Varicose veins, or varicose veins for short, is a dangerous vascular disease that mainly affects the veins of the lower extremities. Pathology occurs most often in women, especially during pregnancy, when the load on the legs increases significantly. It develops due to the appearance of aneurysms due to thinning of blood vessel walls and increased blood pressure. This disease is caused by the following factors: a sedentary lifestyle, standing for a long time, constant heel movement, heredity, and some internal diseases. In men, it is usually associated with bad habits, overweight, and heavy physical labor.
If left untreated, this disease can lead to serious complications. Usually, doctors will approve 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:
- The first stage is characterized by minor changes, which are usually not noticed. At this stage, the following signs will appear: swelling and heaviness of the legs, rare night cramps, slight pain in the legs. One of the important symptoms is spider veins in the legs, which is usually the reason women go to see a phlebologist.
- In the second stage, the symptoms are more obvious, the pain and swelling of the lower limbs become permanent, and they will not disappear even after a long period of rest. Painful nodules in the legs, severe itching in the affected skin area, and periodic numbness in the legs. At this stage, conservative treatment is possible.
- Stage III is characterized by an increase and compaction of venous nodules, protruding above the skin level. Patients are accompanied by constant pain where the nodules form, and the risk of damaging them is significantly increased, leading to bleeding. The characteristic of this degree is that the use of special ointments and creams lasts for a short time or has no effect.
- In stage IV, all symptoms worsen and trophic ulcers appear on the legs. The blood vessels stop supplying blood to the tissues, leading to the process of necrosis.
- 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 infections may occur.
Only the first two stages are suitable for conservative treatment. Neglected pathological conditions require surgical intervention.
treatment method
There are several treatment methods: conservative medical treatment, surgery, and the use of folk remedies.
Conservative methods include the use of ointments and tablets, blood thinners, and venom in the form of vitamin complexes. In the stage of trophic ulcers, drugs are used as maintenance treatment. Usually, preservatives for topical use, drugs in the antibiotic group, immunostimulants, vitamins, and agents that promote tissue regeneration are prescribed.
Folk remedies for varicose veins are now widely used in the complex treatment of pathologies. Distinguish between external agents, therapeutic baths and internal compositions.
Topical preparations
Among the external methods of traditional medicine, the following prescriptions are the most popular:
- For a long time, the use of red and green tomatoes has been considered an effective way to eliminate puffiness and heaviness in the legs. For this, it is necessary to cut the fruit into rings, use them to completely cover the legs and fix them with a bandage. The exposure time of the medicament reaches 1 to 2 hours. After this, 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 methods for early treatment of varicose veins. Its applications include lubricating the affected area twice a day with a cotton swab dipped in natural apple cider vinegar.
- In the initial stage of the disease, honey is allowed for wrapping. This procedure must be carried out every month for four consecutive days. Lubricate the problem area with plenty of natural honey, wrap it with a compression bandage, and let it sit for 2 hours. Meeting in the evening.
- In the stage of trophic ulcers, simple potatoes will help. The essence of this method is to apply the ground raw tuber to the focal point of nutritional changes for 5 hours and fix the dressing with a bandage. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the skin condition.
- A simpler recipe is to use fresh cabbage leaves as a healing dressing. It is necessary to apply them to the affected limb every day for a month and fix it with a bandage. It is best to perform the operation at night and save the dressing until the morning.
- Homemade peanut butter is an effective way to treat varicose veins. In order to obtain the composition, you should chop up the immature fruits and pour olive oil so that the ingredients are completely covered. Heat the mixture over low heat, pour it into a glass jar, and let it stand for a month to soak. After that, the agent must be used daily to lubricate the protruding veins.
- The combination of equal amounts of aloe vera juice, olive oil and sea buckthorn oil will help reduce itching and relieve irritation in the painful area. The tool must be used in the morning and evening to treat the epidermis of the legs.
- St. John's wort oil can well treat ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities. It is not difficult to prepare it at home. Pour 100 grams of dry ingredients and 400 milliliters of sunflower oil, and heat for 6 hours on low heat. After that, the composition is tightened and applied directly to the ulcer site.
- Pharmacy products are also allowed to add natural ingredients. Take 10 grams each of fish oil ointment and Vishnevsky ointment, add 10 grams of lard, aloe juice, and honey. Slightly heat and treat the ulcer lesion, and fix the dressing with a bandage. It needs to be replaced once a day.
- Fresh clove leaves help eliminate swelling and heaviness in the legs. To do this, you need to place them on your legs, fix them with a bandage, and leave them for 2 hours. Repeat this process multiple times throughout the day.
