Some may regard varicose veins as a natural part of aging, but this isn’t something that you need to live with for the rest of your life. As we age, the blood vessels in the legs do expand and increase in diameter, which often results in the veins under our skin to bulge and become visible. These are known as varicose veins. Though these veins can affect any area of the body, it is typically the legs and the feet that have varicose veins.
- Heredity/Genetics
- Overweight/Obesity
- Prolonged period of standing
- Hormonal changes
- Pregnancy
Medical Treatments for Varicose Veins
There are medical treatments available to try and get rid of the veins. The most common is laser therapy. It is more costly than most other options, but it is ideal for anyone who has smaller varicose veins, or spider veins. Small bursts of intense light are directed at the veins, which in turn will cause the veins to fade and become invisible.
Another option which can be done right in your doctor’s office is sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is when a needle is injected into your varicose vein or vessel. The agent that is administered is usually sodium tetradecyl sulfate, hypertonic saline, and polidocanol. Once the injection has occurred, a compression bandage is applied to the area for the next 24 hours. After 3 to 6 weeks, the varicose vein should be completely gone.
Large veins can be surgically removed by either ligation stripping or phlebectomy, or you can also choose to have endovenous ablation. This entails having a catheter which is emitting a radiofrequency energy inserted into the vein. This frequency will shrink the vein, making it far less apparent under the skin.
Natural Treatments for Varicose Veins
Not only are medical treatments expensive, they can also be somewhat painful depending on the method that you choose. Before you jump to a medical treatment, you may want to consider using a more natural approach first and see if that helps get rid of the varicose veins.
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular treatments for varicose veins. You can apply the apple cider vinegar twice a day to the affected areas with either a bandage or with cheesecloth. Allow the vinegar to stay on the area for 30 minutes, and make sure you lie down and keep your legs elevated.
Horse chestnut, also known as aesculus hippocastaum has been found to help increase blood flow, strengthen up the connective tissues in our bodies, tighten up the veins, relieve swelling and decrease redness, and it can also help alleviate many painful leg conditions. A compound that is contained in this herbal supplement, called Aescin, can actually close up the small pores that are in the walls of our veins, meaning that they will not bulge and become varicose veins. It is suggested that you take 1-5 drop of a horse chestnut tincture three times a day, or take a capsule 2-3 times a day.
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