In medical practice, it is difficult to find a disease where traditional medicine is powerless. Most known pathologies are treated with traditional medicine prescriptions and, even if this method of therapy is not able to fully deal with the disease, it can increase the effect of taking medication, suspend or delay the development of the pathology, improve the patient's condition. , etc.
As for varicose veins in the legs, in folk medicine there are many different recipes to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, as well as to contain it and maintain the state of the veins. This article will focus on one of the most effective folk remedies for treating varicose veins - apple cider vinegar.
Characteristics of varicose veins in the legs
Many people, hearing the word varicose veins, imagine legs where the veins that protrude through the skin are clearly visible. This view is not wrong, but it hardly reveals the full picture of the disease.
The main problem with varicose veins is not the aesthetic changes, but the violation of the activity of the vessels that transport blood to the heart. With varicose veins, the veins deform, expand, elongate, their walls become thinner, and the functioning of the venous valves is interrupted.
As a result, with the development of the pathological process, the veins and venous networks become visible to the naked eye, and the progression of the disease leads to the vessels starting to greatly enlarge, swell and damage. The main problem with varicose veins is the violation of blood circulation, its stagnation in the vascular bed and the violation of systemic circulation.
The action of apple cider vinegar
First, it should be noted that the maximum effectiveness of apple cider vinegar in treating varicose veins is mainly achieved in the early stages of disease development.
Natural apple cider vinegar is produced through a long chemical reaction. First, there is a biochemical fermentation, during which the sugar in apples is converted to alcohol. A fermentation cycle follows, during which the alcohol is "distilled" into vinegar. Ultimately, the resulting product contains in its chemical composition all the beneficial trace elements of the fruit from which it is produced.
To understand what benefits vinegar can bring to the body and, in particular, to the vessels in the legs, consider the useful elements it contains:
- Calcium - helps to strengthen bone tissue and tones muscle fibers, with varicose veins prevents frequent seizures, which are often accompanied by the disease.
- Iron - has a positive effect on the blood, increasing hemoglobin synthesis and eliminating signs of anemia.
- Amino acid - participates in the construction of protein compounds, helps burn fat, has a beneficial effect on the regulation of bodily functions in general.
- Magnesium and Potassium - essential elements in combating diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- Various vitamins and minerals to improve the body's metabolism.
These are the main elements contained in apple cider vinegar, which are directly involved in fighting varicose veins, in fact, there are many more trace elements.
If we talk specifically about the properties of vinegar that this product has on veins affected by varicose veins, they are as follows:
- Reduction of swelling or its complete elimination.
- Prevention of seizures, as well as their elimination directly during an attack.
- Elimination of pain or its relief, which depends on the severity of the pain syndrome.
- Decrease in blood clotting, which is very important in varicose veins, especially with a view to preventing thrombus formation.
- It strengthens the vascular walls, which prevents their deformation and integrity violations.
- One of the signs of varicose veins is skin discoloration, its cyanosis. Vinegar, on the other hand, brightens the skin, making it possible to combat this unpleasant cosmetic effect.
Observation! Doctors insist on using only natural apple cider vinegar for medicinal purposes, obtained by the method described above in the process of fermenting fruit with further fermentation.
The use of acetic acid, which contains only apple flavoring, will not only give you results, but it can also harm your health. Natural vinegar is also sold in stores, so read the label carefully before purchasing.
application methods
The main conditions in the treatment of folk remedies, including apple cider vinegar, is a systematic approach and duration of therapy. It is necessary to use this remedy for at least a month, all this time vinegar will give certain results, will alleviate unpleasant symptoms, but only if the full course of treatment is maintained can one hope to consolidate the result.
It is also important to understand that apple cider vinegar in fighting varicose veins is used both as an external agent and internally. Furthermore, according to patient evaluations and physician assurance, the combination of the two methods gives better results.
External use
Most traditional medicine recipes relate specifically to the external use of apple cider vinegar, but consider the most effective and proven treatment methods:
- The easiest and at the same time effective way is the usual foot treatment with vinegar. To do this, take a cleansing bath, dry your feet, and apply apple cider vinegar with gentle strokes, paying special attention to problem areas. After scrubbing, it is advisable to lie down for at least 30 minutes, it is even better to perform the procedure before bedtime;
- Compresses are even more effective. Pour a small amount of vinegar into a bowl, dip the strips of gauze folded into two layers in the liquid, squeeze some and place on problem areas. Then wrap your legs with a bandage or other cloth, place them above body level and wake up in this state for 30-40 minutes, then remove the pad;
- The wrapping method is also very effective. Just like last time, dampen the pieces of gauze in vinegar, but this time do not wring the gauze. Place it on your feet at the site of the varicose veins and wrap the limb with a film, firmly fixing the gauze. On top of the gauze, it is necessary to wrap a handkerchief or warm blanket, decompress after 40 minutes;
- You can only take vinegar baths with your feet submerged. To do this, take about half a bath in not very hot water and dilute a liter of apple cider vinegar. Then place your feet in the bathtub for about 25-30 minutes. This method is the mildest due to the low concentration of vinegar, it is suitable for people with sensitive skin or an acute individual reaction to the treatment in question;
- The last method, but not in terms of effectiveness, involves making an ointment. To do this, mix the protein of 1 chicken egg with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of turpentine. You need to rub the ointment daily at night, directly into the problem areas, up your leg.
We remind you that it is advisable to carry out all the procedures described so that after they are done you can rest for 30 minutes to an hour, the ideal time is considered at night, before going to bed. It is also important to consolidate with a doctor before using vinegar to adjust the treatment period and frequency of daily procedures, as much depends on a number of individual factors, the main one being the degree of progression of varicose veins in the legs.
Intern use
The oral use of apple cider vinegar is not that diverse, there are two proven methods:
- You need to take a glass of purified or boiled water (250 milliliters) and mix in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The total volume of the resulting liquid is drunk on an empty stomach 10-15 minutes before breakfast.
- The second recipe involves mixing two ingredients in a glass of water, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of liquid honey (if the honey is sugary, melt it in a bain-marie). The solution is used in two steps, half a glass is drunk on an empty stomach in the morning, the second half in the evening, before dinner.
It is very important, before using apple cider vinegar internally, to make a diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and to consult a gastroenterologist not only about the authorization of the treatment, but also to know the allowed duration of the therapy. This need is explained by the fact that vinegar can cause gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
Contraindications for use
The treatment of varicose veins with apple cider vinegar cannot always be carried out; in some cases, the harm from this therapy may outweigh the benefit. If we talk about the external use of the product, the prohibition comes into force in two cases:
- Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process that coats the venous walls and causes blood clots.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis, a disease that disrupts blood flow in peripheral vessels and is accompanied by a host of other dangerous symptoms.
As for the contraindications related to the internal use of apple cider vinegar, they are as follows:
- Forms of gastritis with high acidity.
- Pre-ulcer condition as well as gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer.
- Late stages of development of atherosclerosis and thrombophlebitis.
- Pathologies accompanied by acute or chronic inflammatory processes in the kidneys and liver.