In medical practice, it is difficult to find a disease in which traditional medicine is powerless. Most of the known pathologies are treated with the help of traditional medicine recipes, and even if this method of therapy is not able to fully cope with the disease, it can enhance the effect of taking drugs, suspendor slow down the development of the pathology, improve the patient's condition, etc.
When it comes to varicose veins in the legs, in folk medicine there are many different recipes for eliminating the symptoms of the disease, as well as for containing it and maintaining the condition of the veins. This article will focus on one of the most effective folk remedies for treating varicose veins - apple cider vinegar.
Features of varicose veins on the legs
Many people, hearing the word varicose veins, imagine legs on which the veins protruding through the skin are clearly visible. This view is not wrong, but hardly reveals the full picture of the disease.
The main problem with varicose veins is not cosmetic changes, but the violation of the activity of the vessels that carry blood to the heart. With varicose veins, the veins become deformed, they dilate, lengthen, their walls thin, and the functioning of venous valves is disturbed.
As a result, with the development of the pathological process, the veins and venous networks become visible to the naked eye, and the progression of the disease leads to the fact that the vessels begin to significantly increase, swell and damage. The main problem with varicose veins is a violation of blood circulation, its stagnation in the vascular bed and a violation of systemic circulation.
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 development of the disease.
Natural apple cider vinegar is produced by a long chemical reaction. First of all, a biochemical fermentation takes place, during which the sugar in apples is transformed into alcohol. This is followed by a fermentation cycle, during which the alcohol is "distilled" into vinegar. In the end, the product obtained contains in its chemical composition all the beneficial trace elements of the fruit from which it is derived.
To understand what benefits vinegar can bring to the body and in particular to the vessels of the legs, think about the useful elements it contains:
- Calcium - helps strengthen bone tissue and tones muscle fibers, varicose veins prevent frequent attacks, which are often accompanied by disease.
- Iron - has a positive effect on the blood, increasing the synthesis of hemoglobin and eliminating signs of anemia.
- Amino acid - participates in the construction of protein compounds, helps burn fat, has a beneficial effect on the regulation of bodily functions in general.
- Magnesium and potassium - these elements are essential in the fight against diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- Various vitamins and minerals to improve the body's metabolism.
These are the main elements contained in apple cider vinegar, which directly intervene in the fight against varicose veins, in fact, there are many more trace elements.
If we are talking specifically about the properties of vinegar that this product has on the veins affected by varicose veins, they are as follows:
- Reduction of puffiness or their complete elimination.
- Prevention of seizures, as well as their elimination directly during an attack.
- Pain elimination or relief, which depends on the severity of the pain syndrome.
- Decreased blood clotting, which is very important for varicose veins, especially for the prevention of thrombus formation.
- Strengthening of vascular walls, which prevents their deformation and violations of integrity.
- One of the signs of varicose veins is discoloration of the skin, its cyanosis. Vinegar, on the other hand, brightens the skin, allowing you to combat this unpleasant cosmetic effect.
To note! Doctors insist on using only natural apple cider vinegar for medicinal purposes, obtained by the method described above in the process of fermentation of fruits with additional fermentation.
Using acetic acid, which contains only apple flavoring, will not only give results, but can be harmful to your health as well. Natural vinegar is also sold in stores, so read the label carefully before purchasing.
Methods of application
The main conditions in the treatment of folk remedies, including apple cider vinegar, are a systematic approach and duration of treatment. It is necessary to use this remedy for at least a month, during this time vinegar will give some results, relieve unpleasant symptoms, but only if the full course of treatment is maintained, one can hope to consolidate the result.
It is also important to understand that apple cider vinegar in the fight against varicose veins is used both as an external agent and is taken internally. In addition, according to the opinions of patients and the assurance of doctors, mixing the two methods gives better results.
External use
Most of the recipes of traditional medicine relate specifically to the external use of apple cider vinegar, but consider the most effective and proven methods of treatment:
- The easiest and at the same time effective means is the usual vinegar foot treatment. To do this, take a bath to cleanse your skin, wipe your feet and rub them with apple cider vinegar with gentle movements, paying special attention to the problem areas. After rubbing, it is advisable to lie down for at least 30 minutes, it is even better to perform the procedure before bedtime;
- Compresses are even more effective. Pour a small amount of vinegar into a bowl, dip the half-folded gauze strips into the liquid, squeeze them lightly and place them on the problem areas. Then wrap your legs with a bandage or other cloth, put them above the level of the body and wake up in this state for 30-40 minutes, then remove the compress;
- The packaging method is also very efficient. Like last time, moisten the pieces of gauze in vinegar, but now you shouldn't wring out the gauze. Put it on your feet at the place of varicose veins and wrap the limb with a film, fixing the gauze firmly. On top of the gauze you need to wrap a warm scarf or blanket, relax after 40 minutes;
- You can take vinegar baths with only your feet submerged. To do this, take about half a bath of not too hot water and dilute a liter of apple cider vinegar in it. Then place your feet in the bath for about 25 to 30 minutes. This method is the mildest because of the low concentration of vinegar; it is suitable for people with sensitive skin or an acute individual reaction to current treatment;
- The last method, but not in terms of effectiveness, involves the preparation of an ointment. To do this, mix the protein from 1 chicken egg with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of turpentine. You need to rub the ointment every day in the evening directly on the problem areas, lifting the leg.
Please note that it is advisable to do all of the described procedures so that after they have been performed you can rest for 30 minutes to an hour, the ideal time being considered to be in the evening, before going to bed. . It is also important to consult a doctor before using vinegar in order to adjust the treatment period and the frequency of daily procedures, since much depends on a number of individual factors, the main of which is the degree of progression ofvaricose veins. legs.
Internal use
Oral use of apple cider vinegar is not so diverse, there are two proven methods:
- You need to take a glass of purified or boiled water (250 milliliters) and mix in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The total volume of the resulting liquid is drunk on an empty stomach 10-15 minutes before breakfast.
- The second recipe involves mixing two ingredients in a glass of water, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of liquid honey (if the honey is sweet, melt it in a double boiler). The solution is used in two stages, half a glass is drunk on an empty stomach in the morning, the second half in the evening before dinner.
It is very important, before the internal use of apple cider vinegar, to be diagnosed with a disease of the gastrointestinal tract and to consult a gastroenterologist not only for the authorization of treatment, but also for the durationeligible for treatment. The reason for this need is that vinegar can cause gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
Contraindications for use
Treatment of varicose veins with apple cider vinegar cannot always be done; in some cases, the harm from such treatment may be greater than the benefit. If we are talking about external use of the product, the ban comes into force in two cases:
- Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process that covers the walls of the veins and causes blood clots.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis, a disease that disrupts blood flow in peripheral vessels and is accompanied by a host of other dangerous symptoms.
Regarding the contraindications related to the internal use of apple cider vinegar, they are as follows:
- Forms of gastritis with high acidity.
- Pre-ulcerative 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.