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Botanical medicine for varicose veins and blood vessels.
Botanical medicine for varicose veins and blood vessels.
1. Prevalence, causes and stages of varicose veins. Standard of treatment.
3. What specific herbs are used and why.
Varicose disease is characterized by a high prevalence. Thus, in Russia, according to the most approximate estimates, it is diagnosed in 30 million people. In the United States and Western Europe, about 25% of the population suffers from various forms of varicose veins. After 70 years, the disease is observed in more than 70% of people. Mostly ill women aged 20 years (5 times more often than men).
1. Heredity.
If one of the parents suffers from varicose disease, the possibility of its occurrence in children reaches 60-65%, if both to 73%.
2.Long static loads associated with lifting gravity or a stationary lifestyle standing and sitting. Risk categories: cooks, surgeons, office workers, hairdressers. In East Asian countries, the use of chairs has significantly increased the number of patients with varicose veins than people traditionally sitting on mats.
3.Feeding habits: a reduction in the diet of raw vegetables and fruits leads to a deficiency of plant fibers, necessary for remodeling of the venous wall, the normal operation of the intestine, leading to chronic constipation that increases intra-abdominal pressure and impede the outflow of blood from the veins of the lower extremities.
4. Congenital and acquired dishormonal conditions, hormonal contraception and hormone therapy for various purposes can contribute to the development of varicose veins.
Venous hypertension, which is the main cause of venous expansion, develops due to valvular insufficiency and the appearance of reverse blood flow – reflux. This process can begin simultaneously in deep and superficial veins
In the development of varicose disease of the lower extremities there are 4 stages:
Stage 1 (compensation). There are small cosmetic defects (spider veins), no complaints.
Stage 2. Appear convoluted dilated veins, slight swelling of the ankles, light night pain.
Stage 3 (subcompensation). There are reports, night cramps in the calves, rapid fatigue of the legs, a feeling of muscle tension, skin pigmentation.
Stage 4 (decompensation). Severe swelling of the feet, ankles, a sharp increase in the width of the veins, acute pain, itching, severe cramps. Often there are signs of thrombophlebitis, venous ulcers.
Means of basic pharmacotherapy are phlebotropic drugs (venoactive drugs, phleboprotectors, venotonics), which are a heterogeneous group of biologically active substances obtained by processing plant raw materials or chemical synthesis, combined with the ability to increase venous tone, as well as reduce the severity of venospecific symptoms and syndromes.
The mechanism of action of phlebotropic drugs: increasing the tone of peripheral veins and lymphatic vessels due to the effect on the noradrenaline-dependent mechanism, as well as due to some drug-specific effects.
Chronic venous edema is an absolute indication for the appointment of venotonics. The most pronounced anti-edema effect is demonstrated by micronized purified fraction of flavonoids (Detralex), which is the drug of the first choice in chronic venous edema. Hydroxyethylrutoside (venoruton) and extract of prickly needle also reduce chronic venous edema and can serve as drugs of the second stage.
Gemoreologicakie and antiplatelet drugs (drugs acetylsalicylic acid 50— 150 mg/day, pentoxifylline 1200-2400 mg/day) it is advisable to appoint in the presence of relevant comorbidity (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, etc.). With chronic venous oedema and trophic disorders of the skin can be useful the use of polyenzyme preparations (Wobenzym, Phlogenzym) in standard therapeutic doses. Due to the fact that polyenzyme drugs in some cases can contribute to the destruction of biological membranes and exacerbation of the local infectious process, it is advisable to combine them with rational antibiotic therapy.
For patients with initial stages of chronic venous insufficiency, the duration of the standard course varies from 1.5 to 3 months (an average of 2.5—3.0 months). In chronic venous edema, trophic skin disorders and especially open ulcers, plant venotonics can be prescribed for 6 months or more.
Plant phytopreparations are the basis for the creation of synthetic drugs with venotonic properties. At the same time, high-tech processes of processing raw materials, although they allow better dosing of drugs, however, are well combined with traditional forms of using plants in the form of tinctures, water infusions and oil extracts.
2. Benefits of naturopathy and herbal medicine in combination with standard regimens of drug therapy.
A radical method of treatment is surgery. The altered veins are removed. This treatment is highly effective, but does not eliminate the causes of the disease. Usually remove the superficial veins, this leads to an increase in the load on the deep veins. After some time, a relapse occurs. The length of time before relapse depends on lifestyle changes and the use of plants with venotonic properties.
In this regard, a special role falls on conservative treatment. The use of plant venotonics can slow down the process of varicose vascular changes.
Thus, the role of herbal medicine is reduced to preventive and anti-relapse function. But with the exacerbation of the disease and decompensation, both surgical operation and ready-made drugs are used. Conservative and alternative methods complement each other harmoniously.
3. What specific herbs are used and why.
Groups of plants in the areas of action:
1. Plants that improve rheological functions of blood.
The amazing mechanism is false ginseng (Panaxnotoginseng). It has a double effect: in the vascular bed improves blood flow, but when you go beyond the vascular wall (bleeding) improves clotting.
Improved blood circulation is associated with antiplatelet and angioprotective properties. Currently, acetylsalicylic acid has become the gold standard for the prevention of vascular accidents. Compared with acetylsalicylic acid plant salicylates are not able to affect cyclooxygenase. Consequently, they do not have severe side effects, which is acutely necessary for a long course of treatment.
In plants such as blue cornflower, oregano and lungwort studied the details of the mechanism of action. Not only salicylates are able to improve the rheological functions of blood, but also phenolic compounds, as well as aristolochiaceae acid.
In relation mellotone (in the clover), which belongs to the coumarins, are shown pronounced antiplatelet properties.
Used plants: false ginseng, Astragalus, cornflower, white clover, needle, horse chestnut, clover, creeping anchors, Linden, hazel,
2. Plants that improve the tone of the venous wall.
The beneficial effects of plants containing large amounts of flavonoids are widely known. These substances usually determine the color of plants. So, anthocyanins specify the red, blue, purple colour of the flowers, and the flavones, the flavonols, aurone, chalcones yellow and orange
The mechanism of action of this group of plants is aimed at reducing the permeability of the venous wall, improves the tone of the veins muscles, reduces swelling of the vascular tissues, prevent the activation of lysosomal enzymes that break down proteoglycan.
Used plants: prickly needle, buckwheat, Siberian larch, Chinese yew, Himalayan cedar, Gotu Kola, red grape leaves, horse chestnut seeds, leaves of forest hazel, Ginkgo biloba leaves, grape seed extract, walnut fruit, melon, Sophora japonica.
Also used biologically active substances, containing quercetin and isoquercetin. They have an anti-edema effect, enhance microcirculation, have a regenerating effect.
3. Plants with pronounced reparative and antioxidant effects.
This list includes a large group of plants with different composition of biologically active substances.
Used plants: sea buckthorn, Stachys bukeviciute, Rowan, hawthorn. In addition to plants used peptides with the anabolic effect (was soclosely, dalargin).
Oil extracts from many plants are suitable for local applications, are included in the recipe for the preparation of Magistral formula ointments and opodeldoc.