Most often, varicose veins affect the lower extremities, as they are subjected to enormous stress and are the parts of the body furthest from the heart muscle.Treatment for varicose veins should begin as soon as possible.Treatment with folk remedies for varicose veins on the legs does not replace medications and surgical treatment, but helps improve the patient's condition.How to cure varicose veins of the lower extremities using traditional medicine?This question can only be answered by addressing the problem comprehensively.
General information on varicose veins
With varicose veins of the legs, deformation and expansion of the veins occurs.The causes of this pathology are excessive physical activity, pregnancy, weight gain, congenital pathologies of the vascular system and a sedentary lifestyle.In this case, the venous outflow of blood is interrupted, resulting in a change in the configuration of the veins.
The first sign of varicose veins is varicose veins that appear in the thigh area.Another early symptom of the disease is the presence of edema.Since edema can be a consequence of various diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems, it is necessary to exclude its presence.
The most serious sign of pathology is pain in the lower extremities.It is tight, painful and often appears after prolonged effort of the leg muscles, in the evening.At night, patients suffer from cramps in the calf muscles and a feeling of heaviness.A clear sign of pathology is the visual identification of altered veins (thickening, knots, tortuosity).
If these symptoms appear, you should contact a phlebologist.He will prescribe treatment and make appropriate recommendations.Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies should also be discussed with the doctor;you should not self-medicate.Traditional medicine offers more than one method of treating this pathology, but only the attending physician can choose the right option, based on the diagnostic data and patient complaints.Each person will have their own individual treatment program.
Properties that folk remedies should have
Folk remedies for varicose veins on the legs can have both general and local effects.Herbal healing is quite versatile and is used in many areas.But herbs for varicose veins on the legs must have certain properties:
- a folk remedy for varicose veins based on medicinal plants should help improve the condition of the walls of blood vessels;
- the medicine should relieve inflammation;
- contain blood-thinning components, as this helps improve blood flow throughout the body;
- a traditional medicine drug should prevent the formation of blood clots;
- Herbs used for varicose veins must have a diuretic effect, this is necessary to reduce tissue swelling.
There are many popular recipes for varicose veins, but they must meet certain requirements in order to be used at home:
- Herbs used for varicose veins should not have a negative effect on the body.
- The products can easily be used independently and are simple to prepare.
- The herbal mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for a certain period of time.
- Folk remedies for the treatment of varicose veins are inexpensive.
Diet therapy
There are many traditional methods for treating varicose veins, one of which is diet therapy.This type of treatment is a general technique.Patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities are prescribed a certain diet.And before starting the treatment of varicose veins on the legs with folk remedies, it is necessary to follow the so-called fasting diet.
Bakery and confectionery products, meat, fish, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages should be excluded from the diet.The diet should consist of fruits and vegetables.Two days later, buckwheat and rice porridges are introduced.
It is recommended to use this diet every month for 2 to 3 days.
General treatments
To treat varicose veins, general methods are used (baths, infusions, decoctions, tinctures), which help improve blood circulation and have a positive effect on the body as a whole.
How to treat this disease with baths?First you need to familiarize yourself with the contraindications:
- Trophic ulcers.
- Thrombophlebitis.
Bathrooms can be shared or foot baths.The water temperature should not exceed 39 degrees (that is, when checking the temperature, the hand must be patient).Take a bath for 30-40 minutes.
Medicinal plants such as chamomile, hazelnut (leaves), pine (shoots), clover, willow and oak (twigs) help against varicose veins.
You can use baking soda to prepare a bath.For a full bath you will need a standard pack of soda, but to prepare a foot bath you need to take 6 liters of water and 7-8 tablespoons of soda.
A good healing effect has a bath with willow, duda and chestnut branches, as well as herbs, chamomile or St. John's wort.You need to take 0.5 kilograms of twigs and boil them for 30 minutes.Then you need to add medicinal herbs (4 packs) to this solution.This medicinal decoction is infused all night.
A willow twig bath is very simple to make;you only need two handfuls of twigs for three liters of water, boil the mixture for 30 minutes.
Baths for varicose veins of the legs are treated for a long time, for several months.
After the baths it is advisable to carry out a light leg massage, starting from the bottom and working up.Next, you need to put on compression clothing and give your legs an elevated position.
We treat varicose veins with folk remedies, what herbs to drink?Treatment of varicose veins with herbs is also carried out using oral dosage forms.The easiest way to prepare a decoction at home is to use a thermos.It should be filtered before use.
