Alternative Therapies For Varicose Veins

If you suffer from varicose veins, you may feel a sense of frustration at how little the doctors can do to alleviate the symptoms and appearance of your veins. Short of surgery, there just isn't much they can do to help you. If this description sounds much like your own situation, you may be a good candidate for trying some alternative therapies. These holistic therapies don't replace traditional medical care, but can complement the therapies you're already receiving. Check with your doctor before you embark on any alternative medicine course.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy works in many ways. The oils you use have various properties—some relieve swelling while others stimulate circulation as they cause your capillaries to dilate. In addition, the oils are massaged into the area and massage itself can help open clogged veins and get your blood moving.

Gentle Strokes

Start with four ounces of carrier oil such as sunflower, soy, olive, or almond. Add 12 drops of cypress essential oil and 12 drops of geranium essential oil. Taking the oil into your palms, apply to your legs in gentle, upward strokes. Don't place pressure on or massage your veins. The oil should just be smoothed over the veins while the surrounding areas receive active massage.

Other oils that are effective include oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) which stimulates circulation, and oil chamomile (Matricaria recutita) which along with cypress, serves to bring down swelling and calm inflammation, thus relieving your pain.

Herbal Therapies

Witch hazel ointment is a known therapy for varicose veins but don't expect instant results. The ointment must be applied 3 or more times a day for two weeks or longer before you will see an improvement. Witch hazel sometimes causes minor skin irritation when it is applied to the skin. Because of this tendency, the herbal remedy is contraindicated for internal use.

Topical Preparation

Horse chestnut can be used as a topical preparation or may be taken in oral form. While this is a known remedy for circulatory problems such as varicose veins, this therapy should not be taken by those who have liver or kidney disease. Pregnant and nursing moms should avoid horse chestnut, as well. There have been rare reports of allergic skin reactions with horse chestnut.

Bilberries can help to prevent varicose vein formation since they aid the body's production of the connective tissues and also serve to strengthen the capillaries.

Butcher's broom calms inflammation and tones the veins. This herb can also be drunk in tea form.

Gotu Kola, Ginkgo Biloba, and Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) all serve to strengthen the blood vessels and aid peripheral circulation.

Herbal medicine practitioners believe that the hard, lumpy skin surrounding varicose veins is due to the buildup of a protein called fibrin that is involved in the clotting of blood. To clear out this protein, herbal practitioners recommend adding to your diet the following: cayenne (Capsicum frutescens), garlic (Allium sativum L.), onion, ginger (Zingiber officinale), and pineapple (Ananas comosus). Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that helps the body break up fibrin.