Varicose veins, or simply varicose veins, are a dangerous vascular disease that mainly affects the veins of the lower extremities. Pathology most often occurs in women, especially during pregnancy, when the load on the legs increases significantly. It develops as a result of the thinning of the walls of blood vessels and the appearance of aneurysms due to increased 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, obesity, and heavy physical labor.
If left untreated, the disease leads to serious complications. As a rule, doctors advocate 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. The following signs occur at this stage: swelling and heaviness in the legs, rare night cramps, slight pain in the legs. One of the main symptoms is the appearance of spider veins on the legs, which is most often the reason for a woman to visit a phlebologist.
- In stage II, the symptoms are more pronounced, painful sensations and swelling of the lower extremities become permanent and do not go away even after a long period of rest. On the legs there are painful nodules 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 compression of venous nodes, the bulge of which goes beyond the level of the skin. The patient is accompanied by constant pain in the places of knot formation, the risk of damaging them increases significantly and causes bleeding. This degree is characterized by the short duration or the lack of effect from the use of special ointments and creams.
- In stage IV, all symptoms worsen, plus trophic ulcers on the legs. The blood vessels no longer supply the tissue 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 tissue, and infections are 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, drugs are used as maintenance therapy. Usually prescribe antiseptics for topical use, drugs from the group of antibiotics inside, immunostimulants, vitamins and agents that promote tissue regeneration.
Folk remedies for varicose veins are now widely used in the complex treatment of pathologies. Distinguish between external means, therapeutic baths and compositions for internal use.
Formulations 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 remove swelling and heaviness in the legs. To do this, it is necessary to cut the fruit into rings, completely cover the legs with them and fix them with a tight bandage. The application time of the agent ranges from 1 to 2 hours. After that, the compress must be removed and the process repeated several times. The course duration is 2 weeks.
- Treatment with apple cider vinegar is considered to be one of the most effective ways to treat early-stage varicose veins. It is used to lubricate the affected area twice a day with a cotton swab dipped in natural apple cider vinegar.
- In the initial stages of the disease, it is allowed to make compresses with honey. The procedure must be carried out monthly on four consecutive days. Grease problem areas with lots of natural honey and wrap with a compression bandage, leave on for 2 hours. Have a session at night.
- At the stage of the appearance of trophic ulcers, simple potatoes will help. The essence of the method is to apply a grated raw tuber to the foci of trophic changes for 5 hours and fix the compress with a bandage. The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the skin disease.
- One of the simpler recipes is to use 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 do the procedure at night and leave the compress until the morning.
- Homemade peanut butter is an effective remedy for varicose veins. To preserve the composition, you should take unripe fruits, chop them and pour olive oil so that the raw materials are completely covered. Heat the mixture a little over low heat and pour it into a glass, let it steep for a month. After that, it is necessary to apply the remedy 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 device must be used in the morning and in the evening to treat the epidermis of the legs.
- St. John's wort oil copes well with ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities. It's not difficult to make at home. 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 it as compresses directly to the ulceration site.
- Pharmacy products can also be supplemented with natural ingredients. Ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky ointment should be taken 10 g each, add 10 g of pork fat, aloe juice and honey. Heat a little and treat the ulcers by fixing the compresses with a bandage. It has to be changed once a day.
- Fresh lilac leaves help remove swelling and heaviness in the legs. To do this, you need to put them on your legs, fix them with a bandage and leave them for 2 hours. Repeat the process several times throughout the day.
- Fresh birch leaves will help treat varicose veins at home. To do this, you need to find large bags, fill them with raw materials and put your legs in them. If the limbs are sweating profusely, it is necessary to end the session. You will need fresh leaves for the next time. As a rule, 2-3 procedures are enough to remove swelling and a feeling of heaviness in the legs.
- The use of fresh wormwood is allowed in summer. It is necessary to cut off several branches of the plant, wash, dry, chop and mix with the same amount of yogurt. 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 active substance, it is recommended to lie on your back with your legs raised. This recipe should be used every day 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 brew made from 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, filtered and cooled for 15 minutes. It is recommended to moisten a napkin made of natural fabric and wrap the sore limbs.
- Alcohol tincture made from white acacia flowers effectively fights nodules on the lower extremities. For 100 ml of vodka you will need 80 g of dried, crushed flowers. They must be infused for 10 days and used daily to treat the affected areas until the condition improves.
- A celandine broth can be used for compresses. It is easy to prepare the composition: 4 tablespoons of dry raw materials need to be boiled in a liter of water for 20 minutes, infused for 12 hours and filtered. Moisten a linen napkin in the resulting liquid and wrap it around the lower leg, leave for an hour, having previously secured it 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 of 10 days and repeat. For a full recovery, you will need 2-3 courses.
- Kalanchoe tincture, used for rubbing and massage, has healing properties. Preparation is simple: fill half a glass 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 every day before bedtime, rubbing your legs from your feet to your knees 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 amounts, take a tablespoon of the mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water and boil for a few minutes. Use the ready-made composition for compresses or wash lesions.
Many medicinal plants and folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so it is recommended to consult your doctor before using them.
Medicinal baths
The use of natural remedies as therapeutic baths greatly alleviates the patient's condition. Compositions for the procedure can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- A brew made from willow and oak bark effectively combats edema of the lower extremities. 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 for varicose veins. Pour 100 g of chestnut peel with 2 liters of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, leave to rest for 6 hours and place in a bowl with water. Lower limbs for 20 minutes.
The use of hot therapeutic baths is categorically contraindicated in patients with a tendency to thrombosis or diagnosed thrombophlebitis.
Products for internal use
Taking alternative medicine strengthens the walls of blood vessels from the inside and promotes speedy recovery. Effective formulations can be produced 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 in a glass of boiling water for an hour. 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 a gruel, combine it with a kilogram of honey and eat a spoonful of the mixture before main meals.
- It is recommended to take an infusion of dry nettle three times a day, 125 ml. The preparation is simple: add 2 tablespoons of herbs 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, morning and evening.
- Shilajit is allowed to take 1 tablet in the morning and in the evening, previously dissolved in water.
- An alcohol tincture can be made 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 and let it rest for 14 days. Drink 20-30 drops until the product is used up.
- Hazelnut leaf infusion is effective in fighting diseases. A spoonful of dry raw materials should insist in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. 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 dire consequences. It is not worth starting the disease because in the later stages the only treatment option is surgery.