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Many are now turning to essential oils for varicose veins relief. It’s a safe and natural alternative for soothing sore and inflamed veins in the legs and feet.
Today, we will be discussing the best essential oils for varicose veins as well as blends and recipes to get you started.
We will also be answering the question everyone has in mind. Do essential oils for varicose vein work?
Why We Get Varicose Veins on Our Legs
Varicose veins are blue or purple enlarged veins that often appear on the legs and feet. They are part of the spectrum of chronic venous disease.
Varicose veins are most common with women and older adults between ages 40-80 years old.
Spider veins,a milder variation, are dilated capillaries on the skin that can be unsightly for most.
There are a number of factors that predispose a person to varicose veins:
- Hormonal changes in the body like pregnancy, puberty, and menopause
- Use of birth control pills
- Blood clot history
- Obesity
- Occupations involving sitting or standing for a long time
- Increased pressure in the abdomen
So what causes varicose veins?
Arteries carry the nutrient-rich blood from the heart to the other body parts. The veins return the blood to the heart, along with other waste products our bodies produce.
Muscle contractions act as pumps — the valves in the veins open and close to stop the blood from flowing backward.
Veins are pretty elastic. But if it weakens or gets damaged, blood can flow backward and create pools in the vein and force it to stretch or twist.
Here are some complications people with varicose veins can experience:
- Painful ulcers particularly near the ankles
- Thrombophlebitis or blood clots
- Bleeding
The Magic of Essential Oils
Today, more people are turning to alternative medicine for healing and relief. In fact, it’s been a growing market.
Research shows that essential oils like lavender have analgesic and sedative traits that help relieve pain.
Applying essential oils on the skin can help dilate and constrict blood vessels thus promoting healthy blood circulation.
Astringent oils help tighten the surrounding tissues and veins. Anti-inflammatory oils control inflammation and help heal damaged or weak veins.Are All Essential Oils Created Equal?
Of all the available essential oil brands out there, I trust Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO) best.
There are tons of essential oils available today. Hundreds of brands use lots of hype and other marketing tricks but underdeliver.
So how did I choose the top quality essential oil brand?
For me, the brand must meet the following criteria:
- It must have tons of experience with creating, handling, processing, and using essential oils.
- The brand must use pure, unadulterated essential oils that are not mixed with other oils or extracted with solvents.
- They must perform high-quality testing on their oils, and test results must be accessible to the public.
- Plants and herbs must be sourced from small farms or remote locations. This ensures that no pesticides, herbicides, or harmful chemicals are used.
- The essential oils must be reasonably priced
- The brand shouldn’t be over-recommending their oils
- Oils must have botanical names on the bottle for transparency to consumers
- The brand must have excellent customer service and support.
I love that Rocky Mountain Oils consider the oil’s quality as top priority. They also have awesome customer service and offer transparency in all their methods.
Do Essential Oils Work?
Essential oils can help minimize varicose veins when used consistently over the course of a few months. The biggest factor for seeing results is to use your treatment everyday.
The best way to use the following essential oils for varicose vein treatment is to make your own serum or massage oil, apply with a gentle massage, and elevate your legs for 10 - 15 minutes.
Using essential oils for varicose veins is not a guaranteed treatment, there have been people who have definitely seen results, and others who haven't. Sometimes the varicose veins are to severe to respond to anything other than medical intervention, but it is worth trying a natural remedy to see if it works for you.
Four Best Essential Oils for Spider Veins and Varicose Veins
Here are four of the best essential oils for varicose veins and spider veins. I’ve also included some blends and recipes you can use.
Black Pepper Essential Oil
Black Pepper essential oil is great for shrinking varicose veins. It is a warm essential oil that also stimulates blood flow. It’s also a fantastic analgesic and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Black Pepper Salve Recipe
Make a simple Black Pepper Salve for your hands, legs, and feet. Check out this recipe:
- 7 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
- 24 drops Black Pepper Essential Oil
- 12 drops Nutmeg Essential Oil
- 1 Tbsp beeswax (I like Sky Organics)
Melt beeswax in a double boiler and add almond oil. Remove from heat once the mixture clarifies. Mix in essential oils and pour into a 4 oz jar with a lid.
Allow the mixture to set up overnight. Avoid shaking or mixing.
Enjoy the salve by massaging to tired hands, legs, and feet.
Yarrow Essential Oil
Yarrow is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent that brings down swelling. It also stimulates the circulatory system and has balancing properties.
It also has numerous healing effects. It is an astringent, which helps tighten and tone the blood vessels. It can also provide relief for arthritis and rheumatism.
Yarrow Essential oil can be tricky to find, Plant Therapy offers a really great one.
Yarrow Oil Infused Bath
Run yourself a warm bath and enjoy the healing properties of yarrow oil.
All you need is 2 tablespoons of wheat germ oil and about 7 drops of yarrow essential oil. Stir the oils in the bath and soak for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress essential oil helps thin stagnated blood in the veins. It also contracts the blood vessels and assists better blood flow.
Cypress Massage Oil
Use 5 drops of Cypress in every teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut or avocado oil. Massage it directly on the affected area two times a day.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
Like Cypress, Helichrysum essential oil tops the list for oils that dilate the veins.
It shrinks the veins and prevents blood stagnation. It also prevents blood clots and works as a blood thinner.
Ultimate Blend for Varicose Veins
Ingredients:
- 5 drops Cypress
- 3 drops Helichrysum
- 5 drops Lemongrass
- 7 drops Lemon
- Fractionated Coconut Oil as a carrier oil (I like this one from Plant Therapy)
In a 10 ml roll-on bottle, add all the oils drop by drop and finish with the coconut oil. Replace the roller ball and the lid. Roll the bottle between your hands and let the oils mix.
To use, massage the oil on the affected area and elevate the feet afterward.
Conclusion
Essential oils can help alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins. But keep in mind that there are also risks you should take note of.
Make sure to dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before use. Also, take note of any allergic reactions or skin irritations before use. It is important for you to do patch tests before using the oils to check.
Regular exercise and diet also play huge roles in maintaining a healthy weight. Avoid crossing your legs if you’re sitting for long periods. And take frequent walk breaks in between working hours to encourage blood flow in your legs and feet.
Get your high-quality essential oils at Rocky Mountain Oils today!
I love all the info; it was very easy to follow and very informative! Thank you!
I have bad spider veins all over my legs, that it prevents me from ever showing them. I am only 33 and feel I have legs of a woman in her 70’s. I am very interested in trying essential oils to help possibly aid in healing any possible bit of my issue, or even disguise it all a little better! My question, is there any recipe you would recommend that incorporates all the oils you mentioned? In my case, I think I could truly use a bit of all of them. But, I am unfamiliar with oils and would be afraid to make my own concoction, fearful of making something worse.
Thank you for your time, and again much appreciation for your knowledge!
Hi Heather, I would use the Ultimate Blend for Varicose Veins recipe (the last recipe in the article)
Hi
Can I use Shea butter I.o beeswax for the salve?
You could try that 🙂 It won’t have quite the same consistency, but it should still remain as a salve texture. Let me know how it works!