Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Thrombophlebitis, and Varicose Veins

Introduction:

Varicose veins are the result of damaged one way valves that help push the blood through the veins and forward to the heart.  When the valves become damaged, the blood is able to pool within the veins and decreases the ability of the body to remove toxins and oxygenate the tissues (16). The first sign of a varicose vein is swelling along the path the vein takes down the leg.  After this most people notice bluish or reddish tinged coloring to the area as well as a swelling along the vein. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition that occurs from partial occlusion of a vein or malfunctioning valves of the veins. CVI does not pose a serious health threat, but the condition can be disabling and cause pain. Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency may include chronic leg swelling, leg pain, itching, a tight feeling calves, brown-colored skin of the lower legs, varicose veins, and leg ulcers. In CVI, the veins do not return blood from the legs to the heart well. Treatment for CVI may include compression stockings, medication, or surgery. Several Integrative medicine options are provided here for the treatment of CVI.