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There are so many products out there promising instant results when it comes to your health. Herbal healing patches are the latest trend when it comes to treating your varicose veins. These patches claim to have “natural and rich herbal essences” that help soothe and relieve the inflammation and pain associated with swollen varicose veins.
Unfortunately, herbal healing patches, along with creams and topical ointments, do not treat varicose veins.
In fact, they do not even address surface level causes. While they may seem to affect the skin cosmetically, they do not treat the root issue of varicose veins which is the faulty valve that allows for blood to flow back in the wrong direction.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are those enlarged and twisted veins, often bluish-purple in color. They occur when the small, one-way valves in the veins weaken and blood begins to collect in the veins, causing them to enlarge.
Varicose veins can cause fatigue, restlessness, and burning, throwing, or tingling feelings in the legs.
These varicose veins are most common in the legs since leg veins have to work against gravity more than other veins. This condition affects up to 1-in-4 women as well as 15% of men.
What about natural treatments for varicose veins?
There are multiple purported “natural” treatments for varicose veins. So far, however, the scientific support for these natural remedies are for the most part, nonexistent.
Such natural treatments for varicose veins include:
- Horse chestnut seeds or extract
- Grape seed and pine bark extract
- Butcher’s broom
- Reflexology
- Cypress essential oil
- Bilberry plant
- Witch hazel
Essential oils of yarrow, grapevine, and sea pine are also often touted as natural remedies for varicose veins.
These alleged natural treatments are far from effective, however.
In truth, many people seek out anything to avoid undergoing a surgical procedure to address their varicose veins. Thankfully, the days of painful vein stripping and ligation are over.
Today there are multiple varicose vein treatments that require only local anesthesia, allow you to return to your normal life the next day, and are actually effective at getting rid of your varicose veins!
Effective Varicose Vein Procedures at Virginia Vein Care
The only natural means of reducing discomfort associated with varicose veins include things like reducing your sodium intake, increasing your amount of exercise, and quitting smoking. To get rid of your varicose veins entirely, you need to have them examined and treated by an experienced vascular professional.
There are numerous treatments available that effectively treat the “broken” valves in varicose veins. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA), as well as Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy are some of the most popular and effective forms of treatment.
RFA and EVLA are similar minimally-invasive procedures using a thin fiber that is inserted directly into the abnormal vein. The procedure is typically done within 45 minutes, using local anesthesia, and the patient is typically back to normal activities following the process that day!
Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy is another easy form of treatment that is typically used in conjunction with ablation procedures. This is an injection of medicine into the vein that causes it to shrink.
To learn more about varicose vein and spider vein treatments that are available for spider and varicose veins, take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page. You can also reach out to our vein clinic to help you decide on your best treatment option. Our experienced team can address any of your questions or concerns to help you make the right decision. We are committed to the best outcomes for all our patients.
Online Vein Screenings are available at Virginia Vein Care to those who would like to speak with a board certified surgeon on the type of treatment that would be best for you! Contact us to book yours today.