Home Remedies for Varicose Veins

There are numerous veins in our bodies. These veins are the blood vessels that carry blood to our hearts. Veins are therefore, very important for blood circulation. Now imagine a pipe that carries water towards the tap of your kitchen or bathroom. What happens when the pipe is not straight and gets twisted at places or when the structure of pipe is not smooth and there are bumps and weak areas in the pipe.

The water will exert pressure on the pipe’s weak areas, at the twists of the pipe etc. and because the fluid cannot be pushed through, water will remain trapped at that place. Also, the pressure and flow of the water coming out of the tap will get badly affected. This is just similar to the condition of varicose veins. The swollen, enlarged and twisted veins are not able to deliver smooth blood flow towards heart and blood gets pooled in the veins.

Varicose veins can be understood as twisted, enlarged veins on skin, most commonly found in legs and ankles. Weakened valves and veins cause varicose veins. And what causes weakened veins? Being overweight, pregnancy, standing or sitting for long hours lead to weakening of veins. While sometimes varicose veins may indicate blockage in your deeper veins called deep vein thrombosis, most of the times it is not that serious and can be cured with certain home remedies, diet and proper habits of sitting and standing along with exercising.

Horse Chestnut :-

1. 1. Horse chestnut is one of the favorite herbs of medical herbalists who use it extensively for treating not only varicose veins but also chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) which is also a circulatory disease.
   2. Horse chestnut is an astringent and also a fine tonic for blood circulation.

1. Aescin is the main compound in this herb which seems to inhibit the release of enzymes responsible for damaging capillary walls.
2. Horse chestnut can relieve symptoms like swelling and pain besides strengthening blood vessel walls.

Grape Seed :-

1. 1. If you eat the delicious grapes and throw away the seeds from it, think again, more so if you have varicose veins. Loaded with vitamin E, flavonoids, linoleic acid, and the antioxidants oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs), grape seeds can get you rid of varicose veins.
   2. These compounds are also there in the skin of the grape but in very low concentration.
   3. OPCs in grape seeds seem to strengthen the connective tissue structure of blood vessels which leads to reduced inflammation.

1. They protect capillaries, veins and even arteries from free radical damage along with enhancing the performance of vitamin C which is essential for collagen formation.
2. They also increase the tone and elasticity of capillary walls.
3. This makes capillary walls more resistant to hemorrhages, ruptures and infection.

Gotu Kola :-

1. Gotu Kola has been used by Ayurveda since long for various diseases including wound healing.
2. Modern herbal medicine uses this herb for varicose veins to reduce swelling, pain, fatigue, sensation of heaviness, and also fluid leakage from veins.
3. Gotu kola seems to work by strengthening connective tissues to cure as well as prevent varicose veins.
4. The extract of gotu kola leaves are said to contain ‘triterpenes’ that improve the tone of veins making them less susceptible to the degenerative processes which may result into varicosity and other problems.

Massage with Grape Seed Oil :-

1. If you do not like the idea of consuming grape seed extract, you can massage with the grape seed oil.
2. OPC is found in grape seed oil too which give this oil its anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Grape seed oil massage will also strengthen and repair damaged capillaries and blood vessels and will improve your blood circulation.
4. Why not make a grapeseed massage oil by mixing certain essential oils too.

Marigold :-

1. Marigold (Calendula officinalis) contains flavonoids as well as triterpenes both of which are beneficial in treating varicose veins.
2. Triterpenes is the same component which is also present in gotu kola, another herb for varicose veins.
3. It improves the tone of veins making them less susceptible to degeneration.
4. Marigold has been used in folk medicine for its various qualities including anti-inflammation, bleeding control and as a healing agent for damaged tissue.
5. For these properties, marigold is also recommended to cure pain and swelling due to varicose veins.
6. Prolonged use of this herb may actually get you rid of varicose veins completely.

Butcher’s Broom :-

1. 1. Butcher’s broom is very helpful for relieving the aches and discomfort of varicose veins.
   2. This herb contains compounds known as ruscogenins that help reduce inflammation while constricting the veins due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-elastase activity.

1. Take 100 mg of butcher’s broom supplements three times a day.
2. Created from the roots and seeds of the plant, butcher’s broom supplements have vitamins B and C along with calcium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, silicon and zinc.
3. These nutrients will help tighten, strengthen and decrease inflammation in the veins as well as improve blood flow up the legs.
4. Note: People with high blood pressure or benign prostate hyperplasia should not take this herb without consulting a doctor.

Lifestyle Changes :-

1. A number of lifestyle habits can exacerbate varicose veins, including standing for long periods of time
2.  Impact exercises or sports, being overweight, wearing high heels, sedentary lifestyle where you don’t walk or move your legs for periods of 30 minutes
3.  Longer, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking, which slows down circulation throughout your body.
4. Eliminate or change some of these lifestyle factors and you will see a definite improvements in your varicose vein symptoms.

Parsley :-

1. This common herb is another popular home remedy for varicose veins, as its high level of vitamin C promotes the creation of collage and subsequent repair of damaged blood vessels.
2. Rutin is the powerful organic compound in parsley that directly affects capillary strength, making it a key herb to add to your diet if you’re suffering from unsightly varicose veins