NEW IDEA
July 2003

Varicose Veins Naturopath Linda Parker says 'People who stand a lot on hard surfaces as part of their work are more likely to get varicose veins because gravity and pressure leads to blood pooling in the veins of their legs. Below are some natural remedies and natural treatments for varicose veins.'

Other causes include crossing your legs, which stops blood flowing back up to the heart and stretches the vein walls.

Toxins in cigarettes also drain our bodies of the minerals our veins need to repair and prolonged constipation puts pressure on the veins too.

People develop varicose veins from the base of the buttocks to the ankles and women are four times more likely to get them.

Exercise to keep blood flowing and drink eight glasses of water a day to prevent blood stickiness. Eat plenty of high water content vegetables such as celery. Garlic, capsicum, onion and ginger boost blood flow too.

Fish oil reduces clotting, so eat four or five serves a week or take two fish oil capsules a day. Vitamin E capsules and an enzyme called bromelain, found in pineapples, also improves the blood. Bromelain can be taken in tablet form.

To strengthen the vein wall, eat some cherries or blueberries or take glucosamine supplements three times a day. If your veins are painful, place a witch-hazel compress on the area and massage it in for 15 minutes each night, using sweeping upward strokes. In bed, place a cushion under your feet to elevate your legs and help blood to flow.

Surgeons can strip the veins, but they’ll come back if you don’t make lifestyle changes, so exercise, drink plenty of water, eat a fibre-rich diet and try not to sit with your legs crossed.