Varicose Veins – Causes and Solutions

Varicose veins are enlarged, dilated, and twisted veins. Any vein can become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in the lower extremities, and the reason for this is increased pressure in the leg veins due to upright walking and standing.

In most cases, varicose veins in their mildest manifestations, which include spider nevi and telangiectasias, represent only a cosmetic problem. However, varicose veins can have a wide range of symptoms, from pain and discomfort on one side to ulcers that can even threaten the limb itself.

The job of veins is considerably harder than the job of arteries. While arteries have the help of the heart to pump blood under pressure, veins do not have that kind of help. Veins have valves whose function is to allow blood to flow in one direction, toward the heart. If the walls of a vein become stretched, thinned, and less flexible (elastic), the valves can weaken and fail. Weakened valves lead to backward blood flow, which results in blood pooling in the veins, making them swollen and enlarged.

Due to the influence of gravity, which makes blood flow toward the heart more difficult, the veins farthest from the heart are most often affected. Any condition that leads to increased intra-abdominal pressure (constipation, pregnancy, in some cases tumors…) can lead to varicose veins.

There are several causes of varicose veins:

• Excess weight

• Elevated estrogen levels (which is why women are more often affected)

• Hormonal therapy

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Menopause

Complications can also occur:

Ulcers

Extremely painful wounds on the skin near varicose veins, especially near the ankles. They occur due to blood stagnation and increased venous pressure in incompetent veins, which leads to impaired skin metabolism and the subsequent formation of ulcers. A change in skin color usually appears before ulcers develop.

Thrombosis

Either in the form of superficial vein thrombosis or thrombophlebitis, which is more common, or dilation and thrombosis of the deep veins of the leg, which is a rarer but more dangerous scenario.

Bleeding

Occasionally, varicose veins close to the skin can rupture and cause bleeding, which is usually minor, but in exceptional situations can be life-threatening.

There are quite a few natural methods you can use to get rid of varicose veins, but of course, this is a slow process and takes time.

One of the plants that has shown the best results for varicose veins is horse chestnut. Horse chestnut contains a substance called aescin. In a review of 19 scientific studies, 9 scientific studies found that 600 milligrams of horse chestnut extract containing 50 mg of aescin, when taken for 8 weeks, reduces symptoms of chronic varicose veins, including leg pain, swelling, and itching (1).

During an eight-week scientific study, 58% of participants who took horse chestnut extract tablets with 20 mg of aescin three times a day and applied a 2% aescin gel twice a day experienced a reduction in varicose vein symptoms such as pain, swelling, and heaviness in the legs (2).

Essential oil from conifer needles contains beneficial monoterpenes such as alpha-pinene, which has excellent anti-inflammatory effects.

Another excellent thing is exercise. Circulation exercises are a great way to slowly correct varicose vein problems.

Take collagen. Collagen has the ability to tighten the skin and connective tissue.

Another method is stem cell therapy. With this method, your own stem cells are taken and injected into the affected part of the body. This is an excellent method, but the prices are generally way higher.