Can natural remedies help varicose veins?

Q.I have noticed a number of varicose veins developing on my legs and I wonder why they are forming as I am active and eat a healthy diet. From a discussion with my doctor I know that I can have them treated but I wonder if there are any natural products which might help? Sarah O'Connor

A.Our veins contain valves, which shut off to prevent the backflow of blood. When these valves malfunction, a pool of blood collects, weakening the walls of the vessel, which eventually balloon out and appear swollen. The veins at the back of the leg and thighs are more often affected, giving an appearance of a shrivelled bunch of black grapes, and this often runs in families.

Once you have determined from your doctor that there are no underlying problems like deep blood clots, there are a number of self-help measures to reverse the problem. These include regular exercise to strengthen the action of the valves by improving muscle function, losing weight if you are overweight, consuming a high fibre diet, wearing support stockings and elevating your legs when possible to allow the fluid to drain away from the varicose veins.

Two well-researched herbal preparations are useful for strengthening blood vessel walls and have been the subject of intense European investigation during the past 20 to 30 years. These include Horse Chestnut and Butcher's Broom.

Horse chestnut reduces the number and diameter of small pores in the capillary membranes, reducing the escape of fluid into the surrounding tissue. This sealing effect improves blood flow in the veins and reduces the swelling and has been shown in a clinical study to be as effective as compression stockings. Butcher's Broom, another herb used to treat reduce both varicose veins and haemorrhoids, has been shown to reduce the vaso-constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels in the legs. This action makes the herb an effective agent for decreasing arterial resistance and increasing venous back pressure, both necessary processes to reduce both varicose and spider veins.

Take two capsules of V-Nal daily, which contains 150 mg dry extract of butcher's broom, 60 mg dry extract of the horse chestnut,100 mg rutin, 90 mg vitamin C and 2 mg vitamin vitamin B1, all of which have been shown to help reduce varicosity in the veins, and which are available from the shop at www.naturalhealthas.com or 0207631 4235. V-Nal also produces an ointment that can be applied up to 3 times per day.