Essential Oils for Varicose Veins
Essential oils for varicose veins are often cited as a simple home remedy. But does it actually work? Is there any research or study that suggests that essential oils can cure varicose veins?
That’s what we’ll investigate in this article.
Varicose veins are large bulging blood vessels that appear in the form of dark purple, bluish, or red knots of veins on your skin. They are caused by venous insufficiency, a medical condition in which blood can’t flow properly to the heart. As such, some of the blood flows back down and pools in the valves present in the legs. This causes the veins to start extending and bulging, thus turning into varicose veins.
Varicose veins can cause discomfort, swelling, and pain. However, if left untreated, they can also have grave consequences such as bleeding, infections, and skin ulcers. In the worst cases, blood clots can form in varicose veins and lead to a medical condition called Deep Vein Thrombosis. When these blood clots break, they can be carried straight to the lungs, which, in turn, leads Pulmonary Embolism, a medical condition that can result in death.
As such, it is incredibly important to rely on proven medical procedures as treatments for varicose veins. Your life may depend on it.
If you search online, you’ll find a number of ill-advised recommendations. Some sources will claim that you can cure varicose veins with witch hazel, some will recommend apple cider vinegar, or horse chestnut, or any number of other alternative medicines.
However, in this article, we want to help you filter out the legitimate treatment solutions from snake-oil recommendations.
Are essential oils for varicose veins actually effective? Let’s find out!
Essential Oils for Varicose Veins: Do they actually Work?
There is currently no scientific research or study that suggests essential oils for varicose veins are an effective treatment. There is simply no correlation between the two.
So the answer is simple.
Can essential oils treat varicose veins? NO. They cannot.
Do essential oils have any benefits in relation to varicose veins?
Well, kind of. Essential oils carry specific benefits that aren’t directly related to varicose veins but might help reduce some of the pain and discomfort.
For example, Lavender Oil has analgesic and sedative properties. So it might slightly reduce some of the pain and put you at ease. Similarly, ginger, chamomile, peppermint oils are anti-inflammatory in nature. As such, they might help reduce inflammation.
But that is all they can do. Essential oils can only reduce pain temporarily.
Furthermore, you have to be careful when using essential oils because they can also worsen your situation.
Potential Risks of Using Essential Oils for Varicose Veins
Diluted essential oils are generally safe to use. However, undiluted essential oils applied directly to the skin can lead to allergic reactions.
Furthermore, for those suffering from varicose veins, the skin around the affected area is generally pretty sensitive so the essential oil can also have terrible consequences.
Some of the possible risks of using essential oils for varicose veins are rashes, irritation, skin inflammation, hives, and shortness of breath.
As such, if you’re considering using essential oils for varicose veins to reduce the pain, you should first consult a varicose vein specialist in NY or varicose vein specialist in NJ.
Other Home Treatments for Varicose Veins to Reduce Pain
The following are some of the other possible treatments for varicose veins that can also reduce pain. However, you should note that all of these treatments can only provide temporary relief from the pain. They cannot cure varicose veins.
Exercise
Engaging in low-intensity exercises like running, cycling, or swimming can improve blood circulation in your legs. As such, it can provide some temporary relief from the pain of varicose veins.
Compression Stockings
Compression Stockings apply pressure on the blood vessels and encourage blood circulation. However, if you wear them incorrectly or get the wrong size, they can also cause irritation or bleeding and worsen the situation.
As such, if you’re considering wearing compression stockings to improve blood circulation, visit your nearest varicose vein specialist and get a pair that’s the perfect fit. At Vein Treatment Clinic, we provide custom-fitted compression stockings for varicose veins that are just right — neither too loose nor too tight.
Massage
You can gently massage your legs with coconut oil or any other doctor-approved essential oil. Doing so can stimulate blood flow and improve blood circulation. However, you should avoid applying pressure on the affected areas as it will be sensitive and might worsen the pain.
Permanent Varicose Vein Treatments
All of the aforementioned treatments for varicose veins — essential oils, compression stockings, massage, exercise — can only offer temporary relief. They can either reduce the pain or improve blood circulation for a while.
None of them can be used to permanently cure varicose veins.
If you want to cure varicose veins completely, you need to consult a Phlebologist (the official name for a vein doctor). Varicose veins are usually treated with minimally-invasive procedures such as Laser Ablation, VenaSeal, Radiofrequency Ablation, and Sclerotherapy. All of these treatments can be concluded within an hour, they carry negligible risk, and you can carry on with your regular day immediately after as there’s no downtime.
However, only a board-certified varicose vein specialist can determine which procedure is suitable for your needs. For that, you need to visit a reputable varicose vein treatment clinic.
At Vein Treatment Clinic, we work together with VIP Medical Group to give you access to some of the most qualified Ivy-League phlebologists who specialize in treating varicose veins with minimally-invasive non-surgical procedures.
Now that you know how to cure varicose veins permanently, contact your local vein specialist and book an appointment today.