The following steps are not only beneficial for those already suffering from varicose veins but also decrease the likelihood of developing varicose veins in the future.

1. Elevate your feet at least once a day for 15 minutes. When seated at work or home simply put your feet on a elevated surface

2. Avoid tight fitting clothes, non-stretchable fabrics, and clothing that cuts at the waistline as they can restrict blood flow.

Tip: Make sure when wearing suits that pants or skirts do not feel too tight when sitting. Most people try on clothes and make judgments on the fit when they are standing up. Before buying clothes, sit down in them to see how they feel.

3. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time. If you have to work on your feet or sit for long periods of time, keep moving, this will help to keep blood flowing throughout the day. Do NOT cross your legs while seated.

4. When sitting, flex your muscles and wiggle your toes to increase blood flow. When standing shift your weight between both legs and stand on your toes occasionally.

5. Avoid the lifting of heavy objects as this can create unnecessary strain.

6. Eat plenty of blackberries and cherries. They are rich in compounds that help prevent varicose veins and can lessen the discomfort attributed to them over time.

7. Apply Castor oil over the varicose veins after bathing. Used for hundreds of years, castor oil helps to relieve pain, increase lymphatic circulation and reduce inflammation.

8. Avoid scratching the itchy skin above varicose veins. Scratching can irritate the thin skin creating ulcerations and bleeding.

9. Wear special elastic compression stockings also referred to as compression hose or compression socks. Compression stocking are a simple, inexpensive way to treat varicose veins. It’s best to consult with a physician on the proper compression level for your condition. These specially fitted hose are designed to reduce the pooling that occurs but won’t eliminate varicose veins.

Doing a few simple exercises along with the tips below may help to decrease the risk of DVT.

• Ankle Circles: Raise your feet off the floor and rotae them in a circular motion. Make five circles in clockwise and counterclockwise directions with each foot.
• Knee-to Chest Stretch: While seated, lean slightly forward and clasp your hands around one knee. Slowly pull your knee toward your chest and hold for 15 seconds. Release and switch to the other leg. Repeat twice.
• Foot Pumps: With your heels on the floor, raise your toes as far as possible. Hold for a few seconds and lower them to the floor. Then raise your heels while keeping our toes on the floor and hold for several seconds. Repeat five times.
• Neck Roll: Relax your shoulders. Stretch your neck toward your left shoulder; hold for a few seconds, slowly roll your head toward your chest, and then stretch toward the right shoulder. Hold for several seconds and then reverse, rolling your head from right to left. Repeat three times.

Long-distance travel, exciting as it may be, can also be tiring following these tips can reduce the stress and fatigue that may occur with long-distance travel and can combat the jet lag that may result from crossing time zones;

• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Get a good night’s sleep before your trip and rest as much as possible during the flight.
• While away, get as many hours of sleep every day as you would normally at home. Taking short naps of 30 to 40 minutes will help to refresh you as you adjust to the new time zone.
• Drink plenty of water and/or juice before and during the flight to stay hydrated.
• Eat light meals during your flight. Also, avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.
• Don’t remain in one position too long; peform the simple stretches above and walk when possible.

Not only are varicose veins unsightly, but they can also be very painful. That tired achy feeling can sap energy and keep you from going out and getting exercise. And while are genes dictate our predisposition to varicose veins the following simple exercises can help minimize the development of new varicose veins and alleviate pain from existing ones.

Walking:
The simplest exercise is to walk more. Get your legs moving. Walking is a great way to encourage blood circulation in your legs. Instead of taking the elevator or escalator use the stairs. Even going for a short walk around the block before going to work is enough to vastly improve symptoms.

Pedaling:
Begin lying on the floor, flat on your back. Place your hands out to your sides, if you prefer you can place them beneath your buttocks to prevent strain to the lower back. Lift your legs off the floor, and pedal them as if you were pedaling a bicycle. The more you elevate your legs, the more you will increase blood circulation. Reversely keeping your legs lower will increase resistance on your abdominals, toning your stomach. Continue this exercise until you feel the blood circulating through your legs and any existing pain has begun to abate.

Leg Lifts:
Unlike leg lifts performed at the gym, which are usually designed to tone your inner or outer thighs, these leg lifts are designed to help ameliorate blood flow through the entire leg. Lie on your back, placing your hands beneath your buttocks to eliminate lower back strain. Keeping your buttocks pressed down, and your lower back against the floor, lift one leg at a time and hold in an elevated pose perpendicular to the floor. Hold this pose until you feel the blood begin to flow back up from your feet, your calves, and your thighs. Repeat the motion with your other leg. For ultimate relaxation, lie on the floor with your buttocks almost touching a wall. Rest both your legs in an elevated pose resting against the wall, and feel the circulation in your legs improve. Alternately, you can raise both legs and rotate your ankles to further improve leg circulation.

