Plant Medicine Is Beneficial In Preventing And Treating Varicose Veins

Veins that have lost their valve effectiveness, become elongated, rope-like, bulged, and thickened. These enlarged, swollen vessels are known as varicose veins or spider veins and are a direct result of increased pressure from reflux. A common cause of varicose veins in the legs is reflux in a thigh vein called the great saphenous, which leads to pooling in the visible varicose vein below.
Chronic venous disease of the legs is one of the most common conditions affecting people of all races. Twenty to twenty five percent of women and ten to fifteen percent of men will have varicose veins. Varicose veins may affect one out of two people age fifty and older, and fifteen to twenty five percent of all adults. Pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies, is one of the most common factors accelerating the worsening of varicose veins.
Symptoms caused by venous insufficiency and varicose veins may include aching leg pain, easy leg fatigue, and leg heaviness, all of which worsen as the day progresses. Many people find they need to sit down in the afternoon and elevate legs to relieve these symptoms. In more severe cases, venous insufficiency and reflux can cause skin discoloration and ulceration which may be very difficult to treat. People without visible varicose veins can still have symptoms.
An interventional radiologist will use duplex ultrasound to assess the venous anatomy, vein valve function, and venous blood flow changes, which can assist in diagnosing venous insufficiency. The doctor will map the great saphenous vein and examine the deep and superficial venous systems to determine if the veins are open and to pinpoint any reflux. This will help determine if the patient is a candidate for a minimally invasive treatment, known as vein ablation.
The minimally-invasive vein ablation treatment is an outpatient procedure performed using imaging guidance. After applying local anesthetic to vein, the interventional radiologist inserts a thin catheter, about the size of a strand of spaghetti, into the vein and guides it up the great saphenous vein in the thigh. Then laser or radiofrequency energy is applied to the inside of the vein.
Reflux within the great saphenous vein can lead to pooling in the visible varicose veins below. By closing the great saphenous vein, the twisted and varicosed branch veins, which are close to the skin, shrink and improve in appearance. Once the diseased vein is closed, other healthy veins take over to carry blood from the leg, re-establishing normal flow.
There are many benefits of vein ablation treatment. It usually takes less than an hour and provides immediate relief of symptoms. Patients experience immediate return to normal activity with little or no pain. There may be minor soreness or bruising, which can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. No scars or stitches occur because the procedure does not require a surgical incision.
Traditionally, surgical ligation or vein stripping is the surgical treatment for varicose veins, but these procedures can be quite painful and often have a long recovery time. In addition, there are high rates of recurrence with the surgical procedures. Studies find a thirty percent recurrence rate after ligation and stripping of the greater saphenous vein, and a rate of seventy percent after high ligation.
Patients who consider surgical treatment should also get a second opinion from an interventional radiologist to ensure they know all of their treatment options. You can ask for a referral from your doctor, call the radiology department of any hospital and ask for interventional radiology or visit the doctor finder link at the top of this page to locate a doctor near you.
Plant medicine is a new natural treatment for varicose veins. This homeopathic treatment enhances venous circulation, strengthens immune parameters and acts as a blood decongestant. In addition to its venous clearing properties, plant medicine has immunomodulator effects that can enhance the immunological, and cellular defense mechanism. Treatment helps to alleviate symptoms such as fog and fatigue commonly associated with lower immunity.
Plant medicine is a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. Extracts include medicinal plants of differing chemistry that are active to assist venous circulation and assisting the immune terrain of the individual. Internally, the other level of influence of this treatment is that it is metabolic; it assists with the breakdown of substances. Plant medicine is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.