Acupuncture for varicose veins and what you need to know

Nowadays, varicose veins of the extremities are quite a common disease in life. The subjects are quite diverse from the elderly, pregnant women, people who work hard, office... all can get the disease. However, with the advancement of medicine, there are many effective treatments for varicose veins. In particular, traditional medicine therapy, especially acupuncture to treat varicose veins of the extremities, has been recorded with many positive results.

Now, with SignsSymptomsList learn more about acupuncture treatment for varicose veins.

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• Varicose veins from the perspective of modern medicine
• Varicose veins from the perspective of traditional medicine
• The effect of acupuncture on varicose veins
• Acupuncture treatment for varicose veins
• Acupuncture treatment for varicose veins
• Note when acupuncture treats varicose veins
• Other oriental medicine methods to help treat varicose veins

Varicose veins from the perspective of modern medicine

The concept of varicose veins

Some concepts about varicose veins of the extremities such as:

• It is a decline in the function of the venous system in the legs to return blood to the heart. Because these venous valves are damaged, impaired, dilated…
• This will cause stagnation of blood. From there, leading to hemodynamic changes and deformation of surrounding tissue.

Symptoms may include severe leg fatigue, leg edema, ants-like paresthesia, nighttime cramps... In addition, you can see tiny veins or spider webs with the naked eye. When touched, it can be hard and painful to press… The early symptoms are often overlooked and ignored by the patient.

Laboratory tests used to diagnose this disease include:

• Doppler ultrasound of blood vessels of the extremities: see thrombus or regurgitation...
• Contrast-enhanced intravenous angiography: performed only when the existence and characteristics of venous regurgitation cannot be accurately determined.

Acupuncture treatment of varicose veins is an effective method of supporting treatment

Risk factors for varicose veins

Statistics show that the disease can occur in both sexes, the rate of women is more than men. In women, due to the influence of the hormonal system, low muscle mass, pregnancy, etc., it is easier to cause compression and varicose veins than men.

Occupation: Some occupations have the nature of sitting for a long time, standing a lot, carrying heavy loads such as sales, textiles, processing... Because of the nature of the job, it allows the blood to pool a lot in the legs, increasing pressure. in the leg veins. In the long run, it will damage the valve system, reduce blood circulation, blood stasis in the legs ...

Living habits: being lazy, eating less fiber and vitamins, living in a humid environment, being obese, being pregnant many times...

In the elderly, through the aging process, the veins and valves will no longer be strong, easily blocked or have poor circulation.

In addition, a number of other favorable factors also contribute to the disease condition such as genetics, anatomical abnormalities, trauma, accidents, fractures, compression caused by tumors, etc.

Progression of varicose veins

The disease can progress to edema in the feet or ankles. Due to blood stasis in the veins for a long time, it is easy to cause dystrophy, change skin color, appear bruises. Veins are prominent, bulging, painful, not relieved by rest. Severe cases of the disease can lead to ulcers, bleeding, and necrosis of the extremities.

If left untreated, a blood clot (blood clot) in a vein can block a blood vessel locally. They can cause diseases such as phlebitis, superficial and deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, bacterial ulcers, etc. Even, pulmonary artery occlusion, can lead to death.

General direction of treatment

Conservative treatment

• Drugs that stabilize blood vessels and increase blood vessel tone such as rutin C, daflon... However, they usually only work in the early stages, with mild symptoms, reduced stagnation, and fatigue.
• Wear elastic bandages to treat varicose veins of the extremities.

Some other methods are invasive

• Cooling method with liquid nitrogen of minus 90 degrees Celsius.
• Method of using local injection of vascular scleroderma drugs.
• RFA - Radiofrequency occlusion: method of tissue destruction by heat by the friction of ions in the tissue.
• Surgical removal of varicose veins that conservative treatments are not effective such as Stripping, Chivas ...

Changing lifestyle habits to limit the condition such as: keeping your feet high when sleeping, resting, not standing or sitting for a long time, eating a high-fiber diet, limiting obesity, etc. reflux and better blood circulation in the veins.

Should take preventive measures early.

In addition to acupuncture for varicose veins, elastic bandages for legs are also a way to reduce symptoms

Measures to prevent varicose veins

• Improve working conditions, occupations that involve sitting for a long time, standing for a long time, etc. It is recommended to change posture, walk often, etc.
• Change living habits such as exercising regularly, avoiding standing or sitting for too long, losing weight, etc.
• At night, when sleeping, you should put a pillow with your feet up high, to reduce pressure and blood circulation easily.
• Swimming, dancing, slow walking... are all effective methods of preventing diseases.

Nutrition

In any medical condition, nutrition always plays an important role. To increase resistance as well as contribute to the prevention and reduction of disease symptoms, it is necessary to use foods rich in vitamins, minerals, flavonoids... especially vitamin C. Specifically, nuts, beans, cabbage, avocado, etc. Green tea, blueberry…

At the same time, abstaining from spicy foods, alcohol, tobacco use, and limiting foods high in fat, salt, and sugar are essential.

Varicose veins from the perspective of traditional medicine

Concept

Oriental medicine describes varicose veins through symptoms such as pomegranate weight, small blood vessels, pomegranate veins ...

• Pomegranate veins are lumpy veins.
• Pomegranate fascia is a blue-violet vein disease, twisted into each island, each tuft, prominently in the abdomen, ankles ...
• Pulse: Painful pulse, skin feels hot or blood vessels are prominent, blood circulation is not smooth.

