Homeopathy Treatment for VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins, also called varicosities appear as lumpy, winding blood vessels just below the surface of the skin. Varicose veins can be an embarrassing condition. Veins are blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood from the outer parts of the body back to the heart and lungs. When veins become abnormally thick, full of twists and turns, or enlarged, they are called varicose veins. Varicose veins announce themselves as bulging, bluish cords running just beneath the surface of your skin. They can appear anywhere in the body but most often affect the legs and feet. The most common places on the legs for varicose veins to be found are the backs of the calves or on the inside of a leg. They are the visible swollen and twisted veins. Varicose veins are veins that have become dilated or bulging because of valve failure.
Valves are thin membranes inside veins which prevent the blood from flowing backwards (retrograde). Leg muscles pump the veins to return blood to the heart, against the effects of gravity. The valves have leaflets. When the leaflets lose their elasticity or when veins become varicose, the leaflets of the valves no longer meet properly, and the valves do not work. This allows blood to flow backwards and they enlarge even more. Varicose veins are most common in the superficial veins of the legs, which are subject to high pressure when standing.
Red or blue veins that appear to look like varicose veins, but are smaller are called spider veins. Spider veins are superficial varicose veins.
Varicose veins are a very common condition. Women tend to be more affected than men, with approximately 30% of women developing varicose veins in their lifetime, compared to 15% of men. In the United States, about 19% of men and 36% of women have varicose veins. They are a common condition in Western World, with about 60% of Americans being affected at some stage of their lives.
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What causes Varicose Veins?
Valves prevent backward flow of blood within the vein. They keep blood in the vein moving toward the heart. There are two principal systems of veins in the body:
- Deep veins, which lie among the muscles and carry about 90 percent of the blood.
- Surface -or superficial- veins, which are often visible just under the skin. Surface veins do not have the protective muscular surrounding of deep veins. This means they are weaker and more likely to become varicose.
Surface veins carry blood from the skin and surface areas into the deep veins via connecting channels called perforator veins. Abnormal valve functions in the veins can be due to:-
Hereditary factors: – Recent studies suggest that hereditary factors cause some people to have too few valves or valves that do not function properly. People with a family history of varicose veins are at greater risk of developing the condition.
Inborn errors in the valves:-Some people may be born with abnormalities of the vein wall. The resulting weakness may predispose the valves to separate and become leaky.
The result is that when a person with poorly functioning valves stands up, the blood flow actually reverses and flows down the superficial veins, when it should be flowing up, toward the heart.
Many factors which can aggravate the situation of Varicose Veins are:-
- Prolonged standing can aggravate varicose veins
- Pregnancy is associated with an increase in blood volume. Also, added pressure on the veins in the legs by the weight of the growing uterus and the relaxation effects of the hormones estrogen and progesterone on the vein walls contribute to the development of varicose veins during pregnancy.
- Obesity
- Prior surgery or trauma to the leg: These conditions interrupt the normal blood flow channels.
- Straining: Chronic constipation, urinary retention from an enlarged prostate, chronic cough, or any other conditions that cause you to strain for prolonged periods of time causes an increase in the forces transmitted to the leg veins and may result in varicose veins. These mechanisms also contribute to the formation of hemorrhoids, which are varicosities located in the rectal and anal area
Esophageal varices are ’varicose‘ or swollen veins in the walls of the esophagus (gullet or swallowing pipe leading to the stomach). They result from the higher than normal pressure in the system of veins that arise from the region of the liver, and which are known to be affected by liver disease.
- Age: Generally, most elderly individuals show some degree of varicose vein occurrence.
How to diagnose Varicose Veins?
Diagnosis of varicose veins is based on a physical exam alone. Sometimes tests or procedures are done to find out the extent of the problem and to rule out other disorders. The tests various tests are:-
Doppler Ultrasound– Doppler ultrasound is done to check blood flow in your veins and to look for blood clots. A Doppler ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of structures in your body.
Angiogram-Although rare, your doctor may order an angiogram to get a more detailed look at the blood flow through your blood vessels. For this procedure, dye is injected into your veins. The dye outlines your veins on x-ray images.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are often progressive, which means symptoms may worsen over time.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in the affected area
- Swelling of the feet and ankles due to the fluid from stagnant blood leaking through the walls of the veins into surrounding tissues
- A feeling of heaviness, tiredness, and aching, especially at the end of the day or after periods of prolonged standing
- Persistent itching of the skin over the affected area
- Changes in skin color-the skin over the affected area may turn a brownish gray color, especially around the ankles.
- Bleeding due to minor injuries.
- Restless leg syndrome (due to pain).
Complications of Varicose Veins
Bleeding
The thin-walled varicose veins protrude just under the skin. Bumping or scratching a large varicose vein may cause severe bleeding. Varicose veins bleed more than healthy veins because of abnormally high pressure within the damaged veins.
Phlebitis
Phlebitis means inflammation of a vein. A form of phlebitis that sometimes affects varicose veins is superficial thrombophlebitis, an inflammation of a vein just below the surface of the skin, which results from a small blood clot.
When clots form in veins near the surface of the body, swelling and redness appear along the affected area of the vein. This condition is not considered life threatening, as opposed to deep vein thrombosis.
The most serious consequence of phlebitis is the development of postphlebitic leg. This condition is also called stasis syndrome. It is usually the result of long-term phlebitis involving deeper veins. The involved area in a postphlebitic leg may become discolored, scaly, and swollen, with hardened areas beneath the skin and the development of painful ulcers.
