Varicose veins occur when the one-way valves in the vein fail and allow blood to flow backward and begin to pool. The vein begins to dilate under the pressure of the extra blood and a bulging varicose vein occurs. Varicose veins often occur in the legs and may be treated using herbs. Always consult with a doctor or other health care provider knowledgeable in herbal treatments and alternative remedies prior to starting therapy.
Horse Chestnut Extract
Step 1
Obtain horse chestnut extract from your local health food, herbal store or online. According to Linda B. White, M.D., with "The Herb Companion," the active component of horse chestnut extract is aescin. It helps decrease inflammation while toning veins.
Step 2
Check your bottle to determine the percentage of aescin in the extract. Horse chestnut extract generally has 16 or 20 percent aescin. The dosage you take will depend on the percentage of aescin in your extract.
Step 3
Take 250 mg of horse chestnut extract containing 20 percent aescin two times per day. If your extract has 16 percent aescin, you will need to take 313 mg twice a day.
Step 4
Decrease the dosage to half the initial amount after your symptoms begin to improve in one to two weeks. Be sure to check with a doctor before taking horse chestnut extract, especially if you have other medical conditions. Certain medications, such as blood thinners, should not be taken with horse chestnut extract.
Gotu Kola
Step 1
Purchase gotu kola standardized extract. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that gotu kola has been shown to improve varicose veins by improving the overall tone of the veins. The herb can be purchased in health food and herbal stores. In medical studies, the standardized extract is the form most often studied, therefore it is the best to use for dosage consistency.
Step 2
Take 60 mg of gotu kola three times per day for a total of 180 mg per day. You may need to take a different amount as your doctor recommends.
Step 3
Take the herb daily for up to six weeks. If your symptoms do not improve, consult with your doctor again for further recommendations. Gotu kola may not be safe if taken consistently for periods longer than six weeks at a time.
Things You'll Need
- Horse chestnut extract
- Gotu kola
