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Varicose Veins

Answer:

Varicose veins are swollen, bluish veins that are visible just under the skin, common in the legs and also manifesting as hemorrhoids in the anus and lower rectum. They are caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves. These can occur due to heredity and aging, as well as from high blood pressure, periods of sitting or standing for long periods of time, weight gain, and pregnancy. For some people, the appearance of varicose veins may be of cosmetic concern only, or cause discomfort as hemorrhoids, but for others, they may result from venous insufficiency (CVI) or other circulatory disease, which may affect both superficial and deeper veins, and cause symptoms such as leg swelling and nighttime leg cramps (NIH 2023).

There is some evidence that pine bark extract (such as Pycnogenol), horse chestnut extract, butcher's broom, gotu kola, and citrus bioflavonoids may reduce the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency or reduce the appearance of varicose veins, although none of these are strongly recommended by vascular experts in the U.S., and there are safety concerns with some of these supplements.

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17 Comments

William22786
May 15, 2025

I found that taking hesperidin combined with diosmin in a single capsule to clear up my venous insufficiency caused by diabetic leg syndrome and also in combination with vitamin-E eliminated my hemorrhoids. Supplementing with potassium (KCL) 5-Meq (Rx) extended release per day, has also helped to reduce my leg swelling. I do bench service work so I spend a lot of time seated and those items I listed above have been amazing for my health at 69 years of age. My BP is also much lower at 122/70.

Julie22675
May 01, 2025

I've taken horse chestnut consistently about ten years. I started taking it while pregnant when my midwife recommended it for my terrible hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids are simply rectal varicose veins). It completely cleared up the hemorrhoids so I have continued taking it ever since. I had hemorrhoids since I was 14 or 15 and after starting horse chestnut, I have only had one case of hemorrhoids and that was during a period of about 2 months when I ran out and hadn't bothered to get more yet. I went back on it as soon as the problem recurred and it promptly went away again, and I've had no issue since. I do have some spider veins on my ankles, but I had them years before I started taking the horse chestnut. I haven't developed any additional varicose veins on my legs even though my mother has them pretty bad. Maybe its coincidence, but I don't realy think that is the case considering the clear effects it has had for me elsewhere.

ConsumerLab.com
May 05, 2025

Please be aware of the potential adverse effects of horse chestnut, as noted above.

Stan22560
April 19, 2025

I am an elderly person whose parents suffered from severe varicose veins. I also had issues, including inching and very easy bruising of my ankles, which resulted in ankle wounds that were very very slow to heal. I had been taking citrus bioflavonoids for many decads, but I did not find substantial relief until I began taking 1200mg of L-citrulline daily (a precursor of arginine and nitric oxide) and one tablet daily of a product called “Leg Veins” (no financial connection). Im the years afterwards also began taking all the other supplements mentioned(except for gotu kola), and now I no longer have any such problems. My blood pressure and weight are both normal and I take no prescription or over the counter meds, so that interactions are not a worry. I also consume a large jar of mashed fermented beets weekly, as well as daily smoothies with lots of fiber rich seeds, stevia, cocoa and whey protein. Amazingly I’m still around. For now.

JR22556
April 19, 2025

I used to have varicose veins, starting in my early 50s, but I started taking 500 mg. of vitamin C about that time, divided over 2 doses with meals. I haven't had a sign of VV since, and I'm now 81 y.o.

TxZ
February 10, 2025

In my experience, I wasn't impressed with Pycnogenol and Gotu Kola neither by themselves nor together. On the other hand, I found beet root to work really well and its cheaper.

kathleen22419
April 01, 2025

How does beet root come?

ConsumerLab.com
April 07, 2025
GMSEE
July 17, 2025

Thank you!!

Sam**99
August 29, 2023

I have started taking pine bark extract standardized 3X a day. I have been having issues for months after taking metoprolol with my ankles swelling. I also have RLS. After taking the pine bark, I could slowly feel the swelling going down. I still have the RLS which I would love to know anyone who has a successful treatment for it. My iron levels tested were a bit lower so I take an iron supplement 2X week with Vitamin C. I also supplement with thiamine (benfotiamine.)

ConsumerLab.com
March 11, 2024
Camilla19125
March 27, 2024

I've had RLS for most of my life and magnesium at night definitely helps me.

David5663
July 24, 2023

butchers broom, troxerutins, gotu kola and pycnogenol have all worked well for me ( venous insufficiency and postural hypotension); horse chestnut caused a lot of problems.

ConsumerLab.com
July 26, 2023

Please see our article about horse chesnut for information about potential adverse effects and drug interactions with horse chesnut https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/can-horse-chestnut-cause-stomach-irritation/horse-chestnut-side-effects/.

Susan5656
December 09, 2015

I have had positive experience with both gotu kola and with Vitamin C bioflavinoids for signs of venous insufficiency.

Patrick5657
August 22, 2019

I have used nattokinase with good results. It aim at improving circulation, acting like a proteolytic enzyme and clearing arteries and veins of dead tissues, fibrins, or pieces of proteins jamming the veins and arteries. It will act within few weeks/months depending on a number of factors (doses, etc..) but you can definitely measure beneficial changes by measuring blood pressure over time.

ConsumerLab.com
August 23, 2019

Hi Patrick - Thank you for sharing this. Please see the Nattokinase Supplements Review for more about the evidence for nattokinase, and our tests of products https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/nattokinase-supplement-review/nattokinase/.

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