Varicose Veins (see also Leg Ulcer)

Symptoms

Varicose veins are weakened, enlarged blood vessels. They tend to lie just below the skin’s surface on the lower part of the leg, and become obvious as winding blue lines elevating the skin. Varicose veins result from damaged venous valves. Normally, these valves prevent blood from pooling, but if blood cannot circulate freely, the excess pressure allows the water to escape into the tissues, causing *edema. This also causes heaviness, tiredness and aching. *Leg cramps are more likely to occur from the poor circulation. As the process continues, the veins become painful and inflamed. The resulting lack of circulation affects the surrounding tissues, causing the skin to become itchy and thin, and laying the foundation for a *leg ulcer. Brown skin discoloration can also occur. Surgical removal of varicose veins only adds to the already overburdened venous system.

In the early stages, varicose veins are preventable and treatable, but as the process continues, the condition becomes more difficult to heal. Varicose veins can also lead to blood clots or *thrombosis. Deep leg-vein thrombosis, which can develop from varicose veins may become a serious condition if the blood clot detaches and travels to other body parts. Swollen and achy legs could signal trouble in the internal venous system. Women are more often affected by varicose veins, which affect about half of all people in middle age.

Varicose veins also cause *hemorrhoids in the extensive venous system of the anal area. Varicocele, a collection of varicose veins in a testicle, causes swelling, which improves upon lying down. Sometimes it causes pain. This tends to affect young men between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Venous pain disappears when walking; arterial pain disappears when standing.

Causes

Veins become varicose when they are overburdened with blood; this can occur for a number of reasons. While the veins feed blood back to the heart, they are easily susceptible to excess strain. Exercise, especially leg exercises like walking and biking, helps the venous system return blood to the heart, whereas standing for long periods increases pressure on the veins. Sitting all day is not much better for the venous system, and crossing the legs while sitting further interferes with circulation. In hot weather, the veins are distended and circulation is more sluggish. Walking as much as possible and putting the legs up at the end of the day will help. Pressure on the venous system from straining while constipated increases the risk of varicose veins, as well as hemorrhoids and varicocele. *Pregnancy also puts pressure on the veins in the legs and can cause hemorrhoids. Age and *obesity increase the risk of varicose veins, which result from a loss of tissue elasticity.

Nutrition

While nutrition can do little to correct a genetic weakness of the vein tissue, diet can help to prevent the formation of varicose veins by improving blood circulation in the legs and ensuring regular bowel movements. A blocked colon affects the veins around the anus and the legs because it hinders the return of the blood from the legs. Eat foods which will prevent *constipation, particularly those rich in fiber. Raw vegetables with the stems left on, fruit with the peel and core, cabbage, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, nuts and seeds, dried plums, figs, dates, whole grain breads and cereals are good sources of fiber. Flax seeds are a natural laxative, and can be added to cereal or taken as flax seed oil and used as a dressing for salads or baked potatoes. Flax seeds absorb water and soften stools.

To keep the blood thin, avoid saturated fats from red meat and trans-fatty acids found in hydrogenated oils like margarine and shortening and in most commercially processed foods. Juice fasting helps rid the body of toxins that clog blood vessels. The bitters in grapefruit juice have a stimulating effect and help alleviate varicose veins. Eat wheat germ to obtain vitamin E, which dilates the blood vessels. Make sure to get enough vitamins B and C from whole grains, green vegetables and citrus fruits, since these are needed to build strong blood vessels.

Nutritional Supplements

Source: Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Siegfried Gursche and Zoltan Rona