Varicose veins impact millions of people around the world and treating them can be a hassle. Many insurance companies won’t pay for treatment unless it’s an emergency, so you’re stuck with veins that are close to the surface of your skin.
While they’re not the nicest veins to look at, they can also cause medical problems down the line and you should see a doctor if you experience any negative symptoms.
The good news is that you can treat varicose veins at home and all you need is some bay leaf and olive oil. Read on to learn more about bay leaf and olive for varicose veins.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels that appear close to the surface of your skin, which means you can see them. Unlike other veins that you can see, varicose veins are typically blue or purple.
Varicose veins may also appear as squiggly lines or look tangled with other veins. These veins don’t always hurt and you won’t always need treatment but there are some cases where you may need to see a doctor.
What Causes Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are caused by a few problems but the main issues are weak vein walls and valves.
Your body needs veins to transport blood throughout the body but sometimes they don’t function properly. Damage to the vein wall or valve can result in blood pooling in the vein or flowing in the wrong direction. When this happens, the vein may swell, turn purple, or tangle with other veins. Additionally, having low levels of vitamin K2 may cause varicose veins.
While varicose veins are not aesthetically pleasing, they don’t usually hurt you. If they get worse over time you’ll need to treat them.
What Are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins don’t usually have an abundance of symptoms until the condition progresses. However, you’ll notice swelling and discolored veins on the surface of your skin. Some other symptoms of varicose veins around found below:
- Bluish or bulging veins
- Swollen legs
- Aching pains in the legs
- Itchy veins
- Leg cramps at night
- Throbbing muscles or cramps
- Increase pain after sitting or standing for long periods
Depending on the severity of varicose veins, treatment may be necessary.
What Are the Treatments for Varicose Veins?
There aren’t many treatments for varicose veins and getting treatment isn’t always easy. This is because insurance won’t cover treatment unless it’s necessary. That said, we list some common treatment methods for varicose veins below.
- Compression stockings
- Elevated legs
- Vein stripping
- Surgery
- Radiofrequency treatment
- Thermal ablation
- Sclerotherapy
These are only some of the available treatment options for varicose veins.
If you don’t want to wait until varicose veins progress into something worse, it’s a great idea to experiment with home remedies like bay leaves mixed with olive oil. The mixture of olive oil and bay leaves can reduce swelling, discoloration, and pain caused by varicose veins.
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How Bay Leaf and Olive Oil Can Help Varicose Veins
Bay leaf and olive oil contain unique characteristics that make them perfect for helping conditions like varicose veins. Learn about how both ingredients help varicose veins below.
Why Bay Leaf Is Good for Varicose Veins
Bay leaf is great for varicose veins. The leaf has many anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the swelling of varicose veins. Additionally, bay leaves contain vitamins C and E, which can improve your overall health. Vitamin C and E can also improve the skin around the varicose veins and help with discoloration.
Why Olive Oil Is Good for Varicose Veins
Olive oil contains large amounts of vitamin E, which improves circulation when placed on your skin. Even without bay leaves or other additives, rubbing olive oil into your skin can reduce swelling, improve blood flow, and prevent new varicose veins from forming. For the best results, you’ll need to combine olive oil with bay leaves.
How to Mix Bay Leaf and Olive Oil to Help Varicose Veins
When you want to mix olive oil and bay leaves for varicose veins you need to mix them properly for the best results. You don’t want to just throw a bunch of leaves in a jar, shake it, and throw it on your skin. While many people have their unique ways of mixing bay leaves and olive oil, we found a method that works the best.
Follow the steps below to mix olive oil and bay leaves to treat varicose veins.
- Ground up about 20 grams of bay leaves or use one teaspoon of bay leaf oil. You can also cut them up with a scissor and place them in the olive oil that way.
- Pour one cup of olive oil into a jar that has a lid.
- Add the bay leaves to the jar and place the lid over it.
- Give the olive oil and bay leaves about two weeks to infuse in a dark, cool space. You’ll have better results if you can store it in a dry location as well.
- Strain the olive oil.
- Add about two more tablespoons of fresh bay leaves.
- Apply the mixture to your irritated varicose veins.
Following these steps will help you mix and apply varicose veins. After you’re done, keep storing the solution in the same place for the best results and longevity. If you develop a rash or face any adverse reactions, make sure you stop treatment and reach out to a medical professional.
Where Can You Get Olive Oil and Bay Leaves?
Olive oil and bay leaves are available in a few places. You can find olive oil at your local grocery stores but it’s best to go with a bay leaf essential oil if you plan on mixing it with olive oil. You’ll need fewer bay leaves and you don’t have to wait as long for the solution to become effective.
Bay leaf oil can be found online at reputable retailers like Wholesale Botanics.
When using bay leaf oil and olive oil for your varicose veins, give yourself about two weeks before you start seeing results. If you don’t see any results, it might be time to change up the treatment or adjust the mixture.
Treat Your Varicose Veins Today
Varicose veins aren’t fun to deal with but there are ways to improve their appearance and prevent more veins from appearing in the future. Using a combination of olive oil and bay leaf can improve your skin’s health and reduce the severity of varicose veins. Always make sure you choose the right essential oils because a bad batch can make things a lot worse.
Varicose veins can also become a serious health concern in some cases. Make sure you always consult with a doctor before self-diagnosing or treating varicose veins.
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