Varicose veins on a woman's legs are treated using surgical methods. It is possible to use minimally invasive procedures to occlude the dilated veins. Most often, sclerotherapy is used for this purpose. But most women don't want to see a doctor, let alone go under the knife. They prefer to treat varicose veins at home.
How to treat at home
It is impossible to cure varicose veins at home. Although conservative treatment is used, it does not reverse the pathological process and does not improve the condition of the woman in the long term. Treatment goals at home:
- Reducing symptoms of varicose veins;
- Reducing the likelihood of complications;
- slow the progression of pathology;
- Quality of life improvement.
At home, a woman can use drugs from a pharmacy, folk remedies and compression garments. It is possible to use procedures that reduce the severity of symptoms, as well as compliance with occupational and rest hygiene, which can improve the quality of life somewhat.
Recommended Practices for Home Use:
- cold and warm shower;
- lying with raised legs;
- Baths with salt or soda, herbal broth;
- Massage;
- Sports exercise.
It is possible to wear compression clothing - stockings or golf. They narrow the lumen of the veins and completely or partially compensate for the malfunction of the venous valves.
How to treat with medication?
There are many drugs available to treat varicose veins. Different drugs have different functions. It is advisable to arrange admission with a doctor, as the dose, duration of the course and combination of drugs will be selected based on your health and the stage of the varicose veins.
Women can use the following groups of drugs at home:
- Phlebotonics.The preparations are predominantly of plant origin, which after oral administration or application to the skin increase the tone of the vein walls and thus narrow the lumen of the vessels. They have a temporary effect that lasts for several hours. Tablets are more effective than ointments.
- Antioxidants (vitamins E, C, alpha lipoic acid)are used to improve tissue trophism. These drugs are needed to slow down the destructive processes that occur in the tissues due to a violation of their blood supply.
- Antiplatelet drugs.Medicines that reduce the chance of blood clots. Acetylsalicylic acid is commonly used in low doses for this purpose. The drugs in this group also have anesthetic and decongestant effects.
- Anticoagulants.They are applied to the skin in the form of a gel. These are medicines that contain heparin. It reduces the chance of blood clots forming.
How to treat with pills
Basically, the pills for varicose veins in women are venotonics. All of these pills are poisonous to the stomach, hence:
- the course of treatment should be limited;
- Tablets should not be taken for stomach ulcers or gastritis;
- the dose should be monitored by a doctor;
- Tablets should only be taken after meals.
We remind you that varicose veins cannot be cured with tablets. They only serve to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
How to treat with folk remedies
Treating most diseases with folk remedies is a pointless idea. However, this does not apply to varicose veins on the legs of women. The fact is that almost all drugs used in this disease, sold in pharmacies, are of herbal origin. Therefore, you can use herbs or foods that contain the same active ingredients as in medicines.
It should be noted that treating varicose veins with folk remedies has a number of disadvantages compared to using drugs from a pharmacy:
- There is no way to control the dose. Therefore, the risk of side effects is higher and the chance of relieving symptoms of varicose veins is lower.
- Time consuming process. You will have to make decoctions or infusions yourself, which will take a lot of time and effort.
- Bad taste. Obviously, swallowing a pill is more comfortable than drinking a serving of a smelly broth or alcohol tincture. External use of folk remedies is not always effective, and besides, it is not always pleasant due to the specific smell that spreads throughout the house.
More or less effective folk methods:
- The use of infusions and decoctions of grapes or chestnuts - allows you to increase the tone of the vascular wall. More effective when taken orally. Local application is unlikely to have a significant impact on the course of varicose veins.
- Local application of warming agents (camphor oil, horseradish, pepper). Reduces swelling, pain, relaxes muscles.
- A brew made from willow bark inside. It contains acetylsalicylic acid, which has an analgesic effect and reduces blood clotting, reducing the risk of blood clots.
Ineffective folk remedies for varicose veins (not worth trying):
- Decoctions of most plants: burdock, wormwood, comfrey, acacia;
- Compresses from food: beets, potatoes, honey;
- Rituals, spells, prayers, conspiracies can and will help someone, but their effectiveness has not been clinically proven.
The alternative therapy, like the drug treatment, has an exclusively symptomatic effect. That is, the means you use do not cure anything, but only reduce the clinical manifestations of varicose veins and improve the quality of life.
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The main methods of treating varicose veins are sclerotherapy and surgery. It is impossible to restore the vessels to their previous appearance. Home treatment is possible, but the aim is not to completely cure the disease, but to improve a woman's quality of life, reduce symptoms, slow down the development of varicose veins and avoid complications. Home treatment is done with treatments, compression garments, pills, or folk remedies.