Hormone Balance
★★★★★
Elevated estrogen levels are believed to contribute to varicose veins. Detoxing estrogen and balancing hormones may help.
This long article discusses the role of zinc in hormone balance:
http://goddessignited.com/copper-estrogen-zinc-hormone-imbalance/
Vitex is also believed to balance hormones. The following is from http://main.poliquingroup.com/Tips/tabid/130/EntryId/2321/Top-Ten-Foods-To-Detox-Estrogen.aspx
To help detox estrogen: Sesame seeds, fenugreek seeds, flax seeds, omega 3s, high fiber fruits and vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, protien - especially lysine and threonine, magnesium sulfate
Aromatase blockers prevent testosterone from being converted to estrogen: melatonin, cherries, green tea
Weight loss and probiotics are also suggested.
Horse Chestnut and Butchers Broom Herbs
★★★★★
These 2 specific herbs have made such a difference to my quality of life.
Background: I started getting varicose veins, and the aching that goes with them, when I was 16! Sixteen years old with varicose veins! And no, I wasn't pregnant, or obese.
The varicose veins just got worse over the decades.
The aching, TIRED feeling bothered me more than how they looked. I usually wore jeans, slacks, or a long skirt to hide them. And I hate support hosiery. It's so uncomfortable, especially in summer.
A few years ago, I was reading some traditional, conservative woman's magazine, maybe it was Woman's Day or Ladies' Home Journal, but I can't remember. There was an article about several herbal remedies that actually have some scientific evidence for being effective. It said that the herbs Horse Chestnut and Butchers Broom were helpful for varicose veins.
I tried the herbs.
The local natural foods stores sell several brands of capsules with the herbs in them. Affordable.
A couple year's ago, a doctor warned me not to take those herbs for a few days before a planned surgery, and for a couple weeks afterwards. Doctors wisely are cautious about any herb or drug before surgery, that may or may not affect circulation or blood or the speed of bleeding and/or coagulation. Other than that, my physician does not object to the herbs.
The usual common sense caveat: Of course you should talk to your doctor about any herbal remedies that you are thinking of trying. Because (1) I'm not a physician, and (2) each person's body and health are different, and (3) natural herbs can still have side effects and/or interactions with other drugs/herbs.
The Horse Chestnut and Butchers Broom herbs have worked like a miracle for me, so I'm surprised that they are not well known.
(Bronx, Ny, Us)
01/14/2011
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
11/24/2011
★★★★★
Ditto on the horse chestnut. My mother suffered from numerous leg problems; when the varicose veins got worse, she took three tablets of the horse chestnut herb every day for a week or so and the varicose vein issue went away for months. She did not have to take the horse chestnut all the time; only when the veins were inflamed. Some people may find that they have to take the horse chestnut on an ongoing basis to get good results.
(Portugal)
10/15/2014
Hello, I have read that avoiding starchy foods (i.e. potatoes, white bread, pasta, bananas, oats and the like), helps in lowering the inflammation.
Best of Health! Andreas
(Oregon)
08/18/2022
★★★★★
I've used Horse Chestnut, either in tablets/capsules or in a topical for at least 30 years. Great results. I couldn't find it, supply chain issues, so I bought Butchers Broom. Within several doses I had HIVES, first time ever! Very sorry it can't be part of my arsenal.
Horse Chestnut and Castor Oil
★★★★★
As an acute case, I took 9 capsules of Horse Chestnut that day, spaced out 3 with each mealtime. I attempted massage with castor oil but it was too painful, I ended up just applying and wrapping the oil into my leg loosely and limped off to work that night. But the following day while still painful to touch I was able to walk normally and by day three the vein was back to normal varicose state and I reduced the dose to 6 a day until all tenderness and bruising resolved.
Horse Chestnut, Elastic Stocking
★★★★★
We purchased him an elastic compression stocking costing about 7 Euros, the type which starts just below the knee and extends to just above the ankle. He wore the stocking throughout the day and removed it at night to sleep. In addition, he took one 300-mg capsule of Horse Chestnut in the morning and one in the evening. As the bottle of Horse Chestnut contained 100 tablets, we continued this therapy for 50 days until the bottle was empty, and then discontinued the Horse Chestnut.
Now, 55 days later, my husband's legs look normal again and his veins are pain-free. He had had bulging, unsightly veins in his legs for so many years, we had assumed they would never shrink. We were wrong. Horse chestnut and an elastic stocking did the trick for my husband.
Incline Bed Therapy
★☆☆☆☆
(Somewhere, Europe)
12/06/2018
Barbara, different strokes for different folks. The raising of the head side of the bed has totally eliminated any swelling in feet. But it's not a steep incline, only 2-3 inches up from the floor.
