Poor circulation can affect all areas of your body, but may be especially noticeable in your legs, where the condition may cause pain or visible symptoms like varicose veins. Several lifestyle changes, exercise and herbal remedies can help improve poor circulation to your extremities. Because poor circulation can be a potentially dangerous health condition, consult your doctor before attempting to self-treat a circulation disorder.
Garlic
Garlic, or Allium sativum, may be best known as a culinary seasoning, but it may also be taken as an oral herbal supplement. It may improve circulation to and from your legs by clearing blocked arteries in your extremities, according to the National Institutes of Health. It may also have an improving effect on general cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol levels and thinning the blood, thus increasing circulation to all areas of your body.
Horse Chestnut Seed
Poor circulation in your legs may lead to varicose veins, which are unsightly and can lead to other types of discomfort or health maladies. The extract of horse chestnut seed may help improve blood flow through your leg's veins to reduce the appearance of chronic varicose veins, reports the Georgia Department of Community Health. It may also help alleviate the discomfort caused by such poor circulation and vein swelling.
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba, one of the oldest used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, may be "especially effective" in improving poor circulation in the legs known as intermittent claudication, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. The center says this may be due to its terpenoids, active chemicals that help dilate blood vessels and thin the blood for overall better circulation from the heart to the limbs.
Bilberry
The leaves and fruit extracts of the bilberry--also known as Vaccinium myrtillus and commonly known as the huckleberry--are widely prescribed to treat venous insufficiency, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This malady occurs when your veins don't return the blood in your legs back to the heart muscle. It may also improve overall circulation conditions.
Scotch Broom
Scotch broom, or Cytisus scoparius, is a European native plant best known for its ornamental yellow flowers, but it also possesses potentially potent health effects. The National Institutes of Health says the herb may help reduce swelling in the legs due to poor circulation, as well as help with various other circulation problems related to heart rate and blood pressure.
Stop Smoking
Smoking contributes to the hardening of your arteries and is a significant contributor to poor circulation in your limbs, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. If you smoke, quit smoking to experience the various respiratory and cardiovascular benefits of kicking the habit.
Stay Active
Spending just 30 minutes exercising every day can help keep the blood flowing throughout your legs, reports the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Aim for exercises that make use of your legs, including walking, running or leg lifts.
