Best Essential Oils for Varicose Veins + Recipes

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.

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.

Read more about my review of Rocky Mountain Oils here.

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.

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. 

Cypress Essential Oil

Cypress essential oil helps thin stagnated blood in the veins. It also contracts the blood vessels and assists better blood flow.

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.

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.