There are many reasons some folks get varicose veins, some we can prevent, others are unavoidable and cannot be helped. Here is a short list of reasons:
Genetics/Hereditary : If the women in your family have varicose veins, chances are high that you can get them also.
Hormone changes: often occurring during pregnancy and menopause, hormone changes during these times can create varicose veins.
Long periods of time standing: This puts extra stress on the legs, and therefore pressure on the veins that carry the blood.
Obesity: Yes, carrying around extra weight puts more pressure on all parts of the body, including the veins.
Lack of sufficient exercise: Exercise will increase body strength, as well as vein strength.
But whatever the reason, most people who have varicose veins usually desire some way to get rid of them. So, they often look for home or herbal remedies rather than the typical ways U.S. citizens treat varicose veins: surgery or prescription medication.
And a very popular product on the market are the horse chestnut based creams for topical use. Thousands of women (and men) every day try these topical horse chestnut based creams, with the desire to get rid of their varicose veins. The only flaw in this logic is, no independent studies have ever demonstrated these creams have any effect.
There are several studies that show horse chestnut has a positive effect on treating varicose veins, making it one of the good herbs for women. In fact, it can be better than support hosiery for some women. The only thing is, this is when horse chestnut is taken internally …not applied to the skin.
The reason it fails to work topically is simple, varicose veins are cause by weakening vein membranes (vein valves) that keep blood from falling back down in the legs and appendages as the heart pumps it back to the core of the body. Varicose veins occur when these valves are weak, and veins get stretched by the blood they can’t properly push back up toward the heart. … not a skin problem. Therefore, creams probably aren’t as effective as an herbal treatment that is taken internally, and then is able to flow via the blood stream to directly repair the vein membranes.
If you are going to take an herbal approach to overcoming varicose veins, don’t use a horse chestnut cream, use a horse chestnut herb extract. There is evidence that horse chestnut pills work, and it just makes more sense to treat an internal problem with an internal treatment.
