Varicose Veins – A Useful Lotion!

An update to this post has, at long last, been written! You’ll find it here. Comments on this post will no longer be attended.

Varicose veins run in my family. I had one near my knee already when I was in college, and over the years, especially while I was pregnant, I developed quite a few in my ankles and lower legs. One was so purple it was nearly black, about an inch long, and squishy. Sometimes I’d go through phases of putting witch hazel on my legs with a cotton ball, but it was off and on, and never really showed any particular improvement. In fact, somehow I came to the conclusion that you couldn’t reverse varicose veins, only prevent further damage. Wow, was I ever wrong!

Early this year, I decided it was time to get serious about coming up with a plan for these ugly veins. I was so sure that I couldn’t reverse anything that it didn’t even occur to me to take “before” pictures, but enough of my students and family have seen my legs to assure me that I’m not dreaming – this is serious improvement.

In addition to what I will list below, I would also still like to work with oak bark, and ocotillo. I’ll do that once the summer rush calms down somewhat (and report back!). But so far, here’s what I’ve done, and to amazing results!

First, I made a lotion. (Actually, first before I made a lotion, I made a bunch of other changes, like going gluten and dairy free, cutting way back on sugar, walking more, and sleeping better. But “first” in terms of starting to make a specific plan for my veins…) If you have never made a lotion before, don’t be intimidated – it’s easier than you think!** Making lotion is just the same as making mayonnaise, only it doesn’t taste as good on a hamburger. Also, this particular recipe is best for external use.

I usually start with the waters – in this case, the waters are going to contain quite a bit of alcohol, but that won’t affect the quality of your lotion any, it just might make it thinner or more “runny”. I use approximately:
1 part yarrow tincture
1 part horse chestnut tincture
2 parts witch hazel extract (I prefer extract that is not made with isopropyl alcohol. Mountain Rose Herbs sells a good one.)

Sometimes I also add a half a part aloe juice, and in my next batch I’ll try adding one or two parts oakbark extract.

Put all these ingredients in your blender, and get them good and mixed up. Then add the oils. I use calendula and plantain oils, in equal parts. Add the oils slowly until the blender starts making a glurping noise – it will start small and become louder and louder. Stop when you have added approximately as much oil as you had water, or when your lotion looks like mayonnaise. If you end up with a lotion that’s too thin, don’t worry – it’s still good! Just put it into a squirt-bottle marked “shake well”.

I applied this lotion generally only once a day (twice a day would have been better). After about 6 weeks, the squishy black vein had receded to just one small little dot, and the associated pain in my lower legs was reduced by more than 50% (both in rate of occurrence and severity).

About that time, after some chatting with Heather Nic An Fhleisdeir about her experience, I added a tea to my regimen. I drank about three cups of the tea daily.

Equal parts:
Calendula flowers
Red Clover flowers
Yarrow (aerial parts)

For flavor, I sometimes also add goji berries, rose hips, a pinch of mint, and ginger. I set this up in a french press before I go to bed at night, so that it steeps and infuses overnight. I drink the whole press over the course of the following day. (If you are taking blood thinners, talk to your doctor before using Red Clover. If you don’t have an herbstore near you, you can get these herbs also from Mountain Rose Herbs.)

I maintained this protocol (lotion and tea) for about three more weeks (bringing my overall experiment to approximately 9 weeks): at the end of those weeks, the pain in my lower legs was almost completely gone, and my legs looked still better. At that point, which was let’s say, approximately early March, I got too busy to keep up my protocol. I ran out of lotion and didn’t bother to make any more for myself (I made several batches for other people – how hard would it have been to make some for myself?). I continued the tea off and on, but once a week or less. Since then, there has been no change: the progress I made in that time has held, and I can’t remember the last time I felt pain from the varicosities. I did make a new batch of the lotion for myself about two weeks ago, so we’ll see if I can be consistent and make even more progress!

During this time, my mother’s varicosities became bad enough that she decided to have surgery on them. However, there were a few months in between the point that she decided to do it, and when she actually could have it done. I made the lotion and tea for her, and she was reasonably consistent with it. Although she did still have the surgery, she was able to get through the waiting time with much reduced pain, and in fact, even to do some fairly heavy physical work to help repair a friend’s house. She has agreed to continue to use the lotion and tea after she has recovered from the surgery.

