Here are the plants that fight against venous insufficiency

You have legs that swell at the end of the day or on the plane after several hours of flight, small visible vessels (or sclerosed by the doctor), varicose veins, painful hemorrhoids or Rosacea on the face when the temperature or mood changes...

Medicinal plants are essential in the treatment of these problems. Did you know that almost all medications for venous insufficiency are herbal?

To reduce or eliminate small unsightly vessels in the thighs or legs, the doctor sclerizes them by injecting a product that irritates the wall of the vessels which will empty of the blood they contain and become almost invisible. However, hematomas can appear and sometimes persist!

What is venous insufficiency?

Let's get to know a chronic disease that progresses slowly. We talk about venous insufficiency when the venous return of blood – which must be done to the heart – becomes ineffective, especially when you are in a standing position.

The problem begins with harmless functional signs. Initially you may have heavy legs, tingling, numbness in the extremities. Then the symptoms may become clearer: edema (swelling in the legs) may set in gradually and become chronic, accompanied by night cramps. The sensation of heavy legs is often bilateral (on both legs), but when walking and raising the legs the symptoms decrease. In fact, the decrease in the tone of the walls of the veins and capillaries (very small vessels) leads to edema. Remember that it is always important to ensure the diagnosis by a doctor!

What is the structure of a vein?

Veins, like arteries, have a wall made up of 3 coats: endothelium, media and adventitia. The veins are less thick and the pressures in the venous system are much lower compared to those of the arteries.

What are the causes of venous insufficiency?

The most common causes are:

Practical advice

Prevention is better than cure

Before treating, follow a number of simple but essential lifestyle rules!

What are the main plants that will fight against venous insufficiency?

The medicinal plants used to fight against venous insufficiency have a vasoconstrictor effect (tighten the vessels), decrease permeability and increase the resistance of the vessels (veins and venous and lymphatic capillaries), which prevents the formation of oedemas. They also often have an interesting anti-inflammatory action in case of hemorrhoids for example.

We will distinguish:

Venotonic plants

The spiny butcher's broom or little holly, Ruscus aculeatus is an evergreen shrub that looks like holly. In reality, we are dealing with a botanical curiosity since the "leaves" are actually flattened twigs! It is a venous vasoconstrictor (tightens the vessels), venous tonic, anti-edematous (fights against swelling), anti-inflammatory, diuretic. In addition, it increases the resistance of the venous and lymphatic capillaries. It is indicated in the subjective manifestations of venous insufficiency and the management of hemorrhoids. The plant is all the more effective as the legs swell when it is hot. Little used in infusion, it is mainly recommended capsules of powder (350 mg) or dry extract at the rate of 1 capsule 3 times a day, 20 days a month, for 3 months. The plant is also found in liquid form: SIPF (integral suspension of fresh plants) or EPS (standardized phyto extract): 2 measures diluted per day (in a herbal tea). Some rare side effects may appear such as gastrointestinal disorders, heartburn or diarrhea.

Witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, whose leaf is used, is native to Canada and the eastern United States. Astringent and anti-inflammatory, the plant is a vasoconstrictor venous tonic with vitamin P properties, that is to say, it increases the resistance and decreases the permeability of the vessels. Witch hazel is recommended in case of heavy legs, tingling but also in hemorrhoidal disorders, small inflammations of the skin, skin dryness. To relieve acute hemorrhoidal disorders (in the event of a flare-up), it is advisable to take up to 6 capsules a day for a week.

In case of irritation, rosacea, eye discomfort, eczema or oily skin, it is advisable to apply distilled water of witch hazel pure or incorporated into a cream (for rosacea or oily skin).

Plants with vitamin P action, which reduce permeability

They contain a set of substances which reinforce venous resistance and reduce capillary permeability. This is a large chemical family which opposes the formation of free radicals which attack the lipids of the membranes of the cells of the vascular endothelium (inside the vein). The protection of these membranes is essential because these cells need to be in good condition to maintain their permeability:

The cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, whose fruiting cones are used, is widely used for ornamental purposes in southern Europe. The fruits are globular cones rich in polyphenols and are of great interest in the treatment of vascular disorders such as hemorrhoids and varicose veins. While the flavonoids present will be very useful in the treatment of hemorrhoidal attacks, the plant remains very effective in case of heavy legs. By selective action on the wall of the vessels, the plant ensures better vascular dynamics preventing blood from stagnating in the legs.

The horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, whose bark and fruits are used, is a large tree native to the Balkans. In the bark, we find especially esculoside with vitamin P action allowing to reinforce the resistance of the vessels while reducing their permeability.

As for the fruits, they are rich in escin with remarkable anti-inflammatory action, hence its interest in the management of the hemorrhoidal crisis. There are many specialties to be taken always for 4 weeks and at a sufficient dosage (possibly to be prescribed by your angiologist). However, at this dosage, the plant can cause gastrointestinal disturbances; it should be used with caution in the event of treatment with anticoagulants.

There are also many specialties to be used in massage on heavy legs and to treat capillary fragility.

These tannins have an anti-diarrheal action and have a beneficial effect on the pain and intestinal spasms associated with colitis; this berry is also antibacterial at the intestinal level, which completes its anti diarrheal action.

Pigments, on the other hand, improve night vision by promoting the regeneration of retinal purple.

Note

Fresh fruits improve the tone of the vessels and especially the capillaries; they are therefore indicated in veno-lymphatic insufficiency.

The leaves are harvested in the fall, after the harvest. The plant is indicated to treat the manifestations of venous insufficiency and in particular capillary fragility, such as petechiae (small red spots on the face which appear in the event of vomiting for example) or bruises, risk prevention venous thrombosis (formation of a clot) but also hemorrhoidal pathology.

It is recommended as a background treatment, i.e. 2 capsules per day 20 days per month for 3 months.

Plants that thin the blood

The dosage is 1 drop per kg per day diluted in an herbal tea 10 days before flying

The plant, very common in fields and waste places, has a tonic action on the venous wall and increases venous and lymphatic flow. It improves capillary resistance and decreases permeability. In addition, it reduces blood viscosity (light anticoagulant action: thins the blood, so beware of possible interactions with anticoagulants).

The dosage could be 2 capsules in the morning 20 days a month for 2 months or 150 drops of mother tincture diluted in herbal tea) possibly associated with lymphatic drainage.

Ginkgo biloba, a plant apart!

Ginkgo is the only survivor of the order Ginkgoales, widely represented in Secondary (200 million years). For this reason, it is often said that it is a real “living fossil”.

Studies have shown a significant effect on memory and learning abilities by increasing circulation to the brain.

But the plant has also been shown to be very effective in relieving circulation problems; its active ingredients help to dilate the arteries, veins and capillaries. They increase the microcirculation and the viscoelasticity of the blood, preventing the formation of clots. This plant has a real efficiency, only it requires long-term treatments; depending on the patient, his ground and his history, the posology and the dosage will be different.

CAUTION: risk of interaction with anticoagulants.

What can aromatherapy do?

Many essential oils (EO) can be used in massage in creams or gels; they will have a decongestant action, venous toning, local anesthetic… In particular for heavy legs.

20% in a massage oil, Calophylle or Tamanu recommended in this indication).

But the most used essential oils are: everlasting flower HE, Atlas cedar HE, pistachio mastic tree HE and cypress HE.

For internal use, professional advice should be sought; externally, you can dilute it to 1% maximum on the face and 10% maximum on the body. Indeed, the mixture will give good results on rosacea (after a tolerance test and respecting the doses).

WARNING: This essential oil contains an estrogen-like active ingredient, which is why it is contraindicated for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, people with hormone-dependent cancer.

Note

Essential oils are highly concentrated and highly reactive; they can cause allergies or irritation. A tolerance test is therefore essential before any application (in the crook of the elbow). The advice offered is reserved for adults, which makes sense when it comes to venous diseases!

In conclusion

Venous insufficiency seems to be a benign disease that can progress to more serious and certainly unsightly symptoms!

Prevention, from the first symptoms, associated with a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve the result. Phytotherapy is certainly the treatment of choice knowing that our venotonic plants most often low dose require treatments by cures of 2 to 3 months, massages with gels or oils based on essential oils being a pleasant and effective complement. .

DID YOU KNOW?

In France:

WARNING: the veins and especially the deep veins of the lower limbs can be the site of phlebitis or venous thrombosis (formation of a blood clot in a vein). This clot can stick to the wall of the vein without symptoms. On the other hand, if it blocks a vein, it will cause edema and severe pain. And if the clot breaks off, it can block a higher vessel with a serious risk of pulmonary embolism.

Tips

Venotonic plants are for the most part not very toxic but act slowly because they have a progressively increasing effectiveness over several weeks (3 months to be renewed if necessary). They are to be taken 20 days per month or 5 days out of 7. In the event of heavy legs linked to heat, start taking them from the middle of spring.

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