When veins become bulging and very visible they are referred to as varicose veins. Varicose is defined as, “abnormally swollen or dilated” and “pertaining to varices [enlarged veins], which often affect the superficial portions of the lower limbs”. Varicose veins can be painful, itchy and cause chronic discomfort. For some, this condition needs to be treated with medical intervention but for others these 6 natural remedies for varicose veins offer excellent applications that just may minimize or significantly decrease this disorder. If you or someone you know have varicose veins, especially the beginning of this condition, it may be worth a try.
Potassium and Fiber
Including more potassium and fiber into your diet may benefit vein health. Obtaining these two nutrients from whole foods is more beneficial than supplements, however, if supplements are all there is available then it is better than an imbalance.
If your potassium is low (and sodium is high) there is a chance of your body switching to water retention. It holds on to whatever hydration it can sustain causing the blood vessels to react due to a decrease in blood production. This could result in vein valve stress causing the veins to bulge.
In addition to the well-know potassium levels in bananas, other foods to eat that contain good amounts of potassium, as reported by Healthline, include:
The importance of a good amount of fiber is essential to proper bowel movement. When bowel movements are healthy there is less pushing and therefore less pressure placed on the veins. These are some good high fiber foods to choose from also posted by Healthline:
Ancient Medicinal Herbs
Indian pennywort – Strengthening weakened vein walls with an ancient medicinal herb from the Indian Ayurvedic natural medicine chest called centella asiaticahas been shown in a pre-clinical trials. Sometimes referred to as Indian pennywort, centella asiatica was studied for its multi-healing benefits, including vein health, and published in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences which stated,
“CA [centella asiatica] was reported to act on the connective tissues of the vascular wall, being effective in hypertensive microangiopathy and venous insufficiency and decreasing capillary filtration rate by improving microcirculatory parameters”
Horse chestnut extract (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) – According to a study published in Advances in Therapy by Springer Link, “Four clinical trials in patients with chronic venous insufficiency and 1 study in patients with varicose veins demonstrated the effectiveness of these preparations [extracts from the seed of the horse chestnut] through the objective measure of reduction in lower leg edema and the subjective alleviation of leg pain, heaviness, and itching.”
Low-Impact Activity
Most people think they are active, yet they suffer from various health challenges including varicose veins. This is often due to occupations that require excessive amounts of either sitting or standing. Although you may think you are getting enough exercise, it is a continuation of low-impact activities that just may do your veins right. If varicose veins are an issue or they run in the family, stay away from activities such as jogging, jump roping, or high aerobic workouts that require stomping or jumping. Instead, stick to these options as recommended by WebMD:
Keep it Loose
Skinny jeans may not be for you if varicose veins are a risk. Wearing tight form-fitting clothing on the lower limbs can restrict blood flow. If this happens the veins will work harder to maintain circulation resulting in bulging to occur. In addition, wearing loose flat shoes instead of tight high-feels can also enhance circulation and reduce varicose veins.
These 6 natural remedies for varicose veins present options to mitigate or prevent this condition. It is important to see a vein specialist to make sure your varicose veins or varicose vein history may need more medical attention. In the meantime, with the approval of your doctor, maintaining these healthy tips could bring relief before varicose veins become too serious.
https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-varicose-veins
https://www.verywellhealth.com/natural-treatments-for-varicose-veins-89260
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321703#what-are-varicose-veins
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116297/?report=reader
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02850359#article-info
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/best-exercises-varicose-veins
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