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Believe it or not, there is a natural ingredient from Europe that can
help change the way your legs feel and the way you feel about the
circulation in your legs. Whether we realize it or not, the circulation
in our legs can have a huge influence on how we feel and what we do
everyday and perhaps even more so every evening. The comfort level of
our legs, or better said, their discomfort level at the end of the day
can adversely affect our social life and fitness activities - not to
mention adversely affecting our sleep. If our legs felt better perhaps
we would find it easier to do the things we'd love to do, but find it
so difficult to muster the motivation. As if the way our legs can feel
at the end of day isn't challenging enough, the changes in the
circulation in our legs as we age can seem even more hopeless and
discouraging. Now add to that the seeming conspiracy among fashion
designers to have us exposing even larger portions of our aging legs
and we have a problem that over 80 million Americans with varicose
veins understand all too well. (1).
Unfortunately, about half of all American women will develop varicose
or spider veins at some point in their lives (2). Not only are they
unsightly, these leg problems can also cause significant discomfort.
Typically, varicose veins are characterized by bulging, blue, sometimes
painful and inflamed veins that appear primarily in the calves and
thighs. Spider veins, on the other hand, show up as a web of fine lines
that can make your legs look like a road map.
While age and heredity play a role in the development of varicose and
spider veins, weight gain, pregnancy, menopause and the use of hormone
replacement therapy can also trigger these vein problems. Making
matters worse, chronic inactivity, standing for long periods of time or
habitually crossing your legs can make you more prone to injured veins
(2).
Conventional treatments include surgical stripping, injecting the veins
with a chemical irritant or zapping them with lasers. While these
approaches can remove existing varicose or spider veins, they will not
prevent new ones from developing, since these high-tech treatments do
not address the underlying problem of poor circulation. Worse yet,
these procedures can also cause infection, scarring, nerve damage and
pain (26). If these radical treatments are not an option for you,
you'll be happy to hear that there is a natural approach that not only
improves the appearance of these ropy, bulging veins, it also fosters
leg health to prevent future problems.
Veins Explained
To understand how varicose veins develop, you need to know a little bit
about how blood moves through the body. Essentially, there are two
types of major circulatory vessels in the body: the arteries, which
channel blood from the heart to the extremities, and the veins, which
bring blood from the extremities back to the heart. Of all the veins in
your body, leg veins work the hardest to carry blood back to the heart.
To accomplish this difficult task, your legs are equipped with
specially designed one-way valves that keep the blood moving in the
right direction. As efficiently as these valves work, your legs still
fight a constant battle against the natural pull of gravity. If the
veins can't move the blood efficiently or the one-way valves that
prevent the blood from backwashing fail to close properly, blood
collects in the legs. This pooling of blood then stretches the vein,
causing swelling and injury to the vein's walls (3).
Depending on the extent of the enlargement, these veins can show up as
either spider or varicose veins. Spider veins are broken capillaries
and small veins that appear as jagged red, blue or purple lines on the
surface of the skin. While they aren't painful, they can be extremely
unattractive. Varicose veins, on the other hand, are thick veins that
run deeper beneath the skin. They are far larger and much less
attractive than spider veins - and they can make your legs feel
fatigued, heavy, achy or even itchy. Varicose veins can also cause
burning, throbbing, cramping and restlessness.
While these conditions aren't usually dangerous, severe cases can lead
to chronic venous insufficiency - a persistent inability of the leg
veins to adequately return blood back to the heart (4). Varicose veins
are also associated with the development of skin ulcers or a chronic
inflammation of a vein - a condition known as phlebitis. Phlebitis is
often accompanied by formation of a blood clot, a dangerous situation
since the clot can move from the leg vein and travel to the lungs (2).
Get a Leg Up with Diosmin
Your strategy for battling vein problems naturally is twofold:
improving circulation and strengthening the vein walls. The first and
simplest measure to improve blood flow is to counteract gravity.
Standing or sitting all day makes it harder for blood to move up from
the legs and back to the heart. But taking a few minutes to rest with
your legs higher than your heart each day allows gravity to help return
blood to the heart.
Getting in shape can also help relieve varicose and spider veins - and
it can even prevent new ones from forming. As we age we lose muscle
tone, which adversely affects the health of our legs. Yet adopting a
consistent exercise program promotes good circulation and can help to
keep our leg muscles, and the blood vessels in our legs, toned.
