Varicose Veins are swollen, twisted and enlarged veins, that commonly affect the legs and veins. It is common is people whose work demands long standing hours, like teachers, surgeons, cooks etc.

This condition is generally benign and for most people, it is simply a cosmetic concern. However, in some cases Varicose Veins might cause ache and discomfort and other complications.

Causes of Varicose Veins

Veins carry the impure or deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body to the heart (except the pulmonary vein). They work against gravity to carry the blood from the legs to the heart. The muscle contractions in lower leg helps to pump the blood and the elastic vein walls return the blood to the heart. The valves in the veins open to allow the blood to flow to the heart and close to prevent them from flowing backward. When these valves become weaker, they can cause the blood to flow backward and in the opposite direction.

The causes of Varicose Veins include:

Age: As one gets older, the veins lose their elasticity, causing them to stretch. The valves become weak which can cause the blood to flow in the opposite direction.
Pregnancy: Pregnancy decreases the flow of blood from legs to pelvis. This can lead to enlarged veins in the leg.

Signs and Symptoms

In most cases, there is no pain. The signs and symptoms include:

Veins that look twisted and swollen
Veins are blue or dark purple

When the condition results into painful symptoms, the patient might experience:

Aching pain in the legs
Feeling of heaviness, specially after a stressful activity or at night
Itching around the affected veins
In case of injuries, bleeding might take a longer time to stop
Swollen ankles
Sitting or standing for a long period of time may worsen the pain
Red discoloration of the vein

Risk Factors

Gender: Varicose veins affect women more than men
Genetics: A person who has a family history of varicose veins has higher risk of developing the condition
Obesity: Obese people are at a higher risk of developing varicose veins
Age: The risk increases with the increase in age
Certain jobs: Jobs which demand standing for a longer period of time increases the risk of varicose veins.

Ayurveda Treatment

At Apollo AyurVAID, Varicose Veins is approached to strengthen the muscles and prevent the pooling of blood in the legs. This is achieved by a two-fold approach: External and Systemic.

External: To improve the disability caused by torturous veins; i.e. pain and inflammation and to improve blood circulation in the Pratiloma direction.

Systemic: This approach is done to address the displaced Doshas and Dhatus to regain their function and structure and to prevent the sequel of Varicose Veins i.e. Venous/Varicose Ulcers.

According to Ayurveda, Varicose Veins can be correlated to a condition called Siraja Granthi. In this condition, the blood veins are enlarged and gnarled.

Nidana (Etiology or basic causes):

The basic causes leading to the formation of Varicose Veins are:

Excessive exertion by a weak and emaciated person.
Intake of food that obstructs the channels like curd, Lassi, deep-fried food etc.
Suddenly immersing or washing the lower limb in cold water after walking a long distance.
Excessive exertion of the lower limb
Constipation
Obesity

Samprapti (Pathology):

The valves in the veins become weaker as they lose elasticity. Loss of Elasticity as per Ayurveda is due to increase in Ruksha Guna (dryness) of Vayu (air) and the subtle tissue metabolism.

Ayurveda takes in consideration Prana (life energy that performs respiration, oxygenation, and circulation). It governs two other subtle essence Ojas and Tejas. Ojas (the essence of the seven dhatus or bodily tissues) is responsible for the autoimmune system and mental intelligence and is necessary for longevity. Displaced ojas creates the kapha related disorders and decreased ojas creates vata related reactions. Tejas (the essence of a very subtle fire or energy) governs metabolism through the enzyme system. Agni (central fire or energy source in the body) promotes digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. Tejas is necessary for the nourishment and transformation of each dhatu. Aggravated tejas burns away ojas, reducing immunity and over stimulating pranic activity. Aggravated prana produces degenerative disorders in the dhatus. Lack of tejas results in over production of unhealthy tissue and obstructs the flow of prana/rakta (blood) in case of Varicose Veins. It is essential to maintain balance amongst the tridosha (three Doshas)—Vata, Pitta, Kapha principles of motion, metabolism, structure, respectively.

Chikitsa (Treatment):

Veshtana: wrapping or covering the limb with a cloth or crepe bandage
Sira Vyadha: Bloodletting through Phlebotomy
Basti: Therapeutic enema

Our Approach

The Apollo AyurVAID protocol is based on the simple premise that the Physician must diagnose and treat only based on sufficient evidence. This evidence should be ‘patient or rogi based’ in addition to being ‘disease or roga based’ in accordance with the fundamental principles of Ayurveda.

How is this made possible?

A thorough and complete recording of the patient’s medical history, capturing every minute aspect of his/her lifestyle.
A thorough head-to-toe clinical examination, uncovering health risk factors that the patient is unaware of, directly connected or unrelated with his presenting medical complaint(s).
This process of detailed history recording and clinical examination- which includes the classical Srotha-Vikrti pariksha – leads to an accurate understanding of the Dosha status of the individual and lays the foundation for an accurate differential diagnosis and medical management.
Further, the patient is entitled to be clearly informed about the diagnosis arrived at, as also understand the medical management proposed for him. The Physician shall proceed only with the patient’s informed concurrence.

Other Related Disease

*Outcome may vary from patient to patient

Varicose Veins