Horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, grape seed extract, and a host of vitamins, herbal supplements and creams on the market claim to eliminate varicose veins. But do they work? The answer is yes and no. These types of natural remedies can be minimally effective in reducing the appearance of certain veins. They typically are more effective on smaller spider veins than on more problematic varicosities. Horse chestnut seed extract, for example, is a venotonic agent that decreases the extent to which the veins can dilate so it does provide symptom relief.

While you may experience subtle improvements in the appearance and symptoms of these small spider veins or varicose veins, home remedies for varicose veins won’t treat the cause, leaving you susceptible to recurrences and to progression of the vein disease at the root of varicose veins.  Currently, the only therapy available to eliminate varicose veins is to eliminate the source. Today we do this by treating the vein at the source of the problem. Endovenous laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation are very minimally invasive procedures that have been proven effective with excellent immediate and long-term results, with minimal pain, discomfort, or downtime.

Varicose veins, along with pain, edema, hyperpigmentation, thickening of the skin, and ulcers, are merely symptoms of a vascular disease known as chronic venous insufficiency.  It is a progressive disease that is much more easily treated early in its onset.  Physicians use a scale known as CEAP score to determine the severity and progression of the disease. The clinical classification stages are:

• C0 – no visible signs of venous disease
• C1 – spider veins or reticular veins
• C2 – varicose veins
• C3 – edema
• C4 –hyperpigmentation
• C5 – healed venous ulcer
• C6 – active venous ulcer

If the root cause of the disease is left untreated, it will progress. The speed of progression is different for each patient; some may experience pain, edema or pigmentation much more quickly than others. Venous ulcers are potentially limb-threatening, so it is crucial to consult a vascular surgeon before reaching this stage. Everybody is unique and may respond differently to different treatments. If you do opt for a topical cream or herbal remedy, be sure to monitor your symptoms and seek the care of a venous specialist if any of the symptoms worsen.