Chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, occurs when the leg veins are blocked or the vein valves are damaged, causing blood to pool in the leg veins and preventing it from returning to the heart. Symptoms can include itching, varicose veins and a sense of heaviness in the legs. Untreated CVI can lead to leg ulcers, infection, swelling and pain. Conventional treatment generally includes elevating the legs and wearing compression stockings to maintain blood flow, and sometimes surgery is necessary. Herbs can help relieve the symptoms and protect capillaries, which carry blood to the heart. It is important to consult a health-care professional before starting herbal therapy.
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola, or Centella asiatica, is a trailing plant native to Asia. It is a staple in Indian Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines, and is used to treat anxiety, memory loss, hypertension, skin diseases, venous insufficiency and wounds. The active ingredients are triterpenoids, which are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and effective in healing wounds and preventing scars. A study published in the October 2001 issue of Angiology found gotu kola effective in healing vein walls and tissues. The positive effects are due to the triterpenoids, which stimulate the production of collagen, a protein found in the fibrous tissue of blood vessels. This study supports the traditional use of gotu kola in treating venous insufficiency. Further studies are needed to understand the exact mechanism of action.
Horse Chestnut
Horse chestnut, or Aesculus hippocastanum, is a tall deciduous tree with large seeds encased in spiny capsules. The tree is native to parts of Europe, and its seeds are used to treat venous inflammation, edema and hemorrhoids. It is also used as a topical for leg ulcers. In his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," herbalist David Hoffmann states that this herb enhances venal tone and elasticity and reduces venal permeability, preventing leaking veins. The active ingredient is the triterpine saponin called aescin. A review published in the January 2006 issue of Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found horse chestnut seed extract to be equally effective as conventional therapies, like compression therapy, and superior to placebos. It reduced leg swelling, pain, itching and fatigue. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of action and the effective safety dose in humans.
Grape Seed
The grape vine, or Vitis vinifera, is an herb that produces fruit used for millennia as food and medicine. Folk healers use all parts of the vine medicinally: the leaves for inflammation, pain and bleeding; the dried fruit for constipation; and the sap for skin and eye disorders. The seeds are more important medicinally because of their antioxidant properties. Grape seed oil contains tannins called proanthocyanidins, which are potent antioxidants that scavenge free radicals that contribute to inflammation. In their 2009 book, "Medicinal Plants of the World," Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink state that proanthocyanidins inhibit the enzymes involved in weakening capillaries. The University of Maryland Medical Center cites grape seed as a possible alternative medicine to reduce the symptoms of CVI. Studies are needed to test the effectiveness of grape seed oil on humans with CVI.
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