| Varicose veins - natural treatments and remedies
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• What are varicose veins?
• How do I treat varicose veins naturally?
• DVaricose veins - Natural treatments and remedies.
• Diet for varicose veins
• Supplements for varicose veins
• Herbs for varicose veins
• Topical applications for varicose veins
• Lifestyle tips for varicose veins |
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What are Varicose Veins?
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Varicose veins are caused by a weakness in the walls of the blood vessels. They are four times more common in women, will often develop during pregnancy and may also run in families. Hemorrhoids, which are usually the result of excessive straining during bowel movement due to constipation, are actually varicose veins in the anus and rectum and so will respond to the same treatment.
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The underlying cause of varicose veins is a lack of tone in the tissues supporting the vein and the subsequent failure of the valves further up the leg. Both standing and sitting for long periods will exacerbate the problem as will lack of exercise. Constipation and lack of fibre in the diet are now also believed to play an underlying role in this condition
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How can I treat varicose veins naturally?
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Varicose veins- natural treatments and remedies
Herbs, diet, supplements and lifestyle factors can be very successful in keeping the symptoms under control.
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Diet for varicose veins
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Eat lots of fruit especially for breakfast. Vitamin C is essential in keeping your veins healthy so you need to be sure that you're getting enough vitamin C to create strong blood vessels. Put blueberries or other yummy dark fruit on your cereal. Foods like blueberries and raspberries provides bioflavonoids which are natural compounds that help strengthen blood vessels. Bioflavonoids work with vitamin C and other nutrients in the body to help make capillaries less fragile. The darker the colour of the fruit, like blackberries and cherries, the more bioflavonoids they have. The white membranes of citrus fruit such as oranges and grapefruit are also a rich source of bioflavonoids. Most fruits will also alkalinise the body.
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Follow a Fibre rich diet to keep the colon clean and prevent constipation
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Avoid or reduce saturated and hydrogenated fats, excess animal protein (except fish), processed and refined foods, fried foods, sweet drinks and caffeine.
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Eat plenty of fresh vegetables
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Include in your diet plenty of:
- Garlic (increase the breakdown of fibrin)
- Onions (increase the breakdown of fibrin)
- Ginger (improves blood circulation and inhibits abnormal blood clotting)
- Pineapple (bromeliain content)
- Cherries, berries, and red wine (OPC and anthoynidin content)
- Buckwheat (high in rutin and Vitamin E)
- Wheat germ, soybeans, nuts and seeds in general (vitamin E) - freshness is important however!
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Water...The human body is 2 /3 rds water. We need it for all functions of the body including circulatory and digestive functions. Drink at least 8glasses a day
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Drink Oat straw tea and or nettle tea
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Green tea would be a fantastic drink for you. Its antioxidant and will help the varicose veins.
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Fish is great, especially dark fish for the omega 3. Fish oils provide the most direct pathway to establish the non inflammatory immune response and they are great for healthy circulatory system. This includes dark oily fish and cold water fish like salmon, tuna (but not tuna all the time because of possible mercury levels), sardines and mackerel 3 -4 times week. If it is not possible to eat this much fish in your diet, take a fish oil supplement but look for one that has not been made from potentially high mercury content fish like tuna.
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Try LSA to stimulate your liver function. Grind together, 3 parts Ground Linseed with 2 parts sunflower seeds with 1 part almonds and sprinkle on foods in the morning. This will also keep you regular and your bowel functioning at optimum levels.
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Supplements for varicose veins
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If you cannot get enough of these nutrients in your diet you may wish to consider taking one of the following supplements
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Look for a good supplement high in bioflavanoids, vitamin C and that is high in Quercitin (which is a bioflavanoid ) specifically if you can't get enough through your diet. You can take this to kick start improvement to your circulation and vein integrity but you should not need to keep on it long term if you up your fruits containing bioflavanoids.
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Essential Fatty Acids such as fish oils 1000mg 3 a day. if you are not eating dark oil fish three times a day or using lots f flax seed oil.
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Vitamin E is a great antioxidant, protects blood vessels and improves circulation
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OPC's / Pycnogenol (pine bark extract, grape seed extract) are antioxidants that stimulate blood circulation and strengthen connective tissue especially in the cardiovascular system.
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Herbs for varicose veins
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If you are absolutely sure that your current problem is the result of varicosity then Ginkgo biloba, which is now widely used to promote good circulation throughout the body, can help bring the condition back under control and help prevent a recurrence.
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The herb Horse chestnut can be used both internally and externally to treat varicose veins. Early studies have shown that 300mg, three times a day will help. It works by improving capillary resistance in healthy individual and improving circulation. It can also reduce the inflammation associated with varicose veins and repair damage.
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Topical applications for varicose veins
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Apply Witch hazel externally as it is astringent and toning. Horsechestnut and comfrey tinctures can also be used externally. Also try aromatherapy oils cypress.
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Lifestyle tips for varicose veins
- Avoid smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise
- Improve circulation (exercise, hot / cold showers, saunas and massage)
- Avoid prolonged standing, sitting, crossing legs and heavy lifting
- Wear loose clothing that does not restrict the blood flow
- Wear supportive stockings to support veins and prevent swelling (the right size and strength is important)
- Elevate your legs above heart level for 20 minutes at least once a day
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