be insisted for 30 minutes in a glass of boiling water. Consume 100 ml 4 times a day.
Internal remedies not only contribute to the treatment of the disease, but also strengthen the body, which is necessary during therapy.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a serious condition. Ignoring the symptoms leads to severe consequences. It is not worth starting the disease, because in the later stages the only treatment option is surgery.