Varicose veins on a woman's legs are treated with surgical methods. It is possible to use minimally invasive procedures in order to close the dilated veins. Most of the time, 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 woman's condition in the long term. Home treatment goals:
- reduction in varicose vein symptoms;
- reducing the likelihood of complications;
- slow the progression of the pathology;
- improving the quality of life.
At home, a woman can wear drugstore remedies, folk remedies, compression garments. It is possible to use procedures that reduce the severity of symptoms, as well as the observance of hygiene at work and at rest, which makes it possible to slightly improve the quality of life.
Recommended procedures for use at home:
- cold and hot shower;
- lying with legs raised;
- baths with salt or soda, herbal decoctions;
- massage;
- physical exercises.
It is possible to wear compression garments - socks or golf. They narrow the lumen of the veins, totally or partially compensating for the malfunction of the venous valves.
How to treat with medications?
There are many medications to treat varicose veins. Different drugs have different functions. It is advisable to arrange your receipt with a doctor, as the dose, duration of the course, combination of medications is selected depending on your state of health and the stage of varicose veins.
Women can use the following groups of medications at home:
- Phlebotonics.The preparations are mainly of vegetable origin, which, after oral administration or application to the skin, increase the tone of the venous walls, narrowing the vessel lumen. They have a temporary effect that lasts for several hours. Pills 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 take place in tissues due to the violation of their blood supply.
- Antiplatelet agents.Medicines that reduce the likelihood of blood clots. Typically, for this purpose, acetylsalicylic acid is used in low doses. Drugs in this group also have an anesthetic and decongestant effects.
- Anticoagulants.They are applied to the skin in the form of a gel. These are medicines that contain heparin. Reduces the likelihood of blood clots forming.
How to treat with pills?
Basically, the pills used for varicose veins in women are venotonic. All of these pills are toxic to the stomach, so:
- the course of treatment must be limited;
- tablets should not be taken for peptic ulcer or gastritis;
- the dose should be monitored by a physician;
- tablets should only be taken after meals.
Remember that varicose veins cannot be cured with pills. They are used exclusively to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
How to treat with folk remedies?
Treating most illnesses with folk remedies is a futile idea. But this does not apply to varicose veins in women's legs. The fact is that almost all drugs used in this disease, which are sold in pharmacies, are of plant origin. Therefore, you can use herbs or foods that contain the same active ingredients as medicines.
It should be borne in mind that the treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies has a number of disadvantages compared to the use of drugs from the pharmacy:
- There is no way to control the dose. Therefore, the risk of side effects will be greater and the likelihood of a reduction in varicose vein symptoms will be less.
- Time-consuming process. You will have to make decoctions or infusions on your own, which will take a lot of time and effort.
- Bad taste. Obviously, swallowing a pill is more pleasant than drinking a smattering of smelly broth or a tincture of alcohol. Applying folk remedies externally isn't always effective and, moreover, it's not always pleasant due to the specific smell that spreads through the house.
More or less effective popular methods:
- The use of infusions and decoctions of grapes or chestnuts - allows to increase the tone of the vascular wall. Most effective when taken orally. Local use is unlikely to have a significant impact on the course of varicose veins.
- Local use of heating agents (camphor oil, horseradish, pepper). Reduces swelling, pain, relaxes muscles.
- A willow bark decoction 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 of food products: beets, potatoes, honey;
- rituals, spells, prayers, conspiracies can and do help someone, but their effectiveness is not clinically proven.
Like drug treatment, alternative therapy has an exclusively symptomatic effect. In other words, the means you use don't cure anything, they just reduce the clinical manifestations of varicose veins, improving the quality of life.
Exit
The main methods of treating varicose veins are sclerotherapy and surgery. It is impossible to return the vessels to their former appearance. Treatment at home is possible, but it is not aimed at completely curing the disease, but rather at improving the woman's quality of life, reducing symptoms, delaying the development of varicose veins and preventing complications. Home treatment is done with treatments, compresses, pills or folk remedies.