You are probably looking for a few easy, natural ways to eliminate the ugly-looking spider veins.
We have extensively researched to discover the best natural remedies for you. Luckily, an incredible number of natural remedies will help you remove all symptoms of telangiectasias troubling your vein.
If you see web-like vein formations (usually blue or purple) on any part of your body, do not panic and worry about it. It is usually harmless and disappears gradually on its own.
However, some people have regular issues with spider veins that do not go away that easily, and new ones keep appearing simultaneously. It might even cause skin irritation like itching, burning, and painful swelling.
Luckily, there are several natural remedies for spider veins. Most of these home remedies for varicose and spider veins have been used for centuries.
Laser treatments and prescription medicines also remove varicose and spider vein issues.
In this article, we shall briefly discuss some of the best natural remedies and useful tips on how to get rid of this vascular disease.
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins (telangiectasias) are twisted red, purple, and blue vessels seen mostly on the legs, hands, and face. They could appear in any body part where excess pressure on veins is regularly exerted.
Varicose veins are larger, raised, and swollen with twists and turns, whereas spider veins are thin webs under the skin.
They appear like a spider web just below the surface of the skin. Although they appear to be an ugly cluster of blue or purple-colored veins, they do not cause serious health hazards.
You can eliminate spider veins with natural remedies or mainstream medical treatment. Treating spider veins is not a medical necessity, but most people like having beautiful, spider-vein-free skin.
Commonly followed medical treatments are an endovenous laser, sclerotherapy, laser therapy, vein surgery, and radiofrequency ablation. These expensive medical treatments are required only if you have a severe occurrence of spider veins.
According to certain estimates, about 55% of women and 45% of men get spider veins at least once in a lifetime.
So far, no evidence suggests why some people get it, and others don’t. According to the existing medical theories, spider vein occurs in most people because of genetics, high pressure on veins, or the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Most pregnant women do get spider veins, and others who take oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy may also experience it.
How to Get Rid of Spider Veins?
You will be surprised to see a broad range of natural remedies for getting rid of spider veins. Most of these remedies are meant for external application and are inexpensive compared to laser treatments.
Let us look at the best 1o alternative treatments that are popular and effective.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
According to one of the recent study reports, the external application of apple cider vinegar on varicose veins increased the effect of conservative treatments. After three months of daily application of ACV, the patients in the study group who applied the AVC found a substantial decrease in symptoms of varicose and spider veins without any side effects.
Usage Direction:
- Apply the ACV with a cotton ball on the area with the spider vein.
- Repeat it twice a day.
- Continue until the spider vein has disappeared.
Do not apply the ACV directly on the facial skin without diluting it with water.
Drink ACV: Drinking one teaspoon of ACV (mixed in 1 glass of water) twice a day is beneficial in reducing the inflammation of the spider veins. This will also help in improving blood circulation.
2. Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil is good for strengthening the capillary walls of the blood vessels and reduces the pain and swelling associated with spider veins.
Usage Directions: Add 3 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 tablespoon of coconut or Jojoba oil, and use the mixture to massage the webbed veins 3 times a day.
3. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a powerful natural remedy for spider veins. The Capsaicinabundant capsaicin and flavonoids help increase blood flow and ease the pain and skin irritation that might happen with spider veins.
Capsaicin from cayenne pepper is often used as an important ingredient in herbal blends as it fortifies the effectiveness of other herbs.
According to one of the herbal studies, the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba (another herbal remedy for swollen veins) increased by 75% when Capsaicin was included in the diet or as an ingredient in the herbal blend.
Usage Directions:
- Take a ¼ teaspoon of grounded cayenne pepper.
- Mix it in a cup of water.
- Drink it once daily.
Another method is to include cayenne pepper in different dishes you prepare daily.
4. Butcher’s Broom
Butcher’s broom is well known for its medicinal value. It is a commonly used ingredient in several herbal blends for treating various diseases.
The ‘ruscogenins’ compound in the butcher’s broom is excellent for reducing the inflammation caused by spider veins, improving the elasticity of the veins, and clearing the blood congestion in veins. Ruscogenin (Ruscus aculeatus) also helps to improve blood circulation and collagen production.
Usage Directions: Take 300mg butcher’s broom supplements once a day. You can find several reputed brands of this supplement in OTC.
5. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is one of the best-known natural remedies for spider veins. This herb’s anti-inflammatory and astringent properties help remove the blood congestion that causes spider veins. In the case of varicose veins, the tannins and volatile oils present in witch hazel constrict the enlarged veins to normal size.
According to a German pharmacological study by the University of Michigan Health System, the herbal extract from Witch hazel strengthens veins and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Witch hazel is your answer to ‘how to get rid of varicose veins on legs’; apply this herbal extract, and you will experience the difference soon.
Usage Directions: You can apply a few drops of witch hazel extract with a cotton ball on the skin area with spider veins. You can boil a bunch of witch hazel leaves and use this water to compress (cold/lukewarm) the affected areas of the skin.
6. Horse Chestnut Seeds
If you are wondering how to remove the spider veins, you must try the horse chestnut seed and witch hazel extract combination.
The horse chestnut seeds contain natural compounds that help inhibit the enzymes that can damage the capillary walls also strengthen the veins.
Some studies claim that taking horse chestnut seed extract containing 16% to 20% of the chemical aescin aids in getting rid of the symptoms of poor blood circulation that result in varicose veins, spider veins, and other diseases.
