Varicose veins or simply varicose veins is a dangerous vascular disease that mainly affects the veins of the lower extremities. The pathology occurs most often in women, especially during pregnancy, when the load on the legs increases significantly. It develops due to thinning of blood vessel walls and the appearance of an aneurysm due to increased blood pressure. The disease is caused by the following factors: sedentary lifestyle, standing for a long time, often walking with heels, genetics, some medical diseases. In men, it is often associated with bad habits, overweight, and hard physical labor.
If left untreated, the disease leads to many serious complications. As a rule, doctors approve a combination of drug therapy and folk remedies.
Symptoms of the disease
The symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities depend on the stage of the disease:
- Stage I is characterized by small and often unnoticed changes. At this stage, the following signs will appear: leg swelling and worsening, rarely nocturnal cramps, mild pain in the legs. One of the important symptoms is the appearance of spider veins on the legs, this is often the reason why women visit a vein doctor.
- In stage II, the symptoms are more obvious, the pain and swelling of the lower extremities become permanent and do not go away even with long rest. In the legs appear painful and intense itchy nodules in the diseased 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 compression of the venous nodes, which bulge above the skin level. Patients are accompanied by constant pain in the places of formation of nodes, the risk of damaging them increases significantly, causing bleeding. This degree is characterized by a short or no effect from the use of specialized ointments and creams.
- In stage IV, all symptoms are aggravated, trophic ulcers on the legs are added. Blood vessels stop supplying blood to tissues, leading to the process of necrosis.
- Stage V is characterized by persistent and non-healing trophic ulcers.
- In stage VI, the patient has difficulty moving, the trophic sores spread to healthy tissue, and can become infected.
Only the first two stages can be treated conservatively. Neglected forms of medical conditions requiring surgical intervention.
Treatments
There are several methods of treatment: conservative drug therapy, surgery and the use of folk remedies.
Conservative methods include the use of venotonics in the form of ointments and tablets, blood thinners, vitamin complexes. At the stage of the appearance of trophic ulcers, the drug is used as maintenance therapy. As a rule, prescribe antiseptics for local use, drugs from the group of internal antibiotics, immunostimulants, vitamins, agents that promote tissue regeneration.
Folk remedies against varicose veins are now widely used in the treatment of complex pathologies. Distinguish between external agents, therapeutic baths and preparations for internal use.
Formula for external use
Among the external methods of traditional medicine, the following recipes are the most popular:
- The use of green and red tomatoes has long been considered an effective way to get rid of puffiness and heaviness in the legs. To do this, it is necessary to cut the fruits into rings, completely cover their legs and fix with tight bandages. The exposure time of the agent reaches from 1 to 2 hours. The compression must then be removed and the process repeated several more times. The duration of the course is 2 weeks.
- Treatment with apple cider vinegar is considered one of the most effective methods to deal with varicose veins in the early stages. Its application includes lubricating the affected areas twice daily with a cotton swab dipped in natural apple cider vinegar.
- In the early stages of the disease, it is permissible to perform a honey wrap. The procedure must be performed monthly for four consecutive days. Lubricate the 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 appearance of trophic ulcers, simple potatoes will help. The essence of this method consists of applying a ground raw tuber to the nutrient change foci for 5 hours and fixing the compression bandage with a bandage. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the skin condition.
- One of the simpler recipes is to use fresh cabbage leaves as a healing poultice. It is necessary to apply them to the affected limbs daily for a month and fix them with a bandage. It is better to carry out the procedure at night and leave the bandage on until morning.
- Homemade peanut butter is an effective remedy for varicose veins. To get the ingredients, you should take the unripe fruits, cut them into small pieces and pour in olive oil so that the ingredients are completely submerged. Heat the mixture over low heat a little, then pour into a glass jar, let infuse for a month. After that, the agent must be applied daily to lubricate the protruding veins.
- A preparation of aloe vera juice, olive oil and sea buckthorn oil in equal amounts will help relieve itching and reduce irritation in painful areas. The tool must be used to treat the cuticles of the legs in the morning and evening.
- St. 's Seaweed Oil. John copes well with ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities. It is not difficult to prepare it at home. It is necessary to pour 100 g of dry ingredients with 400 ml of sunflower oil and cook on low heat for 6 hours. Then, stretch the preparation and apply as compresses directly to the ulcer site.
- Pharmaceutical products are also allowed to include natural ingredients. It is recommended to take Ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky's ointment 10 g each, add 10 g of lard, aloe juice and honey to them. Apply a little heat and treat the wound with an ulcer, using a pressure bandage to fix it. It needs to be changed once a day.
- Fresh fenugreek leaves will help to get rid of swelling and heaviness in the legs. To do this, you need to put them on your legs, fix them with bandages and leave them for 2 hours. Repeat the process several times a day.