One note: varicose veins reflect a problem in the whole leg, not just in the lower parts. If you have varicosities that show up in your lower legs, it’s an indication that there’s also trouble in the larger veins in your thigh, even though you are less likely to be able to see that. Make sure to apply the lotion not only to your lower legs, but also up the thighs, in particular along the inner thigh, where the large saphenous vein is located.

**still nervous about making a lotion? feel like you have two left feet in the kitchen? that’s ok! you can also get these herbs all as tinctures and just combine them, using a cotton ball or your hand to rub the tinctures on your leg directly. putting alcohol on your legs every day may dry your skin, so do use some sort of good quality lotion, but you WILL get the medicine in, and that’s what really matters.

i like HerbPharm brand tinctures, which you can usually find in a healthfood store or Whole Foods if you have one, and if not, you can buy them online. just get a bottle each of: calendula, plantain, yarrow, horse chestnut (or stone root, or oak), and dump them into a jar. you can pour in some witch hazel as well. shake it up, and voila! you can even pour your mixture back into the little tincture bottles, and keep one in your purse, your office desk, your nightstand – so that you always have one handy wherever you are. that way, you don’t even need a cotton ball – use the dropper top to drop a bit on your leg, and rub it right in!

268 Comments

  1. AstroHerbalist on 13 July, 2011 at 1:21 am

    This is an amazing post Katja! Love your recipe for lotion, and I imagine it can be more linament-like by having more water/alcohol and less oils! As for internal infusion, I heard to look into Japanese Pagoda Tree flower blossoms, also called Huai shu or Huai hua in Chinese Medicine (Styphnolobium japonicum) – I hope we can check it out, as I am starting to get this condition a bit myself hehe!



  2. Marcia Grossbard on 25 July, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    It puzzles me how a lotion on the skin can get to a vein, but apparently there is some permeability. And maybe that is why ( years ago) my dermatologist was stingy with certain prescription topicals. Do you have more info on this? Also what does red clover do?
    Thanks,
    Marcia



  3. katja on 25 July, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    Sure, absolutely! Otherwise, transdermal pharmaceuticals wouldn’t work, such as the nicotine patch, or the birth control patch. There are lots of herbs used this way – St. John’s Wort for nerve tissue damage, for example, is one that I turn to again and again. And of course in the case of varicose veins, most of the veins are awfully close to the surface. (Oh man, and if they’re absorbing the herbs, imagine what else they are absorbing, in terms of sunscreen and moisturizer. Or in my dad’s case, gasoline and oil after all those nights and weekends fixing our cars! If you don’t want to eat it, don’t put it on your skin!)

    Red Clover is an alterative – the old remedy for “Bad Blood”. In more modern terms, it helps move lymph, and it has a blood thinning effect, making blood easier to move. Red Clover also has helpful action on the kidneys: again the blood here – helping to filter more efficiently. You can think of it as useful anytime there is stagnation, or more metaphorically, anytime you need an oil change in your vascular system! Not only that, but it’s full of minerals too – I like to make sure to steep it overnight, to get as much mineral content as possible into my tea. It’s fine to steep the whole brew overnight, I usually do.



  4. katja on 25 July, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Glad you liked it!
    This last batch definitely turned out more like a liniment than the previous one – it’s kinda nice that way!



  5. katja on 6 August, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    Here is some new information –

    – I’m currently trying the formula with stoneroot instead of horse chestnut, and a small amount of ocotillo. Results to follow!

    – The lotion formula with just yarrow and witch hazel is insufficient (I tried it, because I ran out of the other). Horse chestnut (or stone root or oak) really needs to be in there.



  6. […] In my family, we tend towards varicose veins. But varicosities are not necessary just because my mother has them! I’m only 37, but my legs are veiny enough that even my daughter, when she was five, could see that it wasn’t healthy. (I have since had a lot of luck in resolving my varicosities – you can read about it here). […]



  7. Rachael on 9 August, 2011 at 10:05 am

    I’m curious…is there a similar concoction that would help spider veins?



  8. Jennifer on 9 August, 2011 at 10:16 am

    I’m excited to try this but I don’t know where to buy the ingredients!



  9. katja on 9 August, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Hi, Rachel:

    Spider veins are kind of like “itty-bitty varicose veins”. Technically, that’s not completely accurate, but it’s close enough that it’s fine to think of them that way. The end result is the same – damage to the vessel walls, just, a smaller vessel.

