If you're middle-aged, you've proba...

If you're middle-aged, you've probably started to notice those nagging varicose veins in your leg further what are they, and for what reason do you get rid of them?

Varicose veins are actually a mild form of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). When the veins' walls weaken or their valves misspend their efficiency--as happens in CVI--the veins become "varicose," or distended. The veins in the leg are the greatest in number prone to CVI because they have to fight against gravity to turn back blood to the heart, and to such a degree have a tougher job than veins in the upper parts of the body

While varicose veins are an all-too-common vexed question decreased blood flow in the leg can lead to a more serious issue--advanced CVI. This disorder can cause a variety of skin changes, including thinning, drynes friability (skin is easily broken) discoloration, and ulceration. In harsh cases, either sclerotherapy--the injection of a solution that causes the vein to choke off--or surgical removal of the vein is required.

vanishing varicose

The righteous news is that there are numerous strategies you can use to improve circulation and steady reverse some of the drifts of CVI. Maintaining a normal weight and avoiding extended standing, for instance, can help intercept varicose veins. Regular exercise as it was as walking or swimming also improves circulation. For symptom flare-ups, lie down or sit with your leg elevated above the flat of your chest for a not many minutes periodically throughout the day. Support stockings or specialized compression stockings also help change into leg swelling, fatigue and discomfort.

Mary Bove ND a naturopathic family physician, medical herbalist, author and lecturer in Brattleboro, Vermont uses several natural rules to help people suffering from the two mild and advanced forms of CVI. Working in conjunction with her patients' medical doctors, Bove uses an integrative approach that combines diet, herbal medicine, nutritional fill ups and hydrotherapy. Her patients have improved far beyond the expectations of their medical specialists, and their ne for surgeries has been markedly reduced

According to Bove a high-bioflavonoid diet is solution to providing the nutritional building arrests needed to strengthen veins. "Bio-flavonoids improve vascular tone and elasticity, exalt wound healing and reduce swelling," she says. Bove commends eating plenty of berries--including blueberries and raspberries--as a quick and easy way to boost your bioflavonoid intake.

There's luxuriance of research to support Bove's view. In a 1999 review published in the Journal of Vascular Research, Jan R Struckman, MD reported that bioflavonoid supplementation was consistently institute to improve the elasticity Of veins, accelerate the healing of leg imposthumes and reduce swelling in persons with CVI.

complement circulation

Beyond bioflavonoids, Bove commends adding walnuts, fresh fish and 1 to 3 teaspoons of flax oil daily to your diet. "This helps provide ample protein and omega-3 oils, which have anti-inflammatory effects" she says. In addition to a well adapted multivitamin/mineral supplement, Bove suggests the following natural substances for comprehensive support for her patients with CVI:

* Vitamin C with bioflavonoids (quercetin, rutin, hesperidin, or citrus bioflavonoids): 500-1500 milligrams (mg) vitamin C daily, depending onward the severity of the condition.

* Magnesium (if you also take calcium): Balance your calcium intake with an equal amount of magnesium. If you're taking 1000 mg of calcium for day, be sure you also take 1000 mg of magnesium.

* Blueberry fruit solid extract: teaspoon three times daily.

* Ginkgo leaf standardized extract (Ginkgo biloba) (24 percent ginkgo flavone glycosides): 40 mg three times daily.

* Horse chestnut cream (Aesculus hippocastanum): Apply to skin through the whole extent of affected areas in the evening, just before bedtime.

* Hydrotherapy: To improve circulation, alternate touchy and cold moist applications or soaks to affected areas sum of two units times a day. Follow each session with a topical application of witch hazel extract (see below).

fiery or cold applications come in a variety of forms, including packs sold in pharmacies, towels soaked in water, paw baths, tubs or a combination of rules For example, you can slip into the tub for the furious portion of your hydrotherapy, and use a lower extremity bath or towel soaked in chilly water for the cold portion.

oppressive applications should be at least 50 measures warmer than the cold individuals but you can gauge the temperature simply by the agency of what you can comfortably tolerate. furious applications are typically 98 to 102 stations Fahrenheit, while cold ones range from 55 to 65 steps Make sure you're sitting or lying down during sessions. Apply heat first, or commit to memory in the bath tub, for 3 minutes followed on a cold application for 1 minute. Repeat this revolution of time two more times.

* Witch hazel extract: Soak a washcloth in the extract, and apply to skin across affected areas. Rest with leg elevated for 10 minutes. Apply this treatment twice daily.

While you should seek counsel with your health care practitioner before starting any modern regimen--especially if you have a more serious condition--a combination of these natural remedies can improve your circulation, help heal your varicose veins and prepare you back into the result of your everyday life.

COPYRIGHT 2003 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group