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Vein disease can affect the lives of many people, especially women. As we age, our veins become weaker and this is further exacerbated by being overweight, lack of exercise, and pregnancy. There are some ways to help reduce the likelihood of the onset of vein disease, such as low impact exercise, raising your legs above heart level, and even herbal supplements.

Not all ailments are responsive to herbal supplements. Asthma, for example, is one that is unresponsive to any sort of herbal supplement. However, other supplements have shown promise in alleviating the effects of vein disease. One such supplement is horse chestnut. During a 212-person crossover style, placebo-controlled study conducted over 40 days, participants saw a reduction in leg pain and swelling versus those on the placebo. The crossover style study put half of the group on the supplement and the other half on a placebo, but halfway through the study, switched the placebo and supplement groups without telling the participants. By using this method, the study concluded that there was a marked improvement in the group using horse chestnut.

Bioflavonoids like oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) are another natural supplement to help reduce inflammation in the legs. They can also help stop capillary leakage, which is what causes varicose veins. OPCs can be found in grape seed, cranberry, blueberry, and other plants. They are an antioxidant that helps improve collagen in the body. Double-blind trials have provided information that OPCs are better than horse chestnut.

Gotu Kola is a herb with a lot of evidence for aiding in alleviating varicose veins and vein disease. Studies have shown it reduces swelling, improves circulation, and heals vein walls and tissue. Studies were conducted by giving half of a test group a dose of 60mg and the other half a dose of 30mg Gotu Kola and 30mg placebo, without telling either group what dosage they were getting. The group receiving the increased dosage showed a definite improvement over the control group.

Grape leaves, also known as red vine leaf, can help in the battle against chronic venous insufficiency. A 12-week study on 219 participants showed a strong improvement for 77 of the participants who were given doses of 360mg or 720mg of the red vine leaf extract. These participants had reduced swelling, pain, and other symptoms. Those taking the higher dose reported more sustained relief from their symptoms.

There are other supplements available that can help with venous insufficiency, but it should be noted that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products listed in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The intent of this article is to provide supplemental information to the care of your physician. If you believe you have a medical emergency, contact your healthcare provider. If you suspect you have the symptoms of vein disease, contact the vein specialists at Premier Vein and schedule a free consultation.