Varicose veins, or simply varicose veins, are a dangerous vascular disease that primarily affects the veins in the lower limbs. Pathology appears more often in women, especially during pregnancy, when the load on the legs increases significantly. It develops due to thinning of the blood vessel walls and the appearance of aneurysms resulting from increased blood pressure. The disease is caused by the following factors: a sedentary lifestyle, prolonged standing, constant movement of the heels, heredity, some internal pathologies. In men, it is often associated with bad habits, overweight, and hard physical work.
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
Symptoms of varicose veins of the lower limbs depend on the stage of the disease:
- Stage I is characterized by small changes and usually goes unnoticed. At this stage, the following signs appear: swelling and heaviness in the legs, rare night cramps, mild pain in the legs. One of the important symptoms is the appearance of varicose veins on the legs, which is most often the reason for a woman's visit to a phlebologist.
- At stage II, the symptoms are more pronounced, painful sensations and swelling of the lower limbs become permanent and do not disappear even after prolonged rest. Painful nodules appear on the legs 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 compaction of the venous nodes, their swelling above the level of the skin. The patient is accompanied by constant pain in the places of formation of nodes, the risk of damage to them increases significantly, causing bleeding. This degree is characterized by short duration or lack of effect from the use of specialized ointments and creams.
- At stage IV, all symptoms are aggravated, trophic ulcers on the legs are added. Blood vessels stop supplying blood to the tissues, which leads to necrotic processes.
- Stage V is characterized by persistent, non-healing trophic ulcers.
- At 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 surgical intervention.
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 the appearance of trophic ulcers, drugs are used as maintenance therapy. As a rule, prescribe topical antiseptics, medicines from the group of antibiotics inside, immunostimulants, vitamins, agents that promote tissue regeneration.
Folk remedies against varicose veins are now widely used in the complex treatment of pathology. Distinguish between external agents, 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, you need to cut the fruits into rings, completely cover the legs with them and fix them with a tight bandage. The exposure time of the agent reaches from 1 to 2 hours. After that, the compress must be removed and the procedure repeated several times. The duration of the course is 2 weeks.
- Apple cider vinegar treatment is considered to be one of the most effective methods of treating varicose veins in the early stages. Its application consists of twice daily lubrication of the affected areas with a cotton swab soaked in natural apple cider vinegar.
- In the initial stages of the disease, it is permissible to make compresses using honey. The procedure must be performed monthly for four consecutive days. Lubricate problem areas with plenty 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, 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 treatment depends on the severity of the skin condition.
- One of the simplest recipes involves using fresh cabbage leaves as a healing pack. It is necessary to apply them to the diseased limbs every day for a month and fix them with a bandage. It is best to carry out 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 should take the unripe fruits, chop and pour olive oil so that the raw materials are completely covered. Heat the mixture a little over low heat and pour into a glass jar, leave to infuse for a month. After that, the agent must be applied 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 tool should be used to treat the epidermis of the legs in the morning and in the evening.
- St. John's wort oil is well suited to ulcerative lesions of the lower limbs. It is not difficult to prepare it 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. After that, filter the composition and apply as compresses directly to the site of the ulceration.
- Pharmaceuticals 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. Warm up a little and treat the ulceration lesions, securing the compresses with a bandage. It needs to 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 the legs, fix them with a bandage and leave them for 2 hours. Repeat the procedure several times throughout the day.
- Fresh birch leaves will help cure varicose veins at home. To do this, you need to find high bags, fill them with raw materials and insert the legs. When the limbs sweat a lot, 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 eliminate swelling and heaviness in the legs.
- In summer, the use of fresh absinthe is allowed. It is necessary to cut several branches of the plant, wash, dry, chop, mix with the same amount of yogurt. Spread the composition on natural fabric napkins and wrap the affected limbs, leave for 30 minutes. During the period of exposure to the agent, 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 well:
- 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 must be boiled for 15 minutes, filtered, cooled. It is recommended to moisten a napkin of natural fabric and wrap the sore limbs.
- Alcoholic tincture of white acacia flowers effectively fights nodules on the lower limbs. For 100ml of vodka, you will need 80g of crushed dried flowers. They need to be infused for 10 days and used to treat affected areas daily until the condition improves.
- It is permissible to use a broth of celandine for compresses. It is simple to prepare the composition: 4 tablespoons of dry raw materials must be boiled in a liter of water for 20 minutes, infused for 12 hours, filtered. Moisten a linen napkin in the resulting liquid and wrap it around the lower leg, leave for an hour, after fixing it with a bandage. After removing the bandage, it is recommended to lubricate the shins with sunflower oil. The duration of the treatment is one week, so it is recommended to take a 10-day break and repeat. For a full recovery, you will need 2-3 courses.
- Kalanchoe tincture, which is used for rubbing and massaging, has healing properties. It is simple to prepare it: fill half a jar with a volume of half a liter with chopped plant leaves, pour vodka so that the entire container fills. Insist a week in a dark place, drain. Use the product daily before bedtime, massaging the legs from the foot to the knee with light massage movements.
- Treatment of varicose veins in 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 quantities, take a tablespoon of the mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water, boil for a few minutes. Use the ready-made composition for compresses or washing of lesions.
Many medicinal plants and folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so it is recommended to consult with your doctor before using them.
Healing baths
The use of natural remedies such as healing baths greatly relieves the patient's condition. The compositions for the procedure can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- A decoction of willow and oak bark effectively fights edema of the lower limbs. It is simple to prepare it: you need to take 50 g of dry crushed raw materials, boil for a few minutes in 5 liters of water, cool and lower the legs in 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, let stand for 6 hours and add to a bowl of water. Lower limbs for 20 minutes.
The use of hot therapeutic baths is categorically contraindicated in patients with a tendency to thrombosis or diagnosed with thrombophlebitis.
Products for internal use
Taking alternative medicines strengthens the blood vessel walls from the inside and promotes a speedy recovery. Effective formulations can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- Carrot tops, both fresh and dried, can be used to make medicinal teas. To do this, it is necessary to insist a teaspoon of raw materials for an hour in a glass of boiling water. You need to take the composition three times a day.
- A garlic and honey recipe has long been used to heal blood vessels. It is necessary to grind 700 g of garlic into porridge, combine with a kilo of honey and eat a spoonful of the mixture before the main meals.
- It is recommended to consume an infusion of dry nettle 3 times a day, 125 ml. It is simple to prepare it: take 2 tablespoons of herbs per 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour.
- It is recommended to take the juice of fresh chestnut flowers in 25 drops, dissolved in a glass of water, in the morning and in the evening.
- Shilajit can be taken 1 tablet in the morning and in the evening, previously 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 used up.
- The infusion of hazel leaves effectively fights diseases. A tablespoon of dry raw materials should be insisted for 30 minutes in a glass of boiling water. 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 therapy period.
Varicose veins of the lower limbs are a serious condition. Ignoring the symptoms leads to dire consequences. It is not worth starting the disease, since in the later stages the only treatment option is surgery.