To thin the blood in case of varicose veins, the following is used:
- Horse chestnut fruit.You need to take 50 grams of fruit peel and 0.5 liters of vodka.The tincture is stored in a dark place for 14 days.Take a teaspoon of tincture before meals with water.
- Sweet cloverIt thins the blood well, but should be used with caution and after consulting a doctor.With this medicinal plant you can prepare an infusion or tea.
- White willow(bark) promotes blood thinning due to the salicin content in the composition.You can make tea from the bark.
Take a soda solution inside.For 200 ml of hot water you need to take a teaspoon of soda.You should drink the solution in the morning and before going to bed.
Nettle tea.For half a liter of boiling water, take 3 tablespoons of dried nettle leaves.The tea should be left to infuse for 30 - 40 minutes, after which it can be drunk (80 - 100 ml after meals).
Garlic with honey is a good remedy to treat this pathology.Honey - 350 grams and garlic - 250 grams are chopped, mixed and infused for 10 days.Use a spoonful 30 minutes before meals.
Treatment of varicose veins with local effects
In this case, the therapeutic effect is aimed only at pathologically altered veins.At home you can prepare creams, lotions, compresses, ointments.
Various juices are used in the treatment:
- Potato juice helps in the treatment of ulcers.Potatoes should be grated on a fine grater to obtain a mushy mass.This mass is applied to the affected areas of the skin;a bandage must be applied to it.This compress must be changed every 5 hours.
- Apple cider vinegar will help improve the tone of the vascular walls;it is applied to the areas affected by varicose veins twice a day (morning and evening).
- Cabbage juice has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.It is best to apply a white cabbage leaf to the limb at night.
- Compress with tomatoes.The tomato (necessarily green) is cut into slices, which serve to cover the pathologically altered veins.They are fixed on the limb with a bandage.The compress should be changed after 4 hours.
- Lotions with hops.Hop cones in the amount of 1 tablespoon are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and infused.Lotions are prepared from the resulting infusion.
Tinctures for the treatment of varicose veins:
- Alcoholic tincture with Kalanchoe.The leaves should be cut from the plant and stored in the cold for a week.After which these leaves are crushed (passed through a meat grinder) and poured with vodka.The composition is infused for seven days.The tincture should be filtered and stored in the refrigerator.
- Chopped green walnuts are infused in olive oil.The composition remains in the sun for 40 days, after which it can be applied topically.
- The leaves and inflorescences of the horse chestnut are brewed like tea with boiling water and compresses are made.
- An alcoholic tincture with birch buds and white acacia flowers is infused for 7 days.Used for application on diseased areas of the skin.
At home you can also prepare an ointment for varicose veins.Herbal medicines in the form of ointments penetrate very well under the skin and eliminate the symptoms of the disease.As a basis for the preparation of such a dosage form, fat of animal (chicken) and vegetable (vegetable oils) origin is used.Highly concentrated decoctions of medicinal herbs are added to the melted base.Mix all the ingredients, keeping them on low heat for 5 minutes.
The following medicinal herbs can be added to the base of the ointment: chamomile, eucalyptus, lemon balm, fir, celandine, calendula.You can use one component or a combination of several herbs.
Homemade ointment should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent it from spoiling.This product is applied to the skin in a thick layer;it must be rubbed into the skin.On top of the ointment you need to apply a special paper (compress) and a bandage.It is more advisable to do such a compress before going to sleep.
Contraindications
Alternative treatment also has a sufficient number of contraindications and side effects.If a person has diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, he must be careful with oral medications.All solutions are quite concentrated, so they can lead to exacerbation of chronic pathology of the digestive tract.
Natural remedies can lead to the development of allergic reactions (urticaria, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock).When the first signs of allergy appear, you should stop taking the drugs and consult a specialist.
Improper administration or preparation of drugs can in some cases lead to poisoning.
Prevention of varicose veins
- Physical education plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of this disease.People prone to developing varicose veins, as well as those experiencing symptoms of the disease, are advised to exercise in moderation.Walking, running and swimming help improve blood circulation.In this case, walking 3 kilometers or more is an excellent preventive measure.
- Much attention should be paid to nutrition.The diet should contain plenty of fruits and vegetables, foods rich in phosphorus, B vitamins and potassium.Cherries can prevent blood clots, so you should include them in your daily diet.
- Refusal of bad habits and heavy foods (fatty, spicy, fried foods).
- A contrast shower improves vascular tone.
- Rest your feet, wear comfortable shoes.At the end of the day, your legs should rest;after a contrast shower, the legs should be raised.