Spider veins, tiny varicose just beneath the skin's surface, are usually harmless. Yet individuals who have them, as many as half of the middle aged population, feel their spider veins are unattractive, even unsightly. The tiny, red, purple or blue veins appear on the thighs as well as the lower legs. They are formed when the veins dilate and their valves, which normally prevent the blood from flowing backward, do not work properly. Blood pools in the veins, forcing them to bulge. This occurs as the result of any burden on the legs, from excess weight to standing or sitting for long periods to the habit of sitting with crossed legs.
Since higher estrogen levels tend to congest blood in the pelvis, thus burdening the veins, women are far more susceptible then men to all types of varicose veins. With spider veins, there is no pain, but they can make legs feel tired and heavy. A combined regimen of herbs that benefit circulation, a high fiber diet, vitamin C and bioflavonoid supplements, exercise and leg elevation can reduce and prevent pesky spider veins.
Try the Following To Diminish Spider Veins
Try to avoid prolonged sitting or standing. If your work involves either, take frequent breaks, stretch and move your legs. Take vitamin C with flavonoids and use herbs that support circulation and strengthen veins. A number of herbs have been found to be especially useful in repairing and preventing vein damage and improving blood flow. The following herbs can both lower the risk of spider veins developing and help to eradicate them.
You can take these herbs as tinctures or pills. Follow directions and dosages given on the labels.
- horse chestnut
- gotu kola
- butcher's broom
- bilbery
- hawthorn
- yarrow
- St. John's wort
Instructions for a Horse Chestnut Rub and Homemade Herbal Tea Blend
Use a horse chestnut seed rub to reduce swelling of veins, improve tone and elasticity of vein walls and aid in damaged vein repair. Make a rub of half a teaspoon horse chestnut powder dissolved in two cups of water, or purchase a ready made salve. Moisten a clean cloth in the solution, and gently rub the cloth over areas with spider veins.
For a homemade tea, mix one ounce each of hibiscus flowers, St. John's wort, raspberry and blackberry leaves, hawthorn leaves and flowers and calendula flowers. Pour one cup of boiling water over one tablespoon of the blend. Steep for 10 minutes and drink as often as you like. Hawthorn, blackberry, raspberry, and calendula contain vein improving flavonoids. Hibiscus and St. John's wort contain red pigments that repair damage to vein walls.
Reference
William A. McGarey, The Edgar Cayce Remedies Bantam, June 1, 1983
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