Tingling, burning, night cramps, swollen feet, red ankles... these are often the 1st symptoms ofvenous insufficiency, often referred to as heavy legs.
Venous insufficiency affects 1 in 3 French people, and all these signs corresponding to the 1st stage ofvenous insufficiency should alert you. Indeed, if nothing is done, the condition of the veins can deteriorate, leading to varicose veins, phlebitis and, in the extreme,pulmonary embolism.
Heavy legs are a problem of blood circulation. The venous system is weakened and no longer efficient enough to carry blood to the heart. Blood then stagnates in the legs, creating edema and pain. If you suffer from heavy legs, you can turn to phytotherapy, or herbal therapy. Phytotherapy, a natural method, can help relieve heavy legs.
The plants proposed to relieve the symptoms ofvenous insufficiency (swelling, pain) are most often chosen for their high flavonoid content. They can be used alone or in combination to combine their effects.
Whether you take these plants as capsules, herbal teas or tablets, the effect on circulation will be the same. You can therefore choose to buy veinotonics or use plant extracts (phytotherapy) or essential oils(aromatherapy) directly.
Heavy legs are a common syndrome, especially in women, and generally aggravated by the summer heat. Although hereditary, venous insufficiency is not inevitable. Naturopathy offers a range of remedies to relieve this phenomenon and the pain it causes.
Caused by valve dysfunction*,venous insufficiency is a poor return of blood to the heart. The result is localized venous hyperpressure in the lower limbs.
Valves* are small valves whose role is to encourage blood flow from the bottom to the top.
The most common symptoms of heavy legs are :
These symptoms worsen at the end of the day, or with prolonged standing. However, they are relieved by movement, walking and elevating the legs.
Vasoconstrictor plants act by preventing blood stagnation in the veins. For example, red vine (thanks to its concentration of flavonoids and anthocyanins, it tones the veins and small blood vessels and acts on any oedema),witch hazel (the tannins and flavonoids contained in its leaves protect the blood vessels and have anti-inflammatory properties), horse chestnut (protective and stimulating effect on blood vessels, reducing oedema and inflammation), or fragon petit houx (the rhizome of petit houx has vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory properties; it therefore promotes better blood circulation).
Other less specific plants (with a more global action) such as blackcurrant (for its anti-inflammatory potential) or sweet clover (this plant contains coumarins, which help reduce oedema, and flavonoids, which have a protective effect on blood vessels) may also be recommended.
In gemmotherapy, the combination of several synergistic plants effectively treats symptoms and has a deeper grounding effect.
Plants in the form of essential oils are also very useful for relieving the consequences of venous insufficiency: cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Virginia juniper (Juniperus Virginiana), pistachio mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), red myrtle (Myrtus communis), patchouli (pogostemom cablin), white sandalwood (santalum album) and annual tansy (Tanacetum annuum) have a decongestant and/or phlebotonic action.
You can create an appropriate blend of these oils for external massage, opt for the oral route with specific capsules, or combine the two, as advised by your naturopathic health practitioner.
To benefit from the best effects of plants, the choice of remedies should not be limited to the symptoms of heavy legs. Some herbs are more suited to your particular terrain, temperament and adaptive responses.
That's why consulting a naturopathic doctor is your guarantee of a quality analysis that will give you a global view of your disorders, which, let's not forget, are your body's ultimate means of expressing a dysfunction, a temporary difficulty or a toxin overload.
Soin-et-Nature offers a varied range of naturopathic products, designed to meet a variety of health and well-being needs through natural, personalized approaches. Here are the categories available:
These naturopathic products available on Soin-et-Nature offer a natural, holistic approach to supporting your health and well-being on a daily basis.