    I have lots of spider veins along with my varicose veings, and I put this on both. Everything is improving!



  10. katja on 9 August, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    Hi, Jennifer!

    You might find the ingredients at your local health food store, but if you don’t, you can certainly buy them online. I like HerbPharm brand tinctures, which you can get directly at their website http://www.herb-pharm.com, though you might find a better price by Googling – sometimes VitaminShoppe or Drugstore.com have sales.

    I like Thayer’s brand witch hazel extract, but you could use whatever they sell at your local drugstore, as well. I also like http://www.mountainroseherbs.com – they have a really great witch hazel (actually, all their stuff is really great).

    The calendula oil and the plantain oil I always make myself, either with plants I’ve gathered or purchased at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com. You can use the stove-top method to make it faster – put a few ounces of herb in a pot, and cover it with olive oil (don’t use tons of oil, just enough to cover it). Heat on very low heat so that you never boil the oil, and stir occasionally. You might have to turn the heat off and on to keep it low enough. Do this for about 3 hours (or longer. Sometimes I let it sit for a few days, and only turn it on when I’m in the kitchen) – you’ll see the color of the oil change: dark green for plantain, yellow-y for calendula. Presto – you’re done!

    For the tea, you can buy the herbs in bulk at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com – and you might want to throw some peppermint or ginger (or both!) in there too, just to make the flavor a little more exciting. (it’s not bad as it is, it’s just sort of bland)

    Good luck!



  11. Linda on 9 August, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    I am so glad I saw your blog on this. I have lots of spider veins and I suspect a vericous vein in my right thigh, but don’t really know. The spider veins are so bad my ankles look dark in areas. yuck. I am going to have to put in an order for these ingredients and see if it helps.

    Also, do you have any ideas on treating fragile veins? Seems I break a vein in my hands nearly every week and it hurts. Sometimes it’s just from bumping it against something and one time just from stretching my hand out caused a vein to pop. These are small veins. Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated. I do bruise easily it seems and so I worry that since my hand veins seem weak, maybe others are and I could end up with an aneurysm or stroke or such. I am closing in on 50 yrs old, but feel way too young to be going through this stuff.



  12. Thursday Roundup | The Low-Carb Curmudgeon on 11 August, 2011 at 8:08 am

    […] you know how so many of us overweight folks wind up with leg-vein problems? She’s worked out a natural way to treat varicose veins. This sort of problem seems to run in my family but I’m not sure whether it’s genetics […]



  13. leslie on 11 August, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    will this lotion work for spider veins as well?



  14. Keturah on 11 August, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    Are these okay if you are pregnant or breast-feeding? Thanks so much for publishing this. I’ve been trying to convince my sister to try some natural solutions, but wasn’t sure exactly what she should try, so this is very helpful!



  15. katja on 11 August, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    Hi, Leslie:

    Rachel wondered about that too – here is what I had to say:
    Spider veins are kind of like “itty-bitty varicose veins”. Technically, that’s not completely accurate, but it’s close enough that it’s fine to think of them that way. The end result is the same – damage to the vessel walls, just, a smaller vessel.

    I have lots of spider veins along with my varicose veings, and I put this on both. Everything is improving!



  16. katja on 11 August, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Oh, Linda, I’m so sorry – that sounds unpleasant!

    If you want to email me directly, I could get some more information before giving a detailed opinion, but from what is here, we definitely need to strengthen your vessel structure. I’d say that for you, goji berries are your new favorite food! They are amazing for building strong vessels and capillaries, throughout the body. If you have a particular area where something is bothering you, then absolutely put this lotion on it, and definitely put it on the spider veins in your legs. Also, make the tea as well – a couple cups a day.
    Taking goji berries daily internally will help build strength in the long term. I recommend a quarter cup (or more) a day. You can eat them dried as they come, or make them into tea – the tea is quite nice tasting, and then you eat the (now soggy) berries afterwards.



  17. Jennifer on 14 August, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    Are the lotion and tea ok to use while nursing?



  18. katja on 14 August, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    Absolutely! Fine with pregnancy, too, in fact, the red clover will be useful, because it’s so high in mineral content!



  19. sky on 15 August, 2011 at 2:22 am

    How is your formula with stoneroot instead of horse chestnut? Which one better?



