Please note: Venaforce is not suitable for pregnant women, but Venagel is safe to use. Conventional treatment

Try not to sit with your legs crossed as this can restrict blood flow and make swelling worse. It’s best to sit with your feet flat on the floor or crossed at the ankles. A yarrow-based massage blend or cypress oils are believed to be very effective at easing the symptoms of varicose veins. Yarrow works to support your blood vessels and stimulate your circulation, whilst cypress is thought to be good for constricting your blood vessels and promoting your liver function. If you are prone to swelling when it is warm, try to stay a cool as possible. Easier said than done sometimes, but one way to do this is to ensure you don’t sit in direct sunlight. Find shaded areas to sit in or seek out air conditioned rooms where possible. Firstly, try elevating your feet above your heart whenever you get the chance. This allows gravity to pull blood towards the heart from the legs, giving the veins in your legs a rest. It should also allow any build-up of fluid to drain away from the feet and ankles. If you can manage to elevate your legs above your heart, for example if you work at a desk, try at least elevating them slightly, by propping them on a foot rest. This slight elevation will still aid circulation Vitamin K cream applied to varicose veins can help strengthen capillaries. Vitamin K is named after the German word for blood clotting (koagulation). Blood clotting has negative connotations but blood clots are necessary to stop bleeding when our skin gets punctured. Leafy greens such as spinach, broccoli and brussels sprouts and parsley are healthy foods, all rich in vitamin K. Fresh is bestVenagel contains the extract of fresh Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) seeds. Horse chestnut extracts are commonly associated with the treatment of varicose veins, such as with our Venaforce® Horse chestnut tablets. Water, alcohol, Horse chestnut seed (Aesculus hippocastanum) extract, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyglyceryl-4 caprate, glycerin (plant origin). Once a duplex ultrasound scan has been performed to identify exactly how many veins and what pattern of venous reflux needs treatment, we will be very happy to quote a price for the Sapheon Venaseal™ or “superglue” treatment based on each patient’s individual needs. A symptom of varicose veins you may experience is itchiness around the swollen vein. This occurs because blood leaks from the swollen vein, irritating surrounding tissues. If your varicose veins itch, you are more likely to develop complications. Many of these can, and should be treated, so it is worth making an appointment with your doctor. Varicose veins in other parts of the body If your swelling is being caused by heat there are many natural ways you can help cool down your lower limbs, improve poor circulation and help return fluid to your blood vessels, including: 1. Elevate your feet

Helps by promoting good blood circulation. It helps reduce inflammation and is important for assisting in the production of collagen, the most abundant protein in the body. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in that it strengthens the walls of our veins, promotes healing and protects membranes against damaging free-radicals. Adding some berries, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, oranges and lemons into your diet can help reduce unsightly varicose veins. 2. Vitamin E Whatever you do, don’t limit the amount of water you drink thinking this will lessen the amount of water you retain. Not drinking enough water can make the salt concentration in your blood to go up, which makes your body retain any water you do drink and cause swelling! Excess salt is a big contributor to swelling, so by drinking more water you can help to dilute the amount of salt in your system and flush it out. Try to keep cooler at night. Switch to lighter duvet, use cotton sheets and pyjamas instead of synthetic ones, and try opening a window or using a fan. For some more tips, read our 7 tips to keep cool at night Reduce your salt intake. As we discussed earlier, swelling can occur when your salt to water ratio is thrown out of balance – and this can be caused be consuming too much salt as well as too little water. Try Herbamare, a delicious seasoning that is low in sodium, but still makes food taste great! It is recommended to raise your legs/feet higher than your heart, 3-4 times a day for 30 minutes each – depending on the severity of the swelling. When you go to bed you can also put a pillow under your ankles to help drain the excess fluid. 2. Avoid heat as much as possible

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In addition, not every patient is suitable for the Venaseal™ or “superglue” treatment. As such all patients will have to undergo our usual consultation and a venous duplex ultrasonography to find out exactly what is going on inside the legs and find out which veins are involved before a decision as to whether Venaseal™ or “superglue” treatment is possible in their legs.

Elevate your feet. If you elevate your feet above your heart, this allows blood and fluid to flow with gravity away from the feet. Do so before going to bed to reduce uncomfortable swelling, or sleep with your feet propped up on a pillow to prevent swelling occurring during the night

There are many measures you can take to help prevent varicose veins from developing or worsening. Most of these involve improving your circulation with regular exercise and eating healthily. You could even try taking our natural stress remedy AvenaCalm. When taken consistently, AvenaCalm should support your mood and work to ease the stress triggers in your nervous system, gradually calming you and making you feel more in control of your day-to-day activities. 8. Use essential oils

Aside from diet and nutrition, what else can you do to help prevent or relieve unsightly varicose veins? There are certain measures you can take to help the problem, with 5 key tips highlighted below. 5 ways you can help your varicose veins: Essential oils such as peppermint oil and grapefruit oil mixed with a carrier oil such as almond oil are great to use when massaging swollen feet and ankles. 10. The power of magnesium To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of tips that can equally benefit people with Restless Leg Syndrome, and people who simply experience restless, uncomfortable legs when travelling – and I’m sure that’s probably most of us! A magnesium supplement is one option or, alternatively, you can also look to your food to increase your magnesium intake. Try eating more magnesium-rich foods including dark leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, nuts and seeds, fish, avocado, bananas and dark chocolate. When to consult your doctor... Haemorrhoids (or piles) are varicose veins in the anus and rectum – the lowest part of the digestive tract where faeces leave. Although not often serious, they can be very painful. You may notice streaks of blood as you try to pass stool

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Your liver is very important when it comes to the production of hormones and the health of your vascular system. When your liver function is inhibited, it can result in blood becoming clogged up and hormones like oestrogen can linger in your system. This is significant as hormonal changes (including during menstruation and the menopause) can make varicose veins worse. Some people are more prone to the condition than others. Those who spend much of their day sitting, and in particular standing, are more likely to develop the condition. In addition, varicose veins can run in families, especially in the female line. Horse chestnut has been used for years in the treatment of varicose veins, being able to encourage healthy blood circulation and support the blood vessels.