- Fresh birch leaves can help treat varicose veins at home. To do this, you need to find tall bags, fill them with raw materials, and put your legs in them. When extremities sweat a lot, you need to end the session. You need fresh leaves next time. Usually, 2-3 procedures are sufficient to eliminate swelling and heaviness in the legs.
- In summer, fresh wormwood is allowed. It is necessary to cut off a few branches of the plant, wash, dry, chop, and mix with the same amount of yogurt. Distribute the composition on a napkin made of natural fabric and wrap the affected limb, and let it stand for 30 minutes. During exposure to the medicine, it is recommended to lie on your back and raise your legs. This recipe should be used every day for one month.
Medicinal plants in the form of decoctions and tinctures have long been used to treat varicose veins. The following recipe has proven itself:
- The decoction of hop balls is used as a dressing. It should be made from 2 tablespoons of crushed ingredients and 500 ml of water. The composition must be boiled for 15 minutes, filtered, and cooled. It is recommended to moisten and wrap the sore limbs with a napkin made of natural fabric.
- The alcoholic tincture of white acacia flower can effectively fight the nodules of the lower limbs. For 100 ml of vodka, you will need 80 grams of dried flower. They need to be infused for 10 days and used to treat the affected area every day until the condition improves.
- Celandine broth can be used as a dressing. The preparation of the composition is simple: 4 tablespoons of dry ingredients must be boiled in one liter of water for 20 minutes, soaked for 12 hours, and filtered. Soak a linen napkin in the obtained liquid and wrap the calf, leave it for an hour, and fix it with a bandage before. After removing the bandage, it is recommended to lubricate the calf with sunflower oil. The duration of treatment is one week, and then it is recommended to rest for 10 days and repeat. To fully recover, you will need 2-3 courses.
- Longevity tinctures used for friction and massage have healing properties. Preparing it is simple: fill a half-liter and half-liter jar with chopped plant leaves, pour in vodka, and fill the entire container. Stay in the dark for a week and drain. Use this product every day before going to bed, rub your legs from feet to knees with light massage movements.
- The treatment of varicose veins in the trophic ulcer stage can be done with the help of herbal decoctions: chamomile, marigold, yarrow, St. John's wort, horsetail. The ingredients 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 ready-made compositions to compress or clean the lesions.
Many medicinal plants and folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so it is recommended that you consult a doctor before use.
Healing bath
Using natural remedies as a therapeutic bath can significantly alleviate the patient's condition. The composition of this procedure can be prepared according to the following formula:
- The decoction of willow and oak bark is effective against lower limb edema. The production method is very simple: take 50 grams of dry crushed raw materials, boil them in 5 liters of water for a few minutes, cool the legs and put them in the composition for 20 minutes.
- Chestnut bath is considered an effective way to treat varicose veins. Pour 100 grams of chestnut skin into 2 liters of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, let it sit for 6 hours, and add it to a bowl of water. Lower limbs for 20 minutes.
Patients who are prone to thrombosis or have been diagnosed with thrombophlebitis are absolutely prohibited from using thermotherapy baths.
Internal products
Taking alternative medicines can strengthen blood vessel walls from the inside and promote rapid recovery. An effective formula can be prepared according to the following formula:
- Both fresh and dried carrot heads can be used to make herbal tea. To do this, you must hold a teaspoon of ingredients in a cup of boiling water for an hour. You need to take the composition 3 times a day.
- For a long time, a formula based on garlic and honey has been used to treat blood vessels. Need to grind 700 grams of garlic into porridge, add a kilogram of honey, and eat a spoonful before dinner.
- It is recommended to take dry nettle infusions 3 times a day, 125 ml each time. The preparation method is simple: add 2 tablespoons of herbs to 500 ml of boiling water and let stand for 1 hour.
- It is recommended to take 25 drops of fresh chestnut flower juice in the morning and evening, dissolved in a glass of water.
- Shilajit is allowed to take 1 tablet in the morning and evening, dissolved in water beforehand.
- Alcohol tinctures can be prepared on the basis of nutmeg. To do this, you need to pour 200 grams of crushed raw materials together with one liter of high-quality vodka and leave it for 14 days. Drink 20-30 drops until the product is used up.
- Infusion of hazel leaves can effectively fight diseases. A spoonful of dry ingredients should be kept in a cup of boiling water for 30 minutes. Take 4 times a day, 100 ml each time.
Oral administration not only helps treat diseases, but also strengthens the body, which is necessary during treatment.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a serious disease. Ignoring symptoms can lead to dire consequences. It is not worth starting this disease, because in the later stages, the only treatment option is surgery.