Creams, Vitamins & Minerals and Herbal Remedies for Vein disease – Do they actually work?

Published: 11 September 2016

I regularly get asked about the effectiveness of natural therapies in the management of vein disease. Although I am not a naturopath or an expert in these natural therapies, I do know that there is no high level evidence that any of these measures are particularly helpful. There are many natural remedies available and each practitioner may well have a different idea on what to take, in what amount and in what combination. Of course some patients do report an improvement in their symptoms. However, the problematic veins, especially the larger ones are likely to require medical intervention at some point.

Natural remedies that are often associated with the management of vein disease include the following:

Bilberry,
Gotu Kola
Horse Chestnut
Butcher’s Broom
Gingko
Bacopa
Grape Seed
Silica and Calcium Fluoride

Topical remedies include:

Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Witch hazel
Lemon essential oil
Mustard oil

Diet tips for varicose veins:

Increase foods which contain high concentrations of Oligomeric Procyanidins (OPC’s) such as apple, pear, and grapes, and in chocolate and tea.

OPCs in nutritional supplements are generally extracted from grape seeds or pine bark.

Reduce salt and sugar
Anti-oxidant rich foods – e.g. blueberries, green tea, grapes, berries, pineapples,
Foods that stimulate circulation – e.g. chilli, garlic, ginger and onions.

I would advise that if you are considering using any of the herbal supplements above (or any other) that you please don’t forget to consult with your doctor to ensure that they don’t interfere with any medications that you are currently taking or cause any unexpected health problem in your particular circumstance.

In addition it may be useful to talk to a naturopath to obtain advice on what would work best in your particular situation.

However, overall there is little that one can do to limit the development of venous disease.

Until more evidence is gathered, the non-surgical means of vein treatment including injection sclerotherapy and endovenous laser ablation remain the most successful and proven methods of removing varicose veins and spider veins.

If you have venous disease but are unsure whether these are of any clinical significance or if you have spider vein disease that worry you, please give us a call and organise an appointment.

We can discuss your particular venous issue, discuss options and create an individualised treatment plan if required. The venous disease that you have may well require reassurance only with no treatment required.

To make an appointment today to have your venous disease assessed by Dr Berman, please phone 9561 5155