Varicose veins
Last Updated Sep 2007
Q: I am a 41-year-old female with numerous varicose veins in my left leg and a couple in my right leg. I noticed the first one when I was 17 years old, and they have become more numerous over time. Recently, I have started experiencing pain because of the veins. I have been tested for blood clots and am in the clear. My doctor has little to offer in the way of relief other than suggesting I wear surgical stockings. Do you have any dietary or supplement recommendations for varicose veins? Is there anything I can do to keep this condition from progressing? I currently take four capsules daily of both EicoRx and OmegaRx.
A: Varicose veins are due to the improper closing of the valves that causes the veins to enlarge due to the pooling of blood. Increasing the flexibility of the red blood cells by fish oil supplementation will make their movement more rapid, thus decreasing the pooling of the blood. I would suggest doubling the dosage of the EPA and DHA for 30 days and seeing if the size of the varicose veins is decreasing.