Best Treatments for Varicose Veins
-Natural, Nutritional and Conventional-
This protocol offers insights into the best natural and conventional treatments and nutritional management currently available for varicose veins.
General observations
Varicose veins occur in approximately 30% of the population, especially in women.
People who stand a lot such as teachers, bank tellers, nurses, warehouse workers, and others are particularly at risk.
Complaints range from mild skin discoloration and spider veins, to bulging veins, leg swelling, a heavy feeling in the lower extremities, and ultimately venous ulcers.
People with varicose veins in general tend to feel in worse health then those without.
Complications may include blood clots, vein inflammation, and ulceration of the skin.
Varicose veins are thus more then just a cosmetic problem.
They tend to signal a concomitant deeper inflammatory and cardio-vascular dysfunction.
Natural and Nutritional management
Recent advances in nutritional support:
- Recently Vitamin K2 has been shown to activate the proteins that support the normal smooth muscle cells of the vein wall. Taking vitamin K2 regularly may retard formation of varicose veins. *
Read more about Vitamin K2
The following modalities are well established:
- Frequent leg elevation for persons forced to stand a lot
- Use of support or compression stockings
Additional complementary/alternative treatments:
- Boswellia 90™ contains the highest quality boswellia extract obtainable. It helps fight the inflammation that may potentially lead to blood clotting.
- Horse chestnut seed extract (Aesculus), orally, 300 mg twice daily, standardized to 50 mg escin per dose; topically 2% escin gel applied to the calves.
- Adequate daily intake of iron, zinc, copper and trace minerals maintain tissue health and speed wound healing. (see Healthy Life Multi-Vitamin)
- Herbal diuretics, especially in the form of birch leaves, such as Kidney Cleanse™. Birch leaves are known in anthroposophical medicine to act not only as diuretics and anti-inflammatory agents but also to detoxify the body of unwanted proteins.
- Copper (oral: Cuprum Colloidum; topical: Cuprum Pentas Cream) has been used in traditional medicine for centuries whenever venous processes were involved. It strengthens the energies that uphold the venous walls and helps the blood flow.
- Stimulate the entire peripheral circulation through rosemary. (Rosemary Salt Scrub; Rosemary Bath Oil)
Conventional medical recommendations
- Patients with significant varicose veins that have not responded to conservative therapy for about six months should be sent for a duplex ultrasound for diagnosis.
- Diuretics: these medications are frequently used for about a week, if there is swelling of the lower extremities, before strong compression stockings are given, in order to achieve a better fit.
- Aspirin is useful if there is a venous ulcer present or if one threatens to develop, in order to prevent blood clotting.
- Pentoxifyllinne may improve the healing of venous ulcers but studies have been inconsistent.
- Always consult your health care provider for significant swelling, redness, pain or other unusual symptoms.
* True Botanica uses the MenaQ7™ form of Vitamin K2. MenaQ7™ is a trademark of NattoPharma, Norway. Do not take a Vitamin K containing product if you are taking blood thinners without talking to your physician.
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