Walking, weight training, low-impact aerobics and swimming strengthen
the legs and circulatory system, and help to reduce the throbbing and
aching often associated with varicose veins.
What you eat can also ease unsightly veins. A low-fat diet filled with
fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and whole grains add key nutrients
and fiber to your diet. Eating a fiber-rich diet reduces the chances of
constipation which can contribute to varicose veins. Constipation
restricts the blood as it returns to the torso through the deep veins
in the legs. Straining to have a bowel movement closes off the deep
veins in the legs and restricts the flow of blood as it returns to the
torso. As the blood backs up, it takes another course through
superficial veins, thus the blue streaks in the legs. Eating a
fiber-rich diet alleviates and prevents constipation, helping to avoid
the damage to the vascular system that can result. In addition to
fiber, a diet high in fruits and vegetables also ensures adequate
intake of nutrients and phytonutrients, which also help tonify the
blood vessels. As a bonus, a healthy diet and exercise program can also
jump-start weight loss - an important consideration since carrying too
much weight creates extra pressure on your heart and blood vessels,
interfering with healthy circulation (2).
To strengthen the veins themselves, take a tip from the Europeans. From
Austria to France to Italy, women and their doctors have relied on
Diosmin for more than 30 years to treat circulatory problems affecting
the legs - and with good reason. Diosmin is a unique bioflavonoid
derived from citrus fruits and is closely related to other citrus
bioflavonoids such as hesperiden, quercetin, and rutin (5). Clinical
trials have shown that Diosmin is highly effective in boosting
circulation and strengthening the veins in the legs (5). Not only does
this improve existing varicose and spider veins, it can also reduce the
likelihood of future problems.
What makes Diosmin so amazing is its power to specifically target the
blood vessels in the legs. Diosmin improves both blood vessel
elasticity and microcirculation while relieving pain and inflammation
by inhibiting pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxanes (21,24).
Because of its direct action on the integrity of vein walls, Diosmin
also reduces the amount of fluid that leaks out of them (21,22).
Diosmin's protective benefits do not stop there. Because it is a potent
anti-oxidant, Diosmin decreases lipid peroxidation and reduces free
radical damage that can undermine vein health (23, 27).
In one clinical trial, people who suffered from pain and swelling due
to varicose veins experienced significant improvement in their symptoms
after taking Diosmin for a few months (6). A review of studies also
found that, among more than 5,000 patients with vein disorders, the
vast majority not only saw a reduction in their discomfort, they
actually saw the swelling in their calves and ankles disappear (7).
Across the board, research shows that a daily dose of 500 to 1,000 mg
of Diosmin improves the health of leg veins and brings tremendous
relief from pain, night cramps and leg heaviness (8,9,10,11). Both
short- and long-term use of this highly effective natural ingredient
comes without any side effects. It is also so safe that you need not
worry about adverse interactions of Diosmin with drugs, foods, lab
tests or interactions with diseases or conditions. (5).
Help for Hemorrhoids
Because Diosmin reduces swelling and bolsters vein health, it can also
help people suffering with hemorrhoids - those uncomfortable varicose
veins that form in the lower rectum and anus. Along with making it
painful to sit, hemorrhoids can itch, bleed or protrude - and almost
half of all Americans suffer from them by the time they turn 50 (12).
Extensive research conclusively shows that Diosmin can safely alleviate
the pain, inflammation and bleeding of hemorrhoids (13,14,15). Best of
all, it offers quick relief, often working its magic within a week or
two (16). Plus, Diosmin reduces the risk of a relapse (17).
Diosmin for Cancer?
While no one questions Diosmin's efficacy for treating varicose and
spider veins or hemorrhoids, scientists have begun exploring other ways
this potent flavonoid may boost health. Their main focus - cancer
prevention - especially oral and skin cancers.
Researchers haven't conclusively identified the cancer-fighting
component in Diosmin, but preliminary experiments show that this
flavonoid inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells (18). In two
studies pitting Diosmin against other flavonoids like rutin, grapeseed
extract and red wine, Spanish investigators found that Diosmin was
considerably more effective at reducing the number of metastatic
melanoma cells (a potentially deadly type of skin cancer cells that
spread through the body) than any of the other flavonoids tested
(19,20). Other studies have found that Diosmin puts the brakes on the
spread of cancer cells in the mouth (25).
Although it could be years before science conclusively proves Diosmin's
cancer benefit, this nutrient can't be beat for supporting vein health.