Linseed Oil, Tyrosine and Echinacea
★★★★★
(Brooklyn, Ny)
10/18/2009
(Vancouver, British Columiba, Canada)
10/19/2009
(New York)
02/26/2012
It is important to distinguish between linseed oil and flaxseed oil. Although both oils come from the same seed, they are treated differently. Flaxseed oil is raw, cold-pressed linseed oil, and it is often sold as a dietary supplement. Linseed oil is heated and subjected to chemical treatment, and it is not safe to consume. People who use flaxseed oil as a dietary supplement want to take advantage of the rich nutritional value of the oil in raw, cold-pressed form. If you want to eat flaxseed oil, make sure you purchase oil which is clearly marked as "food grade."
Magnesium
(Easton, Maryland)
07/31/2014
★★★★★
I was suffering from severe varicose vein pain yesterday when I read this post about magnesium. I took 500 mg of Magnesium (elemental) (from 2000 mg magnesium glycerinate/lysinate chelate) - these items in parentheses are listed on the bottle of magnesium I happened to have at home. I chewed the 5 tablets so that I was sure they dissolved. Within a short time I was pain free. What a relief!!!! Thank you!!!! I suppose the relaxing effects of the magnesium was responsible. I'm going to try eating more spinach with butter to see if this would be equally as effective. That way I would be getting additional whole foods benefits such as Vitamin E, C, etc.
@Anon: Several herbs are also very good for vascular disorders include ---Grapeseed Extract, White Oak Bark, Butchers Broom, Horse Chestnut.
Melatonin Lotion
★★★★★
That was 7 months ago, and after just having made a reply to an EC member with varicose veins last night, I decided to call him to find out if the ML had helped at all since I had no previous feedback on ML for varicose veins. At first he said he didn't know if it had helped or not because he had run out of ML after applying it for about one month and had not made any more. I asked him if he noticed any pain relief while he was using it since he had previously told me his legs were quite painful, and he said, yes, he did notice pain relief. So I asked him how long the pain relief lasted after he stopped using ML and he said, it hasn't come back. That's over 6 month's of being pain free! I was excited with his results, but he was not.
I asked him why he didn't let me know about his great results and he told me because I wasn't sure that it was because of the ML or something else. I then asked him if he had used anything else that was new during the period when he was using ML and he thought about it for quite awhile before saying, no, he hadn't used anything else.
I reminded him that the nature of untreated varicose veins is that they just continue to worsen. I asked him if he thought the pain went away on its own? He said no, I guess it was the melatonin lotion. I suggested that he make a new batch and continue using it since it appeared to be keeping him pain free. He agreed and said he would, but he wasn't even a bit excited about his results.
I'm going to go ahead and call this another win for ML, but there is no science that I am aware of to support that melatonin can help varicose veins and this one instance only shows that it can potentially relieve the pain caused by varicose veins, but given that I have heard how bad that pain can be, I think my friends experience is important and possibly helpful for many others with varicose veins.
I also feel that the fact that the pain did not come back immediately after stopping ML applications and has still not come back after at least 6 months of no ML, suggests to me that there were some potential reparative effects going on in my friends veins? I asked him if he didn't think it was significant that he had had no more pain in his legs for the past 6 months since previously it had been pain everyday to varying degrees? He had to think about it for quite awhile and he finally grudgingly agreed that 6 months of no pain was very significant. I was pretty dumfounded by his responses, but ML appears to be useful for pain caused by varicose veins!
Art
Mullein Leaves
★★★★☆
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
Nattokinase
★★★★★
After multiple thromboses, 2 heart attacks, and a stroke, I found out about it on a coronary care website.
5 weeks ago, I began with 4000 FU per day increasing to 4x 4000 FU per day for 3 weeks. Will shortly drop back to 4000 FU per day. I use alongside K2 every second day. My issues have settled, my varicose veins are noticeably less, not hard and painful anymore. ( I have had this chronic complaint for approximately 35 years.)
To say that I am impressed by the results is an understatement.
My heartbeat is still often irregular however I am seeing better results and quicker recovery times.
Nattokinase
★★★★★
Nettle Tea
★★★★★
Oil of Cypress
★★★★★
Most annoying is the feeling of 'heavy legs'. On warm days, my ankles swell up despite the support hoses I wear every day.
But am seeing great results using essential oil of Cypress with Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) as carrier.
I make a small amount of salve which I apply twice a day, or more often when it's warm weather or when I expect to do a lot of standing and walking. The reason I make a small amount is I like it to be fresh.
The recipe is simple, two tablespoons of VCO; 15 drops of Oil of Cypress. Personally, I started with 7 drops to test for allergic reactions, none came, and the dosage of Cypress could be increased. Store in a glass jar, essential oils eat away at plastic. Keep in a cool place.
Apply twice a day on feet and calves, even thighs if you want or need. Massage gently and only stroke upwards. Works great to reduce fluid retention around the ankles, and my legs don't feel as "heavy".
Hope this helps!
Oil Pulling
★★★★★
(Escondido, CA)
10/16/2008
I've never heard of "oil pulling." Can you explain this for me?
EC: Read more here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/oil_pulling.html