Usage Directions: Make a mixture of tincture of horse chestnut and distilled witch hazel – use ten parts of witch hazel to 1 part of horse chestnut. Gently apply the mixture lotion with a cotton ball to the spider vein-affected areas of the skin. You can also get horse chestnut cream on the swollen or webbed veins.
7. Gotu Kola
Spider vein’s natural treatment with Gotu Kola is a widely used remedy to remove the blood pools in the legs. It works well for varicose veins and spider veins.
According to some of the study reports, Gotu Kola may help reduce swelling and improve blood flow, which is good for congested vein issues like spider veins.
In one study on a group of people with venous insufficiency, the patients who underwent two weeks of treatment with Gotu kola extracts showed faster disappearance of blood vessels’ swelling.
Usage Direction: Drink Gotu kola tea made of its dried leaves and drink 1 cup every three times a day. Or take the capsules (180-250 mg) twice daily. (Warning: Do not continuously take Gotu Kola extract for more than six weeks, as it may cause some liver problems.)
8. Ginkgo Biloba
Using Ginkgo Biloba extract is a perfect solution to your quest to get rid of spider veins naturally. The herb contains excellent natural properties that help strengthen the tissues of the blood vessels.
It relieves the pain and swelling caused by varicose and spider veins by widening and relaxing blood vessels to regulate the smooth flow of blood.
Usage Directions: Take 120-240 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract in two or three small doses daily. Get the supplement containing 50:1 standardized ginkgo extract for the best results.
9. Bilberry
Bilberry is one of the best home remedies for spider veins. The bilberry extract can promote increased blood circulation and reduce inflammation in the blood vessels. It works well for healing spider veins as the herb is rich in bioflavonoids, proanthocyanidins, tannins, and phenolic acids that aid in removing blood congestion and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
Usage Direction: Give 20-40mg of bilberry extract thrice daily. You can also have bilberry tea instead of the extract but do not use the pine bark and extract supplements simultaneously. Do not continue with bilberry extract supplements for more than six weeks as it can have side effects on health.
10. Foods, Spices, and Oils
Here is a list of spices, foods, and oils that may help in managing spider veins:
Ginger
Ginger improves blood circulation, reduces blood pressure, and makes the blood thinner. Include ginger in your daily diet.
Bioflavonoids Foods
Include in your daily diet food that contains bioflavonoids that strengthen the blood vessels and maintain the structural integrity of the veins. Foods such as Red Bell Peppers, Strawberries, Citrus Fruits, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Garlic, Green tea, and Spinach contain a lot of bioflavonoids.
Olive Oil
Massage spider vein-affected areas with olive oil, which helps increase blood flow and reduces pain and inflammation.
Garlic
Removes toxins from the blood vessels and improves blood circulation. Add garlic to your foods, drink garlic juice, or just chew and eat a few garlic cloves daily.
Coconut Oil
Use coconut oil to massage legs and other spider-vein-affected areas of the skin. This helps to relieve pain and swelling and promotes the smooth flow of blood.
Essential Oils
Essential Oils are among the top natural remedies for spider veins. Most essential oils and oil blends help eliminate spider veins with multiple health benefits. Just read through another post on this blog, essential oil for spider and varicose veins, to find more details.
Tips for Prevention and Removal of Spider Veins
Here, I would like to bring a few important “DOs & DON’Ts required for managing spider veins effectively. These suggestions answer your question, ‘How can you eliminate the spider veins?’
- Manage Your Body Weight: Obesity is one of the major reasons for spider veins. Eat a healthy and balanced diet and do regular physical exercise to prevent spider veins
- Don’t Sit or Stand Continuously: Sitting or standing continuously for long hours exerts undue pressure on veins. Do not sit with crossed-over legs as it curtails the free flow of blood.
- Improve Blood Circulation: Exercise and eat flavonoid-rich foods to improve blood circulation. If you have spider veins on your legs, keep the legs raised while sleeping or sitting.
- Wear Compression Stockings: Wearing compression stockings aids in improving blood circulation by squeezing the legs.
- Massage the Affected Area: Oil massaging the spider veins affected areas improves blood circulation in blood-congested veins.
- Eat Antioxidant-Rich Diets: Antioxidants help to improve the health of veins by preventing inflammation in blood vessels.
- Eat Spicy Foods: Include in your diet ginger, cayenne pepper, and garlic, as this will help to improve blood circulation and break down fibrin, which causes the formation of a hard substance around your varicose veins.
- Avoid Alcohol and Smoking: Regular intake of alcohol makes the veins dilate over a period.
- Balance Salt Intake: Salt intake in excess paves the way for spider veins.
- Wear Regular Footwear: Do not wear high heels and stilettos footwear as they put you in unnatural positions that prevent the free flow of blood.
- Use Sunscreen: Direct exposure to the sunshine aggravates the conditions of spider veins; protect your skin from UVA rays by wearing sunscreen creams or lotions.
- Drink Water: Drinking enough water keeps your body well hydrated and is beneficial for flushing out toxins from your body.
Final Thoughts
Spider veins are a common problem that is faced by nearly 50% of the adult population all over the world. It is not a bothersome health issue that requires necessary medical attention.
However, the ugly appearance of webbed veins on your body dooms your physical appearance. And for some people, spider veins can become swollen, painful, and itching. Natural medicines are the best remedy for spider veins.
I hope this article adequately answers your question, ‘How to get rid of painful spider veins naturally.’ Please share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section below.