Varicose Veins: Veinity Will Get You Nowhere

Best Single Herb: Witch hazel (used externally)

Best Combinations: Butcher’s broom and horse chestnut; capsicum; white oak bark; bilberry; rose hips; grape pine or pine bark extract; milk thistle (for liver if high cholesterol)

Other Helpful Supplements: Vitamin E; vitamin C with citrus bioflavonoids; B-complex vitamins

Possible Causes: High cholesterol, crossed legs; inadequate circulatory system; constipation

Complementary Help: Bowel cleansing; witch hazel compress or fomentation; exercise

Varicose veins are bluish, bulging veins that usually appear as twisted ropes just under the surface of the skin. Symptoms include aches or heaviness in the limbs and swelling of the legs and ankles. These veins seem more prominent if you have been standing for long periods of time. Although rare, you may have a deep varicose vein that is painful, but it may not show up at the surface of your skin. Varicose veins can become serious if left untreated.

Many times you will see varicose veins surrounded by broken blood capillaries, known as spider-burst veins. These small broken blood vessels can resemble intricate road maps on a fair-skinned person. Many times these broken blood vessels show up around the ankles, in the lower legs, and elsewhere in the feet, although they can occur anywhere in the body.

Possible causes of varicose veins are listed in the table at the end of this chapter, but to expand a little here, I should mention that varicose veins and broken blood vessels can indicate the inadequate nourishment of your entire circulatory system. Consider taking herbs to strengthen your blood capillaries to prevent further damage.

Varicose veins are usually caused by pressure on the veins. Have your cholesterol checked; if fat is clogging up your veins, this can put pressure on these weakened vessels and cause problems (see the post “High Cholesterol: Cutting Through the Fat“).

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Remember the liver must be cleansed if you have high cholesterol since the liver is responsible for emulsifying fats. Milk thistle helps cleanse and support a sluggish liver and will help it do its job better.

Sitting with your legs crossed will create pressure and can increase your problem as well. Constipation adds internal pressure to the body and organs and can cause varicose veins and hemorrhoids, so bowel cleansing is always in order if you suffer from these problems.

Witch Hazel Has Broken Blood Vessels?

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an herb that was listed as an official drug in the United States, and it is still used by many as a safe remedy for many applications. This herb has been used as an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic (controls bleeding), syptic sedative, and tonic. The bark, twigs, and leaves of the witch hazel plant are used for these purposes. I suggest using this herb topically, but some have used the herb to make a tea; they drink two cups per day to help strengthen blood vessels. Topically, use as a decoction and apply with cheese cloth, with the legs raised.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Try this cool trick: Label an ice cube tray and fill a few of the squares with distilled witch hazel. After the liquid is frozen, put the frozen cubes in a freezer bag — and again label it clearly! You don’t want to add it to your drinks! When someone has a bump, cold sore, or other painful swelling, the witch hazel ice cube can be applied.

Distilled witch hazel is commonly found alongside hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol at your local pharmacy; this herb should be used only externally.

Witch hazel contains flavonoids, natural substances found in plants that are powerful antioxidants that can strengthen blood vessels. Grape seed and pine bark extract also contain these powerful nutrients. You can soak a cotton ball in the distilled witch hazel from your pharmacy and apply it directly to small affected areas; otherwise, pour some into a shallow dish, soak a piece of cheesecloth in the solution, and then apply the rag to the affected area. If you use it room temperature or cooler, this will heighten the effect. This is especially helpful for the pain associated with varicose veins.

Herb Lore: information related to holistic health

It is said that witch hazel got its name from the early days when dowsing, or “witching,” for water was popular. Frequently, branches from the witch hazel plant were used for this divining practice, thus it received its witchy name!

If your varicose veins are in your feet, use a cool footbath with witch hazel added to ease your soreness and inflammation. Witch hazel has such strong astringent-like qualities that it is used as an active ingredient in over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications such as Preparation H and Tucks. This is probably the reason why Preparation H cream has been used by some famous Hollywood beauties as their secret anti-wrinkle cream remedy!

Witch hazel can be applied to all areas of inflammation on the skin, or areas that you wish to tighten temporarily. This includes varicose veins, hemorrhoids, pimples, cold sores, wrinkles, and bruises.

Mote Witch Doctor Potions

Witch hazel applied to a protruding varicose vein might help the swelling subside, but you will always need to consider what caused your problem in the first place. If you have clogged veins or arteries due to high cholesterol, consider adding butcher’s broom to your diet. (See the post “Hemorrhoids: A Swell Solution” for more on butcher’s broom.) Another great herb to try is horse chestnut. Horse chestnut and butcher’s broom together make an excellent combination to fight varicose veins internally. White oak bark or bilberry capsules can be taken internally to help reduce swelling (both are strong astringent herbs), and rose hips, rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids, will nourish and help strengthen your circulatory system.

Exercise is an important factor in preventing varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and broken blood vessels. Also see your chiropractor for adjustments to ensure that your blood flow is not being restricted, and try the slant board exercises discussed in the previous chapter to help take the pressure off the lower body.

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