  20. katja on 15 August, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Hi, Sky:

    So far, I think I like the stoneroot and the horse chestnut equally well. But – I definitely noticed the lack when I made a batch without either one (because I was out of them). So I feel like, if you live where there is stone root, use that. If you live where there is horse chestnut, use that. If you don’t wildcraft your own medicine, use whatever is in stock at your health food store 🙂

    I continue to be just so shocked at the results. My legs look nicer, and that’s great, but what I care more about is that they never hurt anymore. I can’t remember the last time they did!



  21. sky on 15 August, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Thanks, katja.varicose vein running in my family, and it develops quickly on me in the past 8 months.it just destroy my quality of life. I wonder what is the effectivness if just using the lotion alone. I have been taking hours chestnuts, butcher’s broom, bilberry, vitamin c daily.

    It would be good if you can share some before after pictures too. Keep us updated your progress.



  22. katja on 16 August, 2011 at 11:17 am

    I really should! I have to be honest, in the beginning I actually didn’t think it would work, so I never took any pictures. I’m looking to see if I happen to have some that might show it, though. Otherwise, we have to take my mother’s and students’ word for how it was. I’ll try to take some this weekend of how it is now!

    When I started, I was using ONLY the lotion (in that batch, it was horse chestnut – I hadn’t tried stoneroot or oak yet), and it was pretty drastic after 6 weeks. I wouldn’t stop taking those things internally (though horse chestnut doesn’t absorb well internally, and it tastes so awful, I’d leave that for topical use, personally!)



  23. katja on 17 August, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    Hi, Keturah!

    I’m sorry I didn’t see this when it first posted – but yes! These are all fine herbs to use while pregnant or breast-feeding. And particularly since varicosities get worse or start for a lot of people during pregnancy, it’s a good thing!

    Good luck to your sister!



  24. sky on 18 August, 2011 at 8:08 am

    Today I received my HerbPharm tinctures, and start trying the lotion. I found that it takes a lot of lotion to cover the whole legs up to the thighs, and each bottle of tintures so small. Should I add water to it?

    I also wonder if I can use powder mix with water for it as powder cheaper.



  25. katja on 18 August, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Yeah, Sky, it’s not cheap. But it’s much much cheaper than having your veins stripped (which runs 5-8k per leg, my mother reports!)

    I would not use powdered, and I wouldn’t mix it with water either. If you’re going to do this, might as well REALLY do it, not just go through the motions. But if you need to stretch it, use witch hazel to dilute it instead, so that at least your diluting liquid is also having some effect!



  26. sky on 19 August, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    Katja, is it effective for flattening bulging veins? Was your dark vein bulging before using the lotion?



  27. Jan on 22 August, 2011 at 8:31 am

    I have ordered all of the ingredients and picked one up at my local health food store. I can’t wait to try this! I have had spider veins for years, have been developing a few varicosities, and have venous insufficiency as well. My brother also suffered with varicose veins and had to have them stripped twice, which contributed to his early death, unfortunately. Do you think that this lotion will help strengthen my vein walls enough to help reduce the venous insufficiency? I will be happy just to get rid of the spider veins and varicosities, but will be thrilled if it helps the VI as well.



  28. Jennifer on 22 August, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    Thanks for all the information! I just received my shipment of tinctures, oils, and herbs a few minutes ago. I can’t wait to get started! I do have a question about the tea. I’ve got these giant bags of dried stuff but I’m not sure how much of each to use per 8 oz. How much do you drink per day?



  29. katja on 22 August, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    Hi, Jennifer!

    The dried herbs are the tea herbs, yes? This is what I do – if I blend a bunch of it up ahead of time, it’s faster to make each day, which means I will actually DO it every day 🙂
    I put equal parts of the yarrow, red clover, and calendula (break up the flowers so they are more evenly sized with the smaller stuff). The other herbs are for flavor (though they’re also good for you) and you can put in whatever you want – usually I put in about 1/4part of each of them, but it’s not an exact science.

    Then, each morning, I take a quart-sized mason jar, put about one inch of the dried herb tea in the bottom of the jar, and fill the jar with boiling water. I let it sit for a few hours, so that it gets good and strong, then pour it through a strainer one cup at a time to drink through the rest of the day (you can add some hot water to your cup to make it hot again). I drink that quart-jar most days. If I’m getting to the end of the day and know I won’t finish it, I just pop it in the fridge and drink it tomorrow.



  30. katja on 22 August, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    It was bulgy. We’re going to take some photos tonight (and then figure out how to get them into a blog post after having already posted it!)

