Our diet is essential in the treatment of varicose veins. Discover other tips and ways to relieve pain.
Tired legs, feeling of pressure, cramps, itching, pain… Varicose veins are not anything. It is a reality that may very well limit our quality of life. For this, it is necessary to consult the doctor and discover how to calm varicose pain.
Almost 50% of women are thought to have them. In fact, data from the Spanish Association of Vascular Nursing and Wounds indicate that they are a problem with a prevalence of 10% in the general population.
It can be in the form of those slight spider mites staining our legs, or in its most striking and dilated form. In the latter, the varicose veins end up sticking out as annoying as it is painful. How then to alleviate this suffering?
The most common way to resolve the reality of varicose veins is almost always the operating room, where varicose veins are removed. Currently, the laser stands as the most popular option. However, this does not assure us that they will not reappear.
When there is a basic circulation problem it is very likely that we will see them appear again. Our genetic background, sedentary life and our diet are key factors for our suffering.
Below, we explain how you can relieve varicose pain, following the recommendations of the National Health, Lung and Blood Institute. So you can have a better quality of life, simply and cheaply.
1. Start by changing your diet
To find relief in your legs and stop feeling that heaviness, it is best to start by changing your eating habits.
- Reduce or, if you can, eliminate the salt from your food, preserves, salted meats, pickles, sausages, red meats… Excess sodium could cause us to suffer from fluid retention and aggravate pain.
- Consuming fiber is believed to help reduce the incidence of varicose veins. Lack of fiber would increase pressure at the abdominal level and could lead to venous insufficiency. This would favor the appearance of varicose veins or hemorrhoids. However, there are no studies that prove this theory.
- It can be good for you to follow a nutrition-rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains ... Everything that favors your intestinal tract. All those fruits with flavonoids are highly indicated: oranges, lemons, apples, cherries, blueberries, blackberries…
- Drink at least two liters of water a day.
2. Medicinal plants
A common remedy to alleviate the feeling of pain and heaviness of the legs with varicose veins is to resort to so-called vagotonic medicinal plants.
It is a natural resource that could help prevent capillaries from dilating and improve their resistance. They are also plants with anti-inflammatory effects that would reduce swelling and have an antioxidant effect. The plants you could turn to would be the leaves of:
- Witch hazel: While there are no exclusive studies referring to its anti-inflammatory effect on varicose veins, its effect in relieving hemorrhoids and other inflammatory ailments has been proven.
- Red Vine: An investigation concluded that those who were given red vine had a greater reduction in inflammation compared to the group receiving the placebo.
- Ginkgo biloba: A pilot study published in 2015 concluded that it would have anti-inflammatory effects that could help alleviate pain caused by varicose veins.
You can find all these plants in herbalists or natural stores. Remember to consult your doctor before taking them if you have any illness.
It is usually recommended to ingest these plants twice a day. Also indicate that you can find these same plants included in creams or gels. Thus, with them, you can relieve your heaviness through a massage.
3. The benefits of horse chestnut for varicose veins
The horse chestnut stands as one of the most effective remedies to relieve symptoms of varicose veins. In its seeds, there is a component called escin that would favor the blood to flow normally. In addition, it would reduce edema, which would avoid fluid retention.
It would minimize pain, ramps, heaviness, and cramps. It would be very suitable to treat those little spiders on our legs. Also for ulcers and even hemorrhoids.
You can find horse chestnut in natural stores or herbal shops in capsule form. The most indicated is that you take about 400 mg a day in two doses, one at breakfast and the other before dinner. This way you could avoid cramps and night pain caused by varicose veins. Remember to consult the doctor if you take other medications.
4. Other basic tips to reduce varicose veins pain
Legs up
- When you get home, try to relax for ten minutes lying on the sofa with your legs up. Just put yourself on a cushion and lean them against the wall. In this way, you will help to reduce the swelling.
- When you lie down, remember that sleeping with your legs a little higher than your body is always recommended. You just have to put something under the mattress or a cushion to get this more comfortable position.
Appropriate clothing
- Compression stockings are very suitable as they relieve pain quite effectively. Ask your doctor about it.
- Try not to wear tight clothes, as this makes it difficult for our legs to circulate.
Exercise
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Move whenever you can, if your work forces you to be seated, take advantage of the moments you can to move, to walk.
- When you get home, try to take a 20-minute walk. Cycling is also very effective.
Natural techniques
- The aloe vera is often recommended to relieve pressure from varices. You can do a massage with the pulp inside. You will get a fresh and relaxing feeling.
- The application of cold and heat is also usually indicated. Start with a warm cloth, pressing down on the varicose veins. Then do the same but with a cloth of cold water. This change in temperature is very relaxing, effective and facilitating for the correct circulation of blood in our legs.