In medical practice, it is difficult to find a disease in which traditional medicine would be powerless. Most known pathologies are treated using prescriptions of traditional medicine, and even if this method of therapy is not able to fully cope with the disease, it can increase the effect of taking medication, suspend or slow down the development of pathology, improve the conditionof the patient. condition etc.
As for varicose veins in the foot, in folk medicine there are many different recipes for eliminating the symptoms of the disease, as well as aimed at maintaining it and preserving the condition of the veins. This article will focus on one of the most effective folk remedies for treating varicose veins - apple cider vinegar.
Characteristics of varicose veins in the legs
Many people, hearing the word varicose veins, imagine legs in which the veins that protrude through the skin are clearly discernible. This view is not wrong, but it hardly reveals the full picture of the disease.
The main problem of varicose veins are not aesthetic changes, but a violation of the activity of the vessels that transport blood to the heart. With varicose veins, the veins deform, dilate, lengthen, their walls thin and the functioning of the venous valves breaks down.
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 grow too much, swell and become damaged. The main problem of 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 disease development.
Natural apple cider vinegar is produced through a long chemical reaction. First, a biochemical fermentation takes place, during which the sugar in the apples is converted into alcohol. This is followed by a fermentation cycle, during which the alcohol is "distilled" into vinegar. After all, the resulting product contains in its chemical composition all the useful trace elements of the fruit from which it is produced.
To understand what benefits vinegar can bring to the body and especially to the vessels of the feet, consider which beneficial elements it contains:
- Calcium - helps strengthen bone tissue and tones muscle fibers, with varicose veins prevents frequent seizures, which are often accompanied by disease.
- Iron - has a positive effect on the blood, increasing the synthesis of hemoglobin and eliminating the signs of anemia.
- Amino acid - participates in the construction of protein compounds, helps burn fat, has a beneficial effect on the regulation of body 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 are directly involved in the fight against varicose veins, in fact, there are many more trace elements.
If we talk specifically about the properties of vinegar that this product has in the veins affected by varicose veins, they are as follows:
- Reduction of swelling or their complete elimination.
- Prevent seizures as well as eliminate them directly during an attack.
- Elimination of pain or their relief, depending on the severity of the pain syndrome.
- Reduction of blood clotting, which is very important for varicose veins, especially in order to prevent thrombus formation.
- Strengthening of vascular walls, which prevents their deformation and violation of integrity.
- One of the signs of varicose veins is a discoloration of the skin, its cyanosis. On the other hand, vinegar brightens the skin, allowing you to fight this unpleasant cosmetic effect.
Note! Doctors insist on using only natural apple cider vinegar for medicinal purposes, obtained by the method described above in the process of fruit fermentation with further fermentation.
Using acetic acid, which contains only apple flavor, will not only give results, but can also harm your health. Natural vinegar is also sold in stores, so read the label carefully before buying.
Application methods
The main conditions in the treatment of folk remedies, including apple cider vinegar, is a systematic approach and the duration of therapy. It is necessary to use this medicine for at least a month, during all this time vinegar will give certain results, will 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 also used as an external agent and is taken internally. Moreover, according to the assessments of patients and the assurance of physicians, the mixture of both methods gives better results.
External use
Most recipes for traditional medicine are specifically related 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 way is the usual treatment of feet with vinegar. To do this, take a bath to cleanse your skin, wipe your dry feet and rub with apple cider vinegar with gentle movements, paying special attention to 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 gauze strips folded in two layers into the juice, squeeze them a little and place them on the problem areas. Then wrap the legs with a bandage or other cloth, place over body level and wake up in this position for 30-40 minutes, then remove the compress;
- The winding method is also very effective. Just like last time, soak the pieces of gauze in vinegar, but now you do not have to squeeze the gauze. Place the foot in the places of the varicose veins and wrap the limb with a film, firmly fixing the gauze. On top of the gauze, you should wrap a warm scarf or blanket, release after 40 minutes;
- You can bathe in vinegar only with your feet submerged. To do this, take about half a bath with not too hot water and dilute a liter of apple cider vinegar in it. Then place your feet in the bath for about 25-30 minutes. This method is milder due to the low concentration of vinegar; is suitable for people with sensitive skin or with an acute individual reaction to the treatment in question;
- The last method, but not in terms of effectiveness, involves preparing an oil. To do this, mix the protein of 1 chicken egg with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of turpentine. You should rub the oil daily in the evening directly on the problem areas, moving the leg upwards.
Please note that it is advisable to do all the procedures described so that once they are completed you can rest for 30 minutes to an hour, the ideal time is considered to be the evening, before going to bed. It is also important to consolidate with a physician before using vinegar to adjust the treatment period and frequency of daily procedures, as much depends on a number of individual factors, the main one of which is the degree of varicose vein progression. of the feet.
Internal use
Oral use of apple cider vinegar is not so varied, there are two proven methods:
- You should take a glass of purified or boiled water (250 milliliters) and mix in it 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The full volume of the resulting juice is drunk on an empty stomach 10-15 minutes before breakfast.
- The second recipe involves mixing the two ingredients in a glass of water, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of liquid honey (if the honey is sugary, melt it in a water bath). The solution is used in two steps, 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 undergo a diagnosis for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and to consult a gastroenterologist not only to authorize treatment, but also to discover the permissible duration of therapy. This need is explained by the fact that vinegar can cause gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
Contraindications for use
Treatment of varicose veins with apple cider vinegar may not always be performed; in some cases, the harm from such therapy may outweigh the benefit. If we talk about the external use of the product, the ban takes effect in two cases:
- Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process that covers the venous walls and causes blood clots.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis, a disease that disrupts blood circulation to 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-ulcer condition as well as gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer.
- Late stages of development of atherosclerosis and thrombophlebitis.
- Pathologies associated with acute or chronic inflammatory processes in the kidneys and liver.