    I have two bulgy ones – one used to be like a little black-purple worm, about an inch long. Now it’s just a dot, a little bigger than the ball-point on a ballpoint pen. That one is down close to my ankle. The other bulgy one is by my knee, and is more blue-green. That one doesn’t bulge all the time anymore – only on a really hot day or if i’ve been sitting too much now – but it used to all the time.



  31. katja on 22 August, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    Hi, Jan:

    I definitely do! The varicosities and the spider veins are all part of the VI – it’s all connected.
    Also, lots of goji berries for you – they are specifically good for rebuilding veins. Lots of goji for everyone, really, but especially those of us with bad legs – it can really help.

    Also – don’t forget to *move* your legs! All this herby stuff is great, but walking is also important, and will also help strengthen your legs 🙂



  32. sky on 23 August, 2011 at 10:34 am

    I am taking bilberry extract daily instead of goji berries. Are they the same? I also wonder if I should drink the tinctures too if the lotion tinctures helps. I am lazy making tea.



  33. katja on 24 August, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    Goji and Bilberry are not the same, but they have very similar actions. Either is good, both is better!

    I wouldn’t drink these tinctures – you want the astringent action on your legs, not necessarily in your intestines! On your legs is better.



  34. Krista Arias on 27 August, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    Any suggestions for using these for Hemorrhoids? Seems like it would work the same way, only a little tougher to apply. smile.



  35. katja on 30 August, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Hi, Krista!

    Usually for Hemorrhoids a sitz-bath works very well. For that, you could make a strong decoction (a boiled tea) of witch hazel and white oak, pour it into a dishbasin, and just have a seat (once it’s cooled!). But you could also totally use it as the lotion if you wanted to – just be careful that it doesn’t stain your pants! Or you could pour the following into a jar and just apply it with a cotton ball: a bottle of Thayer’s witch hazel, a bottle of white oak tincture, and a bottle of yarrow tincture. The only thing is that if there’s any broken skin, the alcohol might sting.

    Good luck!



  36. sky on 30 August, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    I have been using the lotion twice a day for about 1.5 week now. The look of bulging veins not much change that I can notice, but my legs do feel better. Less pain and numbness. Will keep using the lotion for 6 weeks to see.

    Thanks



  37. sky on 15 September, 2011 at 3:28 am

    Katja,

    How is your improvement? I have been using the lotion for 4 weeks now, in the mean time, I see more veins bulging even I have applied the lotion to it.



  38. Danni on 25 September, 2011 at 7:26 am

    Hi, I just stumbled across this site(been looking at vein sites for a while) and am excited about trying this. I have CVI and many varicose veins appearing in the last two year after pregnancy, trying LOTS of things (on lots of supplements) but still seem to be getting bigger. I have also noticed more veins on my chest and arms too… I am totally unhappy and hate thinking about my veins constantly and then there is the aches and burning too…. I am crossing all fingers and toes that this can help the web of blue veins on my legs and the bulging ones. Thanks



  39. Jen on 11 October, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Hi,

    I was wondering what do you mean by calendula and plantain? Is it lotion, oil or tincture I should get to mix it all up? I understand that yarrow, horse chestnut and witch hazel are tinctures. Please let me know. Thank you.



  40. katja on 11 October, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    Hi, Jen!

    The calendula and plantain I usually use as oils, and blend the oils and the tinctures to make a lotion. However, you can also get them as tincture, and just blend all the tinctures together to use as a liniment – this would be simpler, and would be just as effective. The reason I use lotion is that I also have dry skin, so with a lotion I solve two problems at once 🙂



  41. katja on 11 October, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    Hi, Danni!

    I hope that this helps for you! You might also try adding Goji Berries to your daily diet – they also help with building blood vessels and keeping them strong. And of course, the more brightly colored vegetables you can get into your diet, the better – the colors in vegetables signify bioflavinoids – anti-oxidants that will help clear out damage in your body.

    Good Luck! Feel free to write or call directly if you want more guidance!



  42. katja on 11 October, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    Hi, Sky!