Knee bends with ankle flexon:
Lie again on the floor on your back. Slowly pull one knee into your chest, holding onto your leg behind your knee (holding on top of the kneecap puts undue pressure on this delicate joint). While your leg is in this position, point and flex your foot several times. Do this slowly and forcefully – don’t let your flap foot around loosely, but rather tighten the muscles of the calves and the tendons around your ankle. Repeat with the opposite leg.

Because varicose veins are caused by genetics, there is no way to completely prevent them. But improving your circulation and muscle tone can reduce your risk of developing varicose veins or getting additional ones. The same measures you can take to treat the discomfort from varicose veins at home can help prevent varicose veins, including:
* Watching your weight
* Eating a high-fiber, low-salt diet
* Avoiding high heels and tight hosiery
* Elevating your legs
* Avoid cross legged sitting
* Changing your sitting or standing position regularly

Though the complete reversal of varicose veins requires medical treatment, there are several conservative therapies and natural remedies that can alleviate and help prevent varicose and spider veins and early intervention may prevent time-consuming and expensive complications.
Conservative therapies, like the herbal remedies listed below, can help alleviate symptoms and prevent vein problems from worsening. For more information on the best treatment options for you, call 212.343.1600 and set up a consultation today.

Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica):
Despite its reputation as a tonic herb, gotu kola is used mainly for skin problems and wounds and has been found beneficial in the treatment of varicose veins. Clinical studies have shown that the use of gotu kola enhances vein integrity, aides healing, and improves circulation. Application of the extract locally has also demonstrated improvement in vascular tone, making problem veins less prone to damage. Except for the rare person who is allergic to gotu kola, the only problems encountered are occasional nausea if excessively high doses are used. Should be avoided if pregnant or while breast feeding.

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum)

Horse chestnut seed extracts are used clinically to relieve symptoms and reduce signs of varicose veins, improving swelling and discomfort. In clinical studies, the extract has been found to inhibit the activity of damaging enzymes, making veins less permeable and fragile. Horse chestnut therapy should not be undergone by those with bleeding disorders.

Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus)
A traditional folk medicine, butcher’s broom, also known as box or knee holly, has been used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids for many years. Increasing scientific literature has supported such uses, having found that the extract has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. In clinical studies patients who were given the extract maintained venous tone and improved venous emptying in comparison to placebo-treated patients.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
Witch hazel extract has a long therapeutic tradition and is used primarily for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and local hemostatic effects and can be found in most pharmacies. Application of the extract can cause minor skin irritation in some people when applied topically; this herb is not recommended for internal use.

Conservative therapy can work for the symptoms of varicose veins. Simply keeping weight within normal range reduces the pressure in veins and exercising regularly can slow the progression of the condition. The American College of Phlebology recommends 30 minutes of exercise per day and advocates both periodic flexing of the ankle and 1 to 2 minutes of walking every 30 minutes to counteract the effects of sitting and standing. Women with varicose veins should not wear high heels, and anyone with the condition can benefit from elevation of their legs.

Another conservative therapy is compression of the legs using elastic or inelastic stockings (compression stockings). Elastic stocking options – the familiar support hosiery – can lessen symptoms in mild disease. Graduated elastic compression stockings are a more sophisticated version of this hose, exerting gradually decreasing pressure from ankle to thigh to encourage upward blood flow. Inelastic options are also available, but these rigid garments can be more difficult for people to manage.

While conservative therapy may improve symptoms of varicose veins, it does not cure the underlying problem. The definitive treatment is to stop the reflux of blood into the superficial veins of the legs. For these patients, eliminating the culprit veins can give back the quality of life that they once enjoyed.

Regular exercise, such as walking, biking, swimming and other low impact exercise, promotes healthy circulation and can help relieve symptoms of varicose and spiders veins, as well as keep existing vein conditions from worsening. While raising your legs and moving on your feet is beneficial, sitting or standing for long periods of time can worsen conditions. If you must stand, make sure to shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. If you find yourself unable to get up and walk around do ankle flexions while seated to help keep blood in your legs pumping. If you are suffering from varicose or spider veins, it is advisable to wear support stockings during any excercise.

When the legs are active, the muscles in your legs contract and help pump stagnant blood back to the heart, limiting the amount of blood left to pool in the legs. Better circulation can relieve symptoms and improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins.

Exercise is also crucial to keeping your weight down. Excess weight puts added pressure on the valves of your legs.The following are some easy movements you can do ease symptoms and maintain healthy blood flow.

Ankle Flexions: While keeping the heel of your foot down, lift and lower your toes. This exercise mimics the movement of walking for your muscles and should be done throughout the day while seated.

Leg Elevation: Raising your legs a few inches above your heart level lets gravity drain your legs of pooled blood. Place 2-3 inches under your ankles while lying down.