Not only are varicose veins ugly, left untreated, they can cause additional health problems. How to get rid of varicose veins is a challenge, but with our 15 home remedies, you can do just that. First, let’s look at what causes them.
Veins serve the function of a one-way valve to prevent impure blood from flowing backward. When they become weak, the blood flows backward into the veins and results in congestion. That congestion causes the veins to enlarge, thus producing varicose veins. They are caused by one or more of the following:
- Obesity.
- Lack of exercise.
- Standing for long periods of time.
- Pregnancy.
These 15 remedies to get rid of varicose veins will work, but these remedies are not inclusive. In severe cases, consult your health care provider.
How to Get Rid of Varicose Veins: 15 Home Remedies that Work
Horse Chestnut Seeds
We’re starting with horse chestnuts for how to get rid of varicose veins because they are a traditional treatment that has been used for ages.
What to do:
- You can buy horse chestnut seed gel to use gel externally on the affected area twice daily.
- There are also horse chestnut supplements as well and you can take 300 mg twice daily.
Note: Do not take raw horse chestnut, because it is toxic. Nursing or pregnant women should not use this remedy.
How it works: horse chestnut seed extract contains aescin, which improves the elastic strength of veins and blocks the release of enzymes that damage capillary walls.
Parsley
A powerful antioxidant which is rich in vitamin C, Parsley improves collagen production and aids in cell repair and reproduction.
What to do:
- Boil a handful of chopped fresh parsley in one cup of water for five minutes.
- Remove from heat, cover, allow it to cool, and then strain the solution.
- Cool the strained solution for twenty minutes.
- Apply the solution to the affected area.
- Repeat daily.
- In addition, eat fresh, raw parsley as often as you’re able.
How it works: besides being an antioxidant, Parsley is rich in rutin, which plays an essential role in strengthening the capillaries.
Grapevine Leaves
If you’re learning how to get rid of varicose veins with home remedies, then grapevine leaves will do the trick. Grapevine leaves are packed with flavanoids, which make for healthier veins.
What to do:
- Boil 1 cup of grapevine leaves in 4 cups of water for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use solution to soak your feet 5 minutes.
- Soak your feet in cold water for 10 seconds.
- Repeat 3 or 4 times per session, ending with the cold water soak.
How it works: the leaves have astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and homeostatic properties, which all contribute to treating varicose veins.
Calendula
Calendula flower or pot marigold, is a blast from the past that is making a comeback in the home remedy world. Also rich in flavanoids and vitamin C.
What to do:
- Boil 1 cup of calendula flowers in 4 cups of water for 5 minutes.
- Soak a cotton cloth in the solution, wring excess water, and then place the cloth on the affected area. Leave it in place until it cools.
- Repeat several times a day.
- You can also drink a tea made with calendula and honey.
How it works: plant pharmacological studies indicate that calendula has anti-inflammatory properties and helps improve circulation.
Cayenne Pepper
Want to know how to get rid of varicose veins using cayenne pepper? Many see it as something of a miracle treatment.
What to do:
- Put 1 tsp of powdered cayenne pepper in a cup of hot water and stir it well.
- Drink 3 times daily for one or two months.
How it works: cayenne pepper is loaded with vitamin C and bioflavonoids, which increase blood circulation and opens up congested, swollen veins.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is an effective herb that can help strengthen blood vessels thereby reducing the symptoms of varicose veins.
What to do:
- Soak a cloth in liquid witch hazel, which is easy to find in the supermarket, and apply it to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day.
- Or, fill a tub with lukewarm water and 10 to 20 drops of distilled witch hazel. Soak your legs for at least 15 minutes once daily.
How it works: besides being an astringent, gallic acid is present in witch hazel as well as a number of essential oils, which reduce swelling and pain.
Butcher’s Broom
Butcher’s broom is an odd sounding member on our list of how to get rid of varicose veins, but it is still a home remedy that works.
What to do:
- Take 100 mg of butcher’s broom supplement 3 times daily.
- Make sure the supplement is made from the roots and seeds of the plant.
