Natural Treatment for Varicose Veins

More common in women than men, varicose veins are caused by venous incompetency and incidence increases with age.

Varicose veins—the elongated, dilated and tortuous superficial veins usually seen in the lower extremities—occur when the valves of the vein permit a backflow of blood. While the cause is unknown, risk factors include family history, vein weakness, pregnancy, excess fluid in the abdominal cavity lining, obesity and vein trauma. Initially, the vein might be palpated but invisible, causing a feeling heaviness in the legs that gets worse at night, in hot weather and after prolonged standing or walking. Over time, the veins can be seen as dilated, purplish and ropelike.

While conventional treatment involves surgery or vein injections, many natural ingredients are quite effective in addressing the condition. Start by considering vitamin C, well-known for its ability to maintain the integrity of blood vessels.(1) Studies in elderly individuals have found those with higher blood levels of vitamin C had a much lower incidence of oral varicose veins.(2)

Vitamin C has also been studied in combination with butcher’s broom extract. Combining butcher’s broom extract with hesperidin and vitamin C resulted in significant improvement in symptoms of the condition in patients with varicose veins and venous insufficiency of the lower limbs.(3,4) Butcher’s broom extract may work by altering levels of an intercellular signaler (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) that may play a role in degrading the venous tissue and is found in elevated levels in varicose veins.(5)

Horse chestnut extract (HCE) can be used both internally and as an external application for disorders of venous circulation, including varicose veins.(6) Preliminary studies in humans have shown 300 mg three times per day of a standardized HCE produced some benefit on one aspect of varicose veins after only 12 days of supplementation.(7) In addition, the triterpenes found in HCE inhibit the venous enzymes that degenerate vein wall membranes.(8) Additional research showed a single dose of HCE significantly reduced leg volume and capillary filtration when pressure was applied to the thighs of normal women with normal non-disease related inadequate circulation.(9)

One mechanism that may account for the alterations observed in varicose veins is a lack of oxygen resulting in damage to the vascular wall, and measured clinically by circulating endothelial cells detached from the vascular wall. Ginkgo biloba extract has been shown to decrease the levels of these endothelial cells by up to 14.5 percent after just four weeks, suggesting an improvement in circulation and oxygenation, thereby preventing vascular damage.(10)

Another useful botanical in this area is gotu kola (Centella asiatica), which stimulates wound healing and increases collagen synthesis.(11) This benefit appears to extend to reducing the breakdown of connective tissue in blood vessel walls.(12) Gotu kola is able to improve microcirculation in cases of venous insufficiency,(13) which includes a reduction in symptoms of heaviness in the lower limbs and edema,(14) ankle edema, foot swelling, as well as an improvement in other parameters of microcirculation.(15) In addition, like ginkgo, gotu kola has also been shown to reduce the number of circulating endothelial cells.(16)

Finally, while witch hazel is known primarily for combating hemorrhoids, it may also be useful for varicose veins.(17,18) Application of a witch hazel ointment three or more times per day for two or more weeks is necessary before results can be expected.