Varicose veins are a common problem affecting 23 percent of the population worldwide. Although they do not pose any grave health risk in most cases, varicose veins can still be problematic for aesthetics. A few studies examined autophagy for varicose veins by autophagy-inducing drugs, and the results were amazing.
Also, massage and naturopathic specialists claim essential oils to be a potent home remedy against varicose along with, some studies suggesting autophagy for spider veins.
At SkinVeteran, we believe in helping our readers achieve healthy and ultimate youthful skin. This article takes a closer look at some of the essential oils that are proclaimed to be effective against varicose veins. Also, we will decipher how autophagy can help reduce the varicose veins.
What Causes Varicose Veins?
While any part of your body can get varicose veins, the legs are more likely to be at the receiving end. These veins are twisted, swollen, and purplishly enlarged. The condition develops when blood pools down into your defiantly functioning veins instead of drawing back to the heart.
The veins are vessels responsible for taking deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the body. They have small valves in them which prevent blood from flowing backward.
When valves fail due to various reasons mentioned below, the blood starts collecting in the veins rather than proceeding toward your heart. The blood pressure gets high in these areas making veins bulge and dilate.
- Genetics
- Aging
- Standing upright for a long time
- Obesity
- Hormonal Fluctuations
Women are more likely to suffer from spider veins due to stringent hormonal fluctuations during periods, pregnancy, and after menopause.
Autophagy For Varicose Veins: Does It Work?
A study has shown that autophagy is effective in reducing the appearance of varicose veins. The evidence from the study shows that vascular aging is related to weakened autophagy. Therefore, when you induce autophagy naturally or through supplements, it helps in reducing varicose veins.
Another investigation revealed that both varicose and spider veins result from defective autophagy. However, more advanced studies can further confirm the underlying procedure.
Do you know that resveratrol (organic ingredient) boosts autophagy naturally and has a lot of additional benefits?
So, how will you activate autophagy to treat varicose veins? Well, there are a few techniques through which your autophagic response can get going.
The following are some of the best ways to induce autophagy to not only reduce varicose spider veins but stretch marks and loose skin as well.
- Fasting drains your body of every extra nutrient and accelerates autophagy to replenish energy from the undesired components
- Regular exercise
- Cold showers
Ultimate Essential Oils For Varicose Veins
Multiple studies suggest the following mentioned oils diminish the cord-like appearance of varicose or spider veins. Their basic mechanism is to speed up the blood flow where you apply them. However, detailed studies are needed to uncover the relationship between these oils and varicose veins.
1. Horse Chestnut Essential Oil
Horse Chestnut is a native tree from Balkan Peninsula. The oil extracted from its seeds proffer multiple health benefits. According to studies, It has been found effective in increasing blood circulation, reducing inflammation, and treating varicose veins and hemorrhoids (swollen veins around the anus).
This essential oil contains a compound aescin that has anti-inflammatory properties and gives Chesnut all its medical features.
An 8 weeks study carried out on 58 patients found that taking a Chestnut oil capsule containing 20 mg of aescin 3 times daily and applying 2% aescin gel topically significantly reduced varicose veins appearance.
2. Lavender Essential Oil for Varicose Veins
Lavender oil is extracted from lavender plant flowers and you can consume it orally, topically, and breathe in through aromatherapy. You can benefit from this essential in multiple ways.
Ancient Greeks employed it for mummification. Later on, lavender oil became famous among people for countering various skin ailments, depression, insomnia, hair loss, and even cancer.
As it was a well-known herbal medicine in the past, various studies commenced uncovering the medicinal importance of lavender. Along with other multitudinous benefits, experts found the lavender essential oil effective for varicose veins.
While massaging, lavender oil can spur blood circulation, and there is evidence that using it orally relieves pain (sores from poor blood flow) by increasing serotonin and GABA.
3. Cypress Oil
Cypress oil is famed for various health gains made from leaves, stems, and twigs of the Mediterranean cypress tree. According to studies, cypress essential oil has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
Therefore, it has applications for treating cough, warts, infections, hemorrhoids, and muscle pain. Although not supported by enough scientific shreds of evidence, massage therapists profess cypress oil is useful against varicose veins.
It has been suggested by experts that rubbing five drops of this oil can reduce pain, achiness, and the appearance of varicosities.
4. Sea Pine Essential Oil for Spider Veins
Sea pine oil obtained from the bark of sea pine was found more effective, in some cases, than Chestnut oil in reducing inflammation of the swollen veins.
A study carried out on 44 people has suggested that sea pine oil is efficient against chronic venous insufficiency ( a condition that leads to varicose veins). Also, it contains ingredients that improve blood flow and reduce edema (swelling).
5. Geranium Oil
Geranium oil is extricated from the leaves and flowers of the plant Pelargonium graveolens, native to Cape provinces and the Northern provinces of South Africa.
With multiple varieties, geranium oil flowers are grown in various regions of Asia and Europe. Along with its antimicrobial properties, geranium oil is helpful in skin-soothing.
A study in 2013 suggested that the anti-inflammatory property of this oil makes it effective against edema affecting legs and feet. Therefore, some experts suggest geranium oil for relieving the symptoms and vanishing the appearance of varicose veins.
They also recommend adding this oil into the bathwater and then gently caressing over the affected veins.
6. Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit essential is obtained by the cold-pressing of the peels gland of grapefruit. Studies have manifested multiple benefits of it like massaging it on the abdomen can cause fat loss.
Participants of a study employed 3 % grapefruit oil for caressing their abdomen for six weeks. The study showed that oil not only caused abdominal fat loss but also a reduction in the waist.
Experts inferred that grapefruit increases blood circulation while massaged. Therefore, it can help against varicose veins by spurring blood flow and lessening inflammation.
However, it is crucial to note that there have not been many studies done to support this claim. Hence, more detailed investigations are required to unveil the effectiveness of grapefruit oil for spider veins.
7. Yarrow Essential Oil for Varicose Veins
Yarrow essential oil is obtained from the plant Achillea Millefolium has multiple medicinal uses due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, and astringent properties. It is believed effective against the inflammation of varicose veins traditionally.
Yarrow oil’s astringent characteristics induce contractions in muscles and blood vessels. Therefore, this essential oil can increase blood circulation in the spider veins area.
According to studies, applying it to the affected area can mitigate the symptoms and appearance of varicose veins.
8. Helichrysum Oil for Varicose Veins
This essential oil comes from the green parts of the plant Helichrysum italicum, which is mostly found in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean regions.
Lab studies have confirmed that this essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is effective against skin inflammation. When it comes to mitigating the appearance of varicose veins, It is one of the most effective oils mentioned in this article.
Diluting 2 to 4 drops of Helichrysum essential with some other oil like almond oil, and gently massaging it in a circular motion on the affected area relieves the symptoms of spider veins.
Takeaways
While dealing with varicose veins, both autophagy and essential oils can be effective and safe. Try out fasting and a regular exercise regime to accelerate autophagy. Also, apply essential oils along with it to pull off normal and good-looking skin.