Reason

There are many causes of the disease. However, the main cause is still due to the lack of circulation of blood and qi, leading to obstruction of blood in the veins, causing the veins to swell.

Specifically, it can be caused by bad gas, bad blood, low factors (low welding, low heat, low phlegm...), standing and sitting for a long time, compression, obstruction, coherence, trauma...

Manifestations of symptoms

Initially, when exercising, sitting for a long time, standing for a long time, the legs swell and swell. After that, the vein is damaged into pieces, segments, small lumps, feeling heavy, may be accompanied by itching, numbness, discomfort... Specifically, depending on the cause of the disease, there are typical symptoms such as: :

• Blood stasis: Varicose veins, zigzag, red bruises, blue-violet, skin ulcers, tight pressure, ...
• Blood loss: cold skin, numbness, itching, change in skin color
• Low phlegm: pain, heaviness, fatigue, even edema, swelling.
• Low welding: due to exposure to wet, low-lying places, it often causes evil gas to penetrate into the veins, causing the legs to become numb, heavy in the evening, lighter in the morning, difficult to walk, difficult to stretch...
• Thermochemistry: burning, restless legs, yellow urine, yellow tongue moss...

The effect of acupuncture on varicose veins

Today, acupuncture for varicose veins is recognized with positive effects, reducing disease symptoms. Through stimulation, impact on acupoint positions will help patients:

• Active blood qi: helps blood to circulate more easily.
• Supplementing Qi and Blood: stimulating and promoting the organs and organs to produce qi and blood, nourishing blood vessels and muscles...
• The meridians are active, clearing heat.
• Hydration, reduce edema, reduce numbness, fatigue...

Acupuncture treatment for varicose veins

Indications of acupuncture for varicose veins treatment

People with symptoms of the disease such as numbness, heaviness, fatigue, etc.

Contraindications of acupuncture for varicose veins

• For emergency medical cases, severe infections, surgical diseases, etc.
• Do not prick the skin that is inflamed or sore, edematous...

Acupuncture treatment for varicose veins

With each medical condition, the doctors and doctors will offer different acupuncture treatment regimens for varicose veins. Although this method does not seem to be able to directly affect the damage, as well as restore blood vessels. But they can relieve some of the symptoms of the disease.

According to Shanghai Acupuncture, the formula for acupuncture points to treat varicose veins includes:

• Upper extremities: Ancient armor 6-chest 3, Khuc Tri, Thieu Hai, Internal Affairs, Bonded.
• Lower extremities: L1-L3 waist armor, Duong Lang Tuyen, Yin Lang Tuyen, Huyen Chung, Tam Am Giao.

Can be stimulated strongly, pulsating the needle for 2-3 minutes, keeping the needle for about 15 minutes, or using the electro-acupuncture method. The course of treatment is applied once a day, lasting for about 20 days.

Besides, there are also some commonly used acupoints: Than Du, Tuc Tam Ly, Menh Men, Duong Lingquan, Thai Chong, spot acupoints...

Acupuncture treatment of varicose veins helps to clear the meridians, tonic blood, ...

Note when acupuncture treats varicose veins

After performing acupuncture for varicose veins, it is necessary to monitor the patient's overall condition, as well as possible symptoms such as:

Magnetic Vocabulary:

• Signs of dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, rapid pulse, pale face.
• Turn off the injector (if applicable), then withdraw the needle immediately. Wipe sweat, keep warm, and have the patient lie down on the spot. It is important to closely monitor the patient's vital signs and condition.

Withdraw the needle and the blood will flow out: Use a sterile cotton ball to press firmly on the bleeding site, do not rub.

In some cases of severe numbness, reduction or loss of sensation in the extremities also need to be paid attention to, to avoid unwanted complications.

Other oriental medicine methods to help treat varicose veins

Acupressure massage

Besides acupuncture for varicose veins, acupressure massage also has many benefits for this disease. The principle is to massage and press on acupuncture points to stimulate and correct dysfunctions, clear meridians, enhance blood circulation, balance yin and yang...

Performed by massage techniques of the extremities with acupressure (acupressure formula is similar to acupuncture), done about 20-30 minutes per day. Depending on the condition and progression of the disease, the course of treatment is from 15-30 days. Note that, this should not be done on diseased skin areas, sores, etc., as well as signs of emergency, surgery, etc.

Ayurvedic

The nourishing movements help patients improve symptoms, increase blood circulation, reduce symptoms significantly... Specifically, breathing for 4 times with buttocks and legs raised, planting bananas, plows... Should be done every day to increase the effectiveness of treatment.

Traditional medicines

Traditional Chinese medicine and herbal remedies are used to reduce symptoms of diseases, often have the following uses:

• Supplementing gas, helping to circulate blood such as royal qi , ginseng , etc.
• Activate blood, eliminate stasis, clear meridians such as shah dah, dan ginseng , cross-frame, peach kernel...
• In particular, the flower bud, with its high rutin content, has been shown to have anti-atherosclerotic properties, strengthen blood vessel walls, reduce edema, swelling, etc., to support the treatment of vascular diseases.

Herbal medicine containing rutin C has the effect of stabilizing the vessel wall, promoting blood circulation...

It can be said that, at the present time, the techniques of treatment and care, acupuncture treatment , especially acupuncture treatment of varicose veins of the extremities are bringing many positive results. However, this is only a supportive treatment method. To apply and achieve the best treatment effect, you should consult with medical professionals, doctors, and other professionals.