Leg Ulcers
Ulcers (open sores) are one of the most troublesome complications of varicose veins. They tend to occur most often in the elderly.
Treatment for Varicose Veins
Allopathic or conventional treatment for varicose veins and its side-effects
The conventional/allopathic treatment for varicose veins includes the following:-
In conventional treatment the superficial varicose veins are usually ignored. For occasional swelling and pain aspirin or ibuprofen is prescribed which has dangerous side effects.
A mild case of superficial varicose veins is treated by sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy- it requires injecting a special chemical known as sclerosant precisely into the damaged vein. The side-effects include:-
- Discoloration of the skin along the cured varicose veins.
- Patients using sclerotherapy for removal of varicose veins may also experience pain, bruising, itching and blistering at the site where the aethoxysklerol injections have been administered.
- Blood clotting may occur
- It can injure the deep vein system
- If aethoxysklerol injection is shot outside the varicose veins, it may result to ulcers or death of the tissues around the area.
Moderate to severe cases require surgical removal or stripping.
Surgery
The various surgeries done for varicose veins are:-
- Laser surgery
- Surgical vein stripping
- Phlebectomy
- Vein ligation
- Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy (TIPP)
Side-effects include:-
- The side effect of surgery under anesthesia may include nausea, vomiting and risk of infection in the incision. Surgery may cause bruises and areas of hardening near the scars in the operated leg. Bruising usually goes away during the first several weeks after the treatment.
- Laser and pulsed light treatments also may cause scarring. Poorly performed laser surgery may cause burns and scars.
- Surgeries cause generalized weakness in a patient.
Homeopathy and Varicose Veins
For Samuel Hahnemann (the founder of homeopathy) the single most driving reason to develop homeopathy was to have a system that was completely harmless and gentle. Homeopathy is a system that would use the body’s own innate healing powers to restore health. The homeopathic treatment of diseases like varicose veins, which otherwise would require surgery is curable with the homeopathic treatment. A controlled study done in Germany on 62 patients (suffering from varicose veins) about a decade ago proved the high efficacy of this system in treating varicose veins.
How Homeopathy works on Varicose Veins
Homeopathy works very well for mild to moderate cases of varicose veins. It helps to reduce pain, control further varicosity, reduces swelling. Homeopathy also helps significantly in the cases which have varicose ulcers. Homeopathic remedies often help to relieve discomfort that comes with varicose veins, and may help to prevent their worsening. Individuals with serious cases may benefit from a constitutional remedy, prescribed by an experienced homeopath.
The actions of homeopathic medicines on varicose veins are:-
- Action of homeopathic medicines on the vein walls: The homeopathic medicines work at relieving stagnation of blood and help in its recirculation by improving the elasticity of the veins walls. They help to relieve congestion in the peripheral veins. They also help in relieving the pressure, pain and swelling in the enlarged veins and indirectly help curing the eczema due to accumulation of blood and varicose ulcers, a complication due to fluid buildup in the skin tissue.
- Action of homeopathic medicines on improving valve tone and muscle contraction: homeopathic medicines help in improving the tone of the venous valves and muscle contraction which helps in pumping blood upwards and towards the heart. Lack of muscle tone and elasticity of the vein are the foremost reasons for developing varicose veins.
People who suffer from varicose veins are sometimes told by doctors that surgery is their only option. But, there’s a “kinder” alternative: Homeopathy.
There is a popular saying that “Prevention is better than cure”, so to avoid the sufferings from the symptoms of Varicose Veins, kindly avoid the following:-
- Maintain the normal weight
- Wear support or compression stockings
- Avoid long periods of standing or sitting
- Don’t cross your legs when sitting.
- Exercise regularly – walking
- Eat high-fiber foods like bran cereals, whole grain breads, fresh fruits and vegetables
- Elevate your legs as much as possible
Management of varicose veins
DIET- Varicose veins are becoming a bigger problem in Western society, while in societies that consume mostly nutrient rich, unprocessed food, varicose vein are very rare. The low-fiber Western diet leads to constipation. Nowadays people are fond of the fast foods available in the market. In developing countries like India people are more into these kinds of foods which lead to problems like constipation which in turn gives birth to many problems like varicose veins. Straining during bowel movements puts intense pressure on the veins of the lower body; over time, it can cause veins to weaken and enlarge. Therapies that encourage regular elimination are an important part of the treatment for varicose veins.
A high-fiber diet is your best weapon against varicose veins. Reduce your risk of constipation by eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and nuts and seeds.
Consume 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds, along with 10 ounces of water, daily to obtain healthful fiber.
Certain kinds of flavonoids will strengthen the walls of the veins and improve their elasticity. Berries that have a bluish-red color—cherries, blueberries, and blackberries, for example—are rich in the flavonoids you need, so enjoy them often as snacks or dessert. Buckwheat, as a food and in tea forms, is a good source of a flavonoid called rutin, which increases the strength of capillaries.
To improve circulation, flavor your meals with garlic, onions, ginger, or cayenne pepper.
Vitamin E is good for the circulation and also helps prevent blood clots. Wheat germ is an excellent source, as are soybeans and leafy greens.
Foods to be avoided
Saturated fats, along with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, slow down your circulation and worsen the inflammation of the blood vessels. Avoid them.
Sugar and other refined carbohydrates can lead to weight gain and constipation. Dramatically reduce your intake of sweets and refined foods.
Caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating, and they worsen varicose veins