In medical practice, it is difficult to find a disease in which traditional medicine will be helpless. Most known pathologies are treated using traditional medical prescriptions, and even if this therapy is not able to completely cope with the disease, it can increase the effectiveness of medication, stop the progression of the pathology or improve the patient's condition. condition, etc.
As for varicose veins in the legs, in folk medicine there are many different recipes aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, as well as to contain it and maintain the condition of the veins. This article will focus on one of the most effective folk remedies for the treatment of varicose veins - apple cider vinegar.
Features of varicose veins in the legs
Many people who hear the word varicose veins imagine the legs where the veins coming out of the skin are clearly visible. This view is not wrong, but it is unlikely to give a complete picture of the disease.
The main problem of varicose veins is not aesthetic changes, but the disruption of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart. With varicose veins, the veins are deformed, dilated, elongated, the walls become thinner, and the function of the venous valves is impaired.
As a result, with the development of the pathological process, the vessels and venous networks begin to be visible to the naked eye, and the progression of the disease causes the vessels to become very large, swollen and damaged. The main problems of varicose veins are circulatory disorders, their stagnation in the vascular bed and systemic circulatory disorders.
The action of apple cider vinegar
First of all, it should be noted that the maximum effectiveness of apple cider vinegar in the treatment of varicose veins is achieved mainly in the early stages of the disease.
Natural apple cider vinegar is produced as a result of a long chemical reaction. First, biochemical fermentation takes place, during which the sugar in the apple is converted into alcohol. This is followed by a fermentation period in which the alcohol is "distilled" into vinegar. Finally, the product contains all the beneficial trace elements of the fruit from which it is chemically produced.
To understand what benefits vinegar can bring to the body, and especially to the arteries in the legs, consider what beneficial elements it contains:
- Calcium - helps strengthen bone tissue and tones muscle fibers, prevents frequent seizures, which are often accompanied by disease with varicose veins.
- Iron - has a positive effect on the blood, increases the synthesis of hemoglobin and eliminates the symptoms of anemia.
- Amino acid - is involved in the formation of protein compounds, helps burn fat, has a beneficial effect on the regulation of body functions in general.
- Magnesium and potassium - these elements are important in the fight against diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- Various vitamins and minerals to improve the body's metabolism.
These are the main elements in apple cider vinegar that are directly involved in the fight against varicose veins, in fact, there are more trace elements.
If we talk specifically about the properties of vinegar in the veins affected by varicose veins of this product, they are as follows:
- Reduction of swelling or their complete elimination.
- Prevention of seizures, as well as their direct elimination during the attack.
- Eliminate or eliminate pain that depends on the severity of the pain syndrome.
- Reducing blood clotting, which is very important for varicose veins, especially in terms of preventing the formation of thrombi.
- Strengthening the walls of blood vessels prevents their deformation and violation of their integrity.
- One of the symptoms of varicose veins is a change in the color of the skin, its cyanosis. Vinegar brightens the skin, which helps to combat the unpleasant cosmetic effect.
Note! Doctors often insist on using only natural apple cider vinegar for medicinal purposes, obtained by the method described above in the process of fermentation of fruits by fermentation.
Using only apple cider vinegar can not only give results, but also harm your health. Natural vinegar is also sold in stores, so read the label carefully before buying.
Methods of application
The main conditions in the treatment of folk remedies, including apple cider vinegar, is a systematic approach and duration of therapy. It is necessary to use this remedy for at least a month, during which time the vinegar will give certain results, eliminate the unpleasant symptoms, but only if a full course of treatment is maintained, you can hope to strengthen the result.
It is also important to understand that apple cider vinegar is used both as an external agent and internally in the fight against varicose veins. Moreover, according to the opinions of patients and doctors, the combination of both methods gives better results.
External use
Most traditional medical prescriptions refer to the external use of apple cider vinegar, but consider the most effective and proven treatments:
- The easiest and at the same time effective way is the usual vinegar treatment of the feet. To do this, take a bath to clean your skin, dry your feet and rub with apple cider vinegar with gentle movements, paying special attention to problem areas. It is recommended to lie down for at least 30 minutes after rubbing, it is better to perform the procedure before going to bed;
- Compresses are more effective. Pour a small amount of vinegar into a bowl, soak two layers of gauze strips in the liquid, squeeze a little and apply to problem areas. Then wrap your feet in a bandage or other cloth, place them above body level and wake up in this position for 30-40 minutes, then remove the compress;
- The wrapping method is also very effective. As last time, moisten the pieces of gauze with vinegar, but now you should not squeeze the gauze. Put on your feet in places of varicose veins and wrap the joint with a film, tie it tightly with gauze. Wrap a warm scarf or blanket over the dock, rest after 40 minutes;
- You can take vinegar baths only if your feet are immersed in water. To do this, take about half a bath, not too hot, and dilute a liter of apple cider vinegar in it. Then put your feet in the bath for about 25-30 minutes. This method is the mildest due to the low concentration of vinegar, is suitable for sensitive skin or people who have an individual acute reaction to the treatment under discussion;
- The latter, but not in terms of effectiveness, method is to prepare an ointment. To do this, mix 1 chicken egg white with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of turpentine. The ointment should be applied to the problem areas every evening, lifting the leg up.
Keep in mind that it is advisable to perform all the described procedures so that you can rest for 30 minutes to an hour after the exercise, the ideal time is the evening before bedtime. It is also important to consult a doctor before using vinegar to adjust the duration of treatment and the frequency of daily procedures, as much depends on a number of individual factors, the most important of which is the degree of development of varicose veins. of the feet.
Internal use
Oral use of apple cider vinegar is not so different, there are two proven methods:
- Take a glass of purified or boiled water (250 milliliters) and mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into it. The full volume of the resulting liquid is drunk on an empty stomach 10-15 minutes before breakfast.
- The second recipe is to mix two ingredients in a glass of water, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of liquid honey (if honey is sugary, melt it in a water bath). The solution is used in two stages, half a glass in the morning on an empty stomach, the second half drunk before dinner.
Before the internal use of apple cider vinegar, it is very important to be diagnosed with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and consult a gastroenterologist to learn not only about the approval of treatment, but also the permissible duration of treatment. This need is explained by the fact that vinegar can cause ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.
Contraindications
Treatment of varicose veins with apple cider vinegar can not always be carried out, and in some cases the harm of such therapy may outweigh the benefits. If we talk about the external use of the product, the ban comes into force in two cases:
- Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process that covers the venous walls and causes blood to clot.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis are a disease that disrupts blood circulation in peripheral blood vessels and is accompanied by a number of other dangerous symptoms.
As for the contraindications to the internal use of apple cider vinegar, they are as follows:
- Forms of gastritis with high acidity.
- Pre-ulcer condition, as well as gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer.
- Late stages of development of atherosclerosis and thrombophlebitis.
- Pathologies accompanied by acute or chronic inflammatory processes in the kidneys and liver.