Note: Individuals with high blood pressure or benign prostate hyperplasia should consult a doctor before using this supplement.
How it works: butcher’s broom has a compound known as ruscogenin, which can reduce inflammation while it constricts the veins because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-elastase activity.
Garlic
A great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herb, garlic is a superstar when it comes to how to get rid of varicose veins.
What to do:
- Put 6 chopped garlic cloves in a clean glass jar.
- Add the juice extracted from 3 oranges and 2 tablespoons of olive oil..
- Let stand for 12 hours.
- To use, shake the jar, and then massage several drops of the solution to the inflamed veins for 15 minutes in a circular motion.
- Wrap with a cotton cloth and leave it overnight.
- Repeat daily.
- You can also add fresh garlic to your diet.
How it works: garlic helps break up toxins in the blood vessels and improves circulation in addition to its many other properties.
Pine Bark Extract
The use of pine bark extract as an oral supplement has been shown to strengthen the walls of the blood vessels and to restore elasticity by binding with protein collagen structures.
What to do:
- The standard dose of pine bark extract is 100-200 mg.
- Twice daily dosing with breakfast and dinner.
How it works: phenolic acids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins are found in pine bark extract and bestow several beneficial effects, such as visible reduction of varicose veins as well as inflammation.
Massage
How to get rid of varicose veins through gentle massage is one of the easiest home remedies you can use.
What to do:
- Massage the legs using gentle upward strokes.
- Make sure not to use pressure directly on bulging veins.
- Use olive or coconut oil with a few drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil for lubrication.
How it works: massage is an active way to enhance blood circulation, but it should be administered very gently for people with varicose veins.
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola (aka Indian pennywort), is a ground-hugging herb from the Orient, which has been used as a remedy for varicose veins for thousands of years in India and Southeast Asia.
What to do:
- Take 60-180 mg daily of gotu kola extract capsules by mouth.
- Or, pour boiling water over a dozen gotu kola leaves in a tea strainer and let them steep for ten minutes. Add a little honey and drink 2 times daily.
How it works: Gotu Kola decreases backward leakage from veins as well as reduces inflammation and water retention. The triterpenoids in the herb also strengthens the blood vessels.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another superstar on our how to get rid of varicose veins list is apple cider vinegar. Readily available in most households, this remedy gives your circulation a boost.
What to do:
- Massage undiluted apple cider vinegar on the skin over the varicose veins before going to bed and after you wake up in the morning.
- Additionally, you can mix 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink it twice daily.
How it works:
Apple cider vinegar performs natural body cleansing, which improves blood flow and circulation.
Increased Activity
Why is increased activity added to our list of how to get rid of varicose veins? Because sedentary lifestyles exacerbate varicose veins, standing or sitting for extended periods should be avoided.
What to do:
- Walking boosts blood circulation.
- Take regular breaks to stretch your legs and move around at the office.
- Prop your legs at a comfortable height on a stool or chair and move your ankles in a circular motion several times throughout the day.
How it works: the heart pumps blood into the arteries, but the muscles in the lower leg are what help return the blood to your heart.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
An excellent home remedy for varicose veins that works is helichrysum essential oil.
What to do:
- Apply 2 to 3 drops to each effected area and gently massage into your legs.
- You can also add it to coconut or olive oil as part of your massage routine.
How it works: helichrysum essential oil has anticoagulant and anesthetic properties, which help prevent the formation of clots in the stagnant blood in your veins.
Vitamin C
Boosting your levels of Vitamin C, believe it or not, is one of the best ways to get rid of varicose veins.
What to do:
- It’s best to add vitamin C into your diet through foods like oranges, bell peppers and leafy green vegetables.
- You can take a therapeutic dose of the supplement of 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day.
How it works: vitamin C helps to strengthen the walls of arteries, veins, and the microscopic blood vessels between arteries and capillaries.
Wrapping It Up
Varicose veins are not only unsightly, but they can lead to additional health problems if not attended to. Learn how to get rid of varicose veins with our list of home remedies that work or feel free to add to the list or discuss how well these work by commenting below.
Images taken from depositphotos.com.