Herbal Remedies for Varicose Veins

When you begin to notice varicose veins on your legs or arms, there is nothing more you want to do than take care of them immediately. Varicose veins are caused by weak blood-pumping valves, so the only way to take care of them with herbs is to use those that can help your circulatory system as a whole.

Disclaimer

• Since there is a chance that the herbs you take can aggravate allergies or react with medication that you're already taking, it is best to consult a doctor or an integrated medical practitioner when using herbs.

Varicose Veins

• Healthy veins have strong valves that open and shut to carry blood to the heart in the right direction. Blood backs up and causes varicose veins when the valves begin to become weak. These bulging veins can become itchy and cause heavy-feeling limbs. Varicose veins continue to get worse unless they are treated.

Herbs for Varicose Veins

• Gotu kola is an herb that can improve the tone of connective tissue around the vein, enhance blood flow and keep your veins supple. Try 200mg of gotu kola extract three times a day. Bilberry works in a similar way to gotu kola, and it is often sold in the same supplement. Use 80mg three times per day. Horse chestnut reduces inflammation, swelling and the accumulation of fluids in the veins. Take one 500mg dose every morning. Grape seed extract can complement these other herbs at a dose of 150mg per day.

Homeopathic Remedies

• Some herb-based homeopathic remedies can help with your varicose veins. Take a small dose of 6c (where c is equal to 100 times the standard homeopathic potency) three times per day of the remedy that best fits your condition for a month at a time. Take Aesculus if your distended veins are purple and puffy, accompanied by constipation, hot lightning pains and a worsening of symptoms in cold weather. Hamamelis may be needed if your vein problems have resulted from pregnancy and they itch and sting. Consult a licensed homeopath with any questions.

Circulatory System

• These herbs may improve your circulatory system and can be used in conjunction with any of the other remedies previously discussed. Herbal horsetail, when taken as a tea several times a day, may improve your circulation by strengthening the walls of the arteries and veins. Siberian ginseng can stimulate the circulation and energy when its extract is taken once a day at a dose of 300 mg. Try these herbs for at least a month, but don't be surprised if results take longer to manifest.