Along with taking supplemental Diosmin, there are several simple
strategies you can employ to encourage healthy circulation. Eating a
high-fiber, anti-oxidant rich diet and getting plenty of exercise can
help keep veins in top form. And remember to take a break and put your
feet up every now and again.
References:
1. American Society for Dermatoloic Surgery.
2. National Women's Health Information Center. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
3. American College of Phlebology.
4. Society for Vascular Surgery.
5. Diosmin Monograph. Alternative Medicine Review. 2004;9(3):308-311.
6. Ting AC, et al. Clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in patients with
chronic venous insufficiency after oral micronized flavonoids therapy.
Vascular Surgery. 2001;35(6):443-447.
7. Ramelet AA. Daflon 500 mg: symptoms and edema clinical update. Angiology. 2005;56 Suppl 1:S25-S32.
8. Bergan JJ. Chronic venous insufficiency and the therapeutic effects of Daflon 500 mg. Angiology. 2005; 56 Suppl 1:S21-S24.
9. Nicolaides AN. From symptoms to leg edema: efficacy of Daflon 500 mg. Angiology. 2003;54 Suppl 1:S33-S44.
10. Smith PC. Daflon 500 mg and venous leg ulcer: new results from a meta-analysis. Angiology. 2005; 56 Suppl 1:S33-S39.
11. Jantet G. Chronic venous insufficiency: worldwide results of the
RELIEF study. Reflux assessment and quality of life improvement with
micronized Flavonoids. Angiology. 2002;533:245-256.
12. National Institutes of Health.
13. Lyseng-Williamson KA, et al. Micronised purified flavonoids
fraction: a review of its use in chronic venous insufficiency, venous
ulcers and haemorrhoids. Drugs. 2003;63(1):71-100.
14. Meshikhes AW. Daflon for haemorrhoids: a prospective, multi-centre observational study. Surgeon. 2004;2(6):335-338.
15. Kecmanovic D, et al. PHLEBODIA (diosmine): a role in the management
of bleeding nonprolapsed hemorrhoids). Acta Chirurgica Iugoslavica.
2005;52(1):115-116.
16. Diana G, et al. Activity of purified diosmin in the treatment of hemorrhoids. La Clinica Terapeutica. 2000;151(5):341-344.
17. Misra MC, et al. Randomized clinical trial of micronized flavonoids
in the early control of bleeding from acute internal haemorrhoids.
British Journal of Surgery. 2000;87(12):1732-1733.
18. Browning AM, et al. Flavonoid glycosides inhibit oral cancer cell
proliferation - role of cellular uptake and hydrolysis to the
aglycones. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2005;57(8):1037-1042.
19. Martinez C, et al. Treatment of metastatic melanoma B16F10 by the
flavonoids tangeretin, rutin, and diosmin. Journal of Agricultural and
Food Chemistry. 2005;53(17):6791-6797.
20. Martinez C, et al. The effect of the flavonoids dioxmin, grapeseed
extract and red wine on the pulmonary metastatic B16F10 melanoma.
Histology and Histopathology. 2005;20(4):1121-1129.
21. Ramelet AA. Clinical benefits of Daflon 500 mg in the most severe
stages of chronic venous insufficiency. Angiology. 2001;52 Suppl
1:S49-56.
22. Cyrino FZ, et al. Micronization enhances the protective effect of
purified flavonoidsfraction against postischaemic microvascular injury
in the hamster cheek pouch. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology
& Physiology. 2004;31(3):159-162.
23. Bergan JJ, et al. Therapeutic approach to chronic venous
insufficiency and its complications: place of Daflon 500 mg. Angiology.
2001;52 Suppl 1:S43-7.
24. Katsenis K. Micronized purified flavonoids fraction (MPFF): a
review of its pharmacological effects, therapeutic efficacy and
benefits in the management of chronic venous insufficiency. Current
Vascular Pharamcology. 2005;3(1):1-9.
25. Browning AM, et al. Flavonoid glycosides inhibit oral cancer cell
proliferation - role of cellular uptake and hydrolysis to the
aglycones. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2005;57(8):1037-1042.
26. National Women's Health Information Center. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health.
27. Villa P, et al. Protective effect of diosmetin on in vitro cell
membrane damage and oxidative stress in cultured rat hepatocytes.
Toxicology. 1992;73:179-189.
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