Varicose Veins: Self Treatment

From simple home care to surgery at your nearby hospital, there are a variety of treatments available for people who suffer from varicose veins. Home care remedies are usually cheap and easy to do while surgery can be very costly and time consuming. In this section, we will focus on the home care therapy that you can try at home to relieve your pain. Although your varicose veins won't heal completely, these remedies will ease your pain and reduce the formation of new veins.

One of the best self-care treatments that doctors recommend is to avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time. If you sit or stand at work for several hours, move around every 30 minutes to get your blood circulating. Do little exercises while you sit in your chair. Stretch your arms and legs and avoid crossing your legs. If you have to cross your legs, cross them at the ankles.

When you're at home, lie on the floor and elevate your legs on a chair for about 10 minutes or so. Elevating your legs over your head will help the blood flow properly from your legs to your heart. And when you go to sleep, raise the foot of your bed.

Avoiding alcohol and tight clothing such as girdles or belts is another way to get rid of the pain caused by varicose veins. If you are over-weight, exercise and try to lose weight. Watch your salt intake and eat lots of high fiber foods. Also, increase your Vitamin C intake.

Applying ice packs to swollen areas, taking cool showers and gentle massages can also help to ease the pain and swelling. When massaging, always rub the area surrounding the vein.

If you have no relief or if your condition worsens, consult your doctor for other varicose vein treatments .