- The fresh leaves of the plant will support the treatment of varicose veins in the legs at home. To do this, you need to find tall bags, fill them with ingredients and put your feet in. When the limbs sweat a lot, it is imperative to end the training session. You will need fresh leaves for next time. As a rule, 2-3 courses are enough to get rid of puffiness and heaviness in the legs.
- In the summer, it is allowed to use fresh wormwood. Need to cut a few branches, wash, dry, cut into small pieces, mix with equal amount. Dispense the composition on a napkin made of natural cloth and wrap the affected limbs, leave for 30 minutes. During exposure to the agent, it is recommended to be in a supine position, with both legs raised. This formula should be used daily for a month.
Medicinal plants in the form of decoction and tincture have long been used to treat varicose veins. The following formulas have proven themselves:
- Insect decoction is used for compresses. It should be prepared from 2 tablespoons of crushed ingredients and 500 ml of water. The composition must be boiled for 15 minutes, filtered, allowed to cool. It is recommended to moisten a napkin made of natural cloth and wrap it around the affected limb.
- Alcohol white acacia flowers fly away the rash on the lower extremities very effectively. For 100 ml of vodka you will need 80 g of dried crushed flowers. They need to be infused for 10 days and used to treat the affected areas daily until the condition improves.
- The celandine broth is allowed to be used as a compress. The preparation is very simple: 4 tablespoons of dry ingredients must be boiled in 1 liter of water for 20 minutes, soaked for 12 hours, filtered. Moisten a linen napkin in the resulting solution and wrap it around the lower leg, leave for an hour, previously fixed with a bandage. After removing the bandage, you should lubricate the shin with sunflower oil. The duration of treatment is one week, then it is recommended to rest for 10 days and repeat. For a full recovery, you will need 2-3 courses.
- Kalanchoe tincture, used for massage and massage, has healing properties. The process is very simple: pour chopped leaves into half a jar with a volume of half a liter, pour vodka in so that the jar is full. Press for a week in a dark, drained place. Use the product daily before going to bed, massage from feet to knees with light massage movements.
- Treatment of varicose veins at 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, ponytail. The ingredients must be mixed in equal amounts, take a tablespoon of the mixture, pour 500 ml of boiling water, boil for several minutes. Use ready-made preparations to apply or wash the lesion.
Many medicinal plants, folk remedies have contraindications and side effects, so before using you should consult your doctor.
Healing bathroom
The use of natural remedies such as healing baths significantly reduces the patient's condition. Preparations for the procedure can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- The decoction of willow and oak bark effectively combats edema of the lower extremities. The processing is very simple: you take 50 g of dry ingredients and pound, boil for 5 minutes with 5 liters of water, let it cool, then lower the pork leg to soak for 20 minutes.
- A chestnut bath is considered an effective remedy against varicose veins. Pour 100 g of chestnut shells with 2 liters of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, leave for 6 hours and then put in a bowl of water. Lower limb in 20 minutes.
The use of hot tubs is absolutely contraindicated in patients with a predisposition to thrombosis or diagnosed with thrombophlebitis.
Products for internal use
Taking alternative medicine strengthens the walls of blood vessels from the inside and promotes rapid recovery. Effective recipes can be prepared according to the following recipes:
- Carrot tops, both fresh and dried, can be used to make medicinal tea. To do this, it is necessary to press a teaspoon of ingredients for an hour in a glass of boiling water. You need to take the preparation three times a day.
- A recipe based on garlic and honey has long been used to treat blood vessels. It is necessary to grind 700 g of garlic into porridge, combine with 1 kg of honey and eat a spoonful of the mixture before the main meal.
- An infusion of dried nettle is recommended to be consumed 3 times a day, 125 ml. The processing is very simple: take 2 tablespoons of traditional Chinese medicine in 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour.
- You should take the juice from fresh chestnuts with 25 drops, dissolved in a glass of water morning and evening.
- Shilajit is allowed to take 1 tablet in the morning and in the evening, previously dissolved in water.
- Tinctures can be prepared on the basis of nutmeg. To do this, you need to pour 200 g of the crushed material with a liter of high-quality vodka, leave for 14 days. Drink 20-30 drops until the product runs out.
- Infusion of witch hazel effectively fights diseases. It is recommended to soak a spoonful of dry ingredients for 30 minutes in a cup of boiling water. Consume 100 ml 4 times a day.
The means used inside not only contribute to the treatment of the disease, but also nourish the body, which is essential during the treatment period.
Venous insufficiency of the lower extremities is a serious condition. Ignoring symptoms leads to serious consequences. It is not worth starting the disease, since in the later stages the only treatment option is surgery.