Varicose Veins

For Samuel Hahnemann (the founder of homeopathy) the single most driving reason to develop homeopathy was to have a system that was completely harmless and gentle. A system that would use the body’s own innate healing powers to restore health.

The homeopathic treatment of diseases like varicose veins, which otherwise would require surgery, stand testimony to what Hahnemann preached and established. A controlled study done in Germany on 62 patients (suffering from varicose veins) about a decade ago proved the high efficacy of this system in treating this problem.

What are varicose veins?

When the blood moves back from the organs to the heart, it is carried by a network of vessels called veins. Veins are thin-walled vessels compared to the arteries (vessels that take blood from the heart to the various organs). Veins contain one-way valves every few inches to prevent the blood flowing back due to gravity. It is when these valves become weak that the blood starts pooling in the veins. Veins then become dilated (widened) and twisted, and are called varicose. Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in the legs and feet.

Another condition similar to varicose veins is spider veins .They are usually smaller, bluish and are closer to the skin’s surface. They occur mostly on legs and at times can be found on the face too. They often look like a spider’s web or a tree branch.

The symptoms

For many people, varicose veins and spider veins are diseases of cosmetic concern only. But for others it can be more than just a cosmetic problem; symptoms commonly found in those suffering from varicose veins are pain, achiness, heaviness, burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in lower legs. Sitting and standing for a long period tends to increase all the symptoms. Veins appear as enlarged, snake-like, blue veins and are most easily seen under the skin while standing. Itching may be present around the enlarged veins. Skin ulcers at ankle, whenever present, indicate a sever form of varicose veins.

Though each case of varicose veins represents itself as an individual one and needs to be treated accordingly, homoeopathic medicines Calcarea flour and Acid flour stand at the top of the table for treating varicose veins. Calcarea flour not only clears the symptoms but also eradicates the tendency for developing varicose veins. Calcarea Iodatum works extremely well for ulcers accompanying varicose veins. Hamemelis and Vipera are indicated when there is acute inflammation in the veins often called phlebitis.

This feature ( authored by Dr. Vikas Sharma ) was earlier published in The Tribune(north India?s largest circulated daily newspaper). Dr. Vikas Sharma is regular Homeopathic columnist for The Tribune.You can mail him at vikas@drhomeo.com