In medical practice, it is difficult to find a disease in which traditional medicine would be powerless. Most known pathologies are treated according to the prescriptions of traditional medicine, and even if this therapy is not able to completely cope with the disease, it can increase the effect of medication, suspend or slow down the development of the pathology, improve the patient's condition. condition, etc.
As for the varicose veins of the foot, there are many recipes in folk medicine to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and to control it and maintain the condition of the veins. This article focuses on one of the most effective folk remedies for treating varicose veins - apple cider vinegar.
Characteristics of varicose veins on the legs
Many, on hearing the word varicose vein, imagine legs with visible veins across the skin. This view is not wrong, but it hardly reveals the full picture of the disease.
The main problem with varicose veins is not aesthetic changes, but a violation of the activity of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart. In case of varicose veins, the veins become deformed, dilated, elongated, their walls become thinner, and the function of the venous valves is disrupted.
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 results in the fact that the blood vessels begin to grow, bulge, and become greatly damaged. The main problem with varicose veins is the violation of blood circulation, its stagnation in the vascular system and the violation of systemic circulation.
The effect 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 by a long chemical reaction. First, a biochemical fermentation takes place, during which the sugar in the apple is converted into alcohol. This is followed by a fermentation cycle in which the alcohol is "distilled" into vinegar. Ultimately, the chemical composition of the resulting product contains all the beneficial trace elements from which it is made.
To understand the benefits of vinegar to the body, and especially to the blood vessels in the legs, consider the following:
- Calcium - helps to strengthen bone tissue and tone muscle fibers, prevents frequent attacks in case of varicose veins, which are often accompanied by the disease.
- Iron has a positive effect on the blood, increases the synthesis of hemoglobin and eliminates the signs of anemia.
- Amino acid - participates in the structure 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 cardiovascular disease;
- Various vitamins and minerals to improve the body's metabolism.
These are the main elements of apple cider vinegar that 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 exerts on the veins affected by varicose veins, these are:
- Reduce or eliminate bloating.
- Prevent and eliminate seizures immediately during an attack.
- Elimination or alleviation of pain, which depends on the severity of the pain syndrome.
- Reduction of blood clotting, which is very important in varicose veins, especially in preventing thrombus formation.
- Reinforcement of the vessel walls, which prevents their deformation and violation of integrity.
- One of the symptoms of varicose veins is discoloration of the skin, cyanosis. Vinegar, on the other hand, brightens the skin, so you can overcome this unpleasant cosmetic effect.
Note! Doctors insist on using only natural apple cider vinegar for medicinal purposes, which is obtained by the method described above in the process of fermenting the fruit by further fermentation.
Using acetic acid containing only apple flavor will not only bring results but can also be detrimental to your health. Natural vinegar is also sold in stores, so read the label carefully before purchasing.
Methods of application
The main conditions for the treatment of folk remedies, including apple cider vinegar, are a systematic approach and the duration of therapy. This drug should be used for at least a month, vinegar gives some results all the time, relieves unpleasant symptoms, but only if the full course of treatment is maintained can we hope to consolidate the result.
It is also important to understand that apple cider vinegar is used both externally and internally in the fight against varicose veins. In addition, according to the patients and the assurance of the doctors, mixing both methods gives better results.
External use
Most traditional medicine recipes are specifically for the external use of apple cider vinegar, but consider the most effective and proven treatments:
- The simplest and most effective method is the usual vinegar treatment of the foot. To do this, take a bath to cleanse your skin, wipe your feet dry and rub them with apple strings with apple cider vinegar, paying special attention to problem areas. After rubbing, it is advisable to lie down for at least 30 minutes, even better before going to bed;
- Compressions are even more efficient. Pour a little vinegar into a bowl, dip the two layers of gauze strips into the liquid, squeeze it out a little and place it on the problem areas. Then wrap your legs in a bandage or other cloth, lay them above body level, and wake up in this condition for 30 to 40 minutes, then remove the compress;
- The packaging method is also very efficient. As last time, moisten the gauze pieces with vinegar, but do not unscrew the gauze now. Place it on the leg in place of the varicose vein and wrap the limb with foil, securing the gauze tightly. You should wrap a warm scarf or blanket on top of the gauze and loosen it after 40 minutes;
- You can take a vinegar bath if only your feet are submerged. To do this, take about half a bath of not too hot water and dilute it with a liter of apple cider vinegar. Then put your feet in the bath for about 25-30 minutes. This method is the most gentle due to the low concentration of vinegar, suitable for people with sensitive skin or individual acute reactions to the treatment discussed;
- Last but not least, the method involves the preparation of 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 rubbed daily in the evening directly onto the problem areas, going up the foot.
Please note that it is advisable to carry out all the procedures described so that you can rest from 30 minutes to one hour after they are done, the ideal time in the evening before going to bed. It is also important to consult your doctor before using vinegar to adjust the duration of treatment and the frequency of daily procedures, as it depends on many individual factors, the most important of which is the extent of varicose progression. the legs.
For internal use
Oral administration of apple cider vinegar is less varied, there are two proven methods:
- Take a glass of purified or boiled water (250 ml) and mix in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Drink the full amount of the resulting liquid on an empty stomach 10-15 minutes before breakfast.
- The second recipe is to mix two ingredients in a glass of water, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of liquid honey (if the honey is sugared, thaw in a water bath). The solution is used in two steps, half a glass in the morning on an empty stomach, the second half in the evening before dinner.
It is very important to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases and consult a gastroenterologist before using apple cider vinegar, not only to authorize treatment, but also to determine the permissible duration of therapy. This need is explained by the fact that vinegar can cause stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers.
Contraindications to use
Treatment of varicose veins with apple cider vinegar may not always be possible, and in some cases the benefits of such therapy may outweigh the benefits. In the case of external use of the product, the ban applies in two cases:
- Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process that covers the venous walls and causes blood clots to form.
- Advanced forms of atherosclerosis, a disease that disrupts blood circulation in peripheral blood vessels and is accompanied by a number of other dangerous symptoms.
Contraindications to the internal use of apple cider vinegar are as follows:
- Forms of gastritis with high acidity.
- Pre-ulcer condition and gastric or duodenal ulcer.
- Late stages of atherosclerosis and thrombophlebitis.
- Pathologies accompanied by acute or chronic inflammatory processes in the kidneys and liver.