Plant Medicine Prevents Painful Complications Of Varicose Veins

The causes of varicose veins are related to non-functioning vein valves. Vein valves are designed to allow blood to flow from the legs toward the heart against gravity, while preventing reverse flow back down the legs. Reverse flow is called venous reflux. Vein valves may fail to close due to either, vein wall weakness that causes the vein to enlarge and the valves to leak; a history of blood clots in the vein that damage the valves; or an absence of vein valves since birth.
Varicose veins can be hereditary, often occurring in several members of the same family. Varicose veins can also develop after trauma or injury. Regardless of cause, defective valves cause venous blood to stagnate in the legs, leading to high blood pressure in the leg veins. This may result in further enlargement of the varicose veins, increasing the likelihood of advanced symptoms such as skin changes and ulcers at the ankles.
Reflux in the largest superficial veins, such as the saphenous veins, is often an underlying cause of painful varicose veins. Venous reflux is a condition that can be progressive. If left untreated, it can worsen and cause more advanced symptoms. In addition, blockage of the veins in the pelvis may severely aggravate the symptoms of varicose veins, requiring separate treatment.
Without treatment, varicose veins may cause hardened skin and subcutaneous tissue, pain or aching, leg swelling, skin color changes, and eczema. In advanced cases, breakdown of the skin may cause bleeding from varicose veins, and large varicosities may develop blood clots, a condition called superficial phlebitis or thrombophlebitis. Patients with varicose veins may also eventually develop chronic skin ulceration around the ankle.
Diagnosis of varicose veins is made primarily by physical examination. The accuracy of physical examination is further improved with the aid of a hand-held Doppler instrument, which allows the examiner to listen to the blood flow. The most accurate and detailed test is a duplex ultrasound exam, which provides an ultrasound image of the vein to detect any blockage caused by blood clots, and to determine whether the vein valves are working properly or have evidence of reflux.
Measurement of venous function of leg may be obtained with other tests such as plethysmography. These diagnostic tests are non-invasive and painless. Varicose veins are often sign of an underlying venous insufficiency disorder, whether symptomatic or not. Traditional treatments include making life-style modifications, wearing compression stockings and taking some medications.
Patients with varicose veins are encouraged to lose weight, exercise and elevate legs. Compression stockings are effective in reducing swelling and pain. Low-dose diuretics reduce swelling in the short term, topical steroid creams reduce inflammation, and antibiotics can treat cellulitis. Horse chestnut seed extract is an herbal remedy taken to reduce short-term swelling, but this preparation has not been approved by the FDA.
If the traditional treatments are not successful, endovascular procedures or surgery is recommended. Catheter-directed techniques have revolutionized the treatment of varicose veins, with reduced complications and time away from work. Vein stripping was the traditional treatment for bad values in the veins however it is rarely used today due to the advancement of less invasive procedures.
Plant medicine is an all natural treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. It can enhance venous circulation, strengthen immune parameters and safely act as a blood decongestant, thereby systemically unraveling twisted veins causing varicose veins. Blood stasis is often associated with varicose veins and plant medicine can trigger lymphatic cells to release inflammatory mediators and growth factors to enhance circulatory processes.
Treatment has the demonstrated ability to increase venous tone and to decrease vein and capillary permeability while also protecting the endothelial cells against ischemia. The botanical extracts in plant medicine have been shown to improve microcirculation, capillary flow, and vascular tone, and to strengthen the connective tissue of the perivascular amorphous substrate. Plant medicine has shown to be beneficial to prevent time-consuming, painful, and expensive complications of varicose veins. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.