Long before modern medicine, people with health issues turned to herbs and other strategies for their various ills. Some of those older remedies have proved to be more than old wives’ tales, while others have not been supported by research. Here’s what you need to know about one of those remedies – using apple cider vinegar for varicose vein treatment – courtesy of Dr. Tif Siragusa, at Siragusa Vein and Laser, in Nashville.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins and vein disease occur because the tiny flaps of tissue inside the vein, called valves, stop functioning properly. Valves prevent blood from flowing backward in the pause between heartbeats. As a result, blood pools in the veins, especially of the lower legs, and the veins become distended and tortuous. While many people have no symptoms, others experience leg pain, swelling, burning, and itching. Badly distended veins can be an esthetic issue as well. In severe cases, the skin over a vein may break down and lead to ulcers, especially in those who have diabetes.