    I was out of town for a while at a conference, but I hope you’re doing well! I see that you mentioned your pain and numbness had decreased – that’s great! I hope that by now you also see visible improvement as well. I would definitely recommend that you take a photograph – I didn’t in the beginning (mostly because I thought it was hopeless!) and if it weren’t for my mother and all my students (I use my varicose veins as a teaching example!), I probably would have thought I was imagining improvement. I do still have a small spot that isn’t reducing, but I also have been not very diligent about using the lotion because the last month has been quite busy. Still, it reduced from an inch to just a dot, so that’s pretty good 🙂

    I hope you’re doing well!



  43. Jen on 12 October, 2011 at 10:41 am

    Thanks so much for your reply Katja. Are all of your tinctures from Mountain Herb Rose? What brand of oils do you get? Is one better than another? I usually order from Vitacost or go to Whole Foods. I’d like it to be as effective as possible. It is for my mom. She’s considering a surgery done on her legs at some point but for now she would like to try this mix and see if it helps. What kind of surgery did your mom have? Was it a laser surgery? Thank you.



  44. katja on 12 October, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    I make my own tinctures when I have time, or sometimes I order them from Mountain Rose, or if I’m in a hurry, I’ll pick up HerbPharm brand from Whole Foods or the local coop. I like both HerbPharm and Mountain Rose. The oils I make myself, though Mountain Rose may stock them. But again, there’s nothing wrong with making the mix out of only tinctures and using it as a liniment. You could even put it in a spray bottle then, if rubbing her legs is painful.

    My mom had laser on her thigh on the left side, and on the left calf she had the older kind of procedure where they just pull bits of the vein out. The right leg was done all by laser, I think she said (she still had the stocking on last time I was up there, so I couldn’t tell by looking at the leg, but I think that’s what she said). As soon as her cuts healed enough, she went back to using the lotion. She was happy with the surgery, and felt that it did go well, but she’s determined to be diligent with the lotion so that she doesn’t have to do it again. She also is starting to do a lot more exercise, specifically some of the stuff that Katy Bowman teaches at the Aligned and Well website (www.alignedandwell.com).



  45. Jen on 13 October, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Thanks so much for your reply. I will look into the oils and order the tinctures. Unfortunately, I lack time to make my own. I hope it’ll help her. I think she still wants to do the surgery because she doesn’t want to risk it leaving it untreated. If you know of any good surgeon in the NJ area please let me know. I’m currently looking and researching different doctors so I can find the best match for my mom. Once again thanks so much. I truly appreciate it.



  46. katja on 13 October, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    Hi, Jen:

    I don’t know anyone in that area, though my mother is in the Boston area. I know she was pleased with her person, and it was a simple outpatient procedure – if you don’t find someone you like there, perhaps you could come up here for a short visit! You can email me directly if you want the doctor’s contact information.

    Good Luck!!



  47. Jen on 13 October, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    Ok great thank you. I will email you if I won’t find anyone good.



  48. Cam on 21 January, 2012 at 2:20 am

    I am so excited to try this! I am only 31 and have been suffering with varicose/spider veins in legs, ankles, and feet for the past 7 years. I have had surgery on one leg and decided to not do it on the other leg. I am not over weight and I eat a very clean healthy diet. I try to juice every morning but I skip every so often. Besides not having the best circulation the veins aren’t very pretty to look at:(. The veins are very dark.
    I can’t wait! I am going to the vitamin shop and the health food store tomorrow to get my ingredients. Yay!!!



  49. katja on 21 January, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Yay! Good for you!
    Also, if you’re having circulatory issues, check out Katy Bowman’s blog at https://www.alignedandwell.com – I have a “part two” of this post on my to-do list that just hasn’t been done yet, but movement is the other big key!

    good luck!



  50. Cam on 22 January, 2012 at 2:13 am

    Where exactly do I find the blog on circulation when I click on to the site? I tried looking for it but was not successful.



  51. katja on 22 January, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    There’s a link to “Katy’s Blog” in the orange navigation buttons. But it’s not a circulation blog, it’s a blog about alignment, and one of the things that alignment impacts is circulation. She does have some good posts about how that works – you can search on haemodynamics. I’ll be teaching classes in alignment and restorative exercise at our Boston offices starting in March, if you’re local!



  52. Deb on 24 January, 2012 at 12:00 am

    In this recipe for the lotion, when you say water, do mean the tinctures? Thanks! D



  53. Tim Harris on 25 January, 2012 at 2:20 am

    Katja,
    Wow, that was revelatory! Excellent post and follow up answers. Do you sleep?



  54. katja on 25 January, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    ha. sometimes!
    🙂



  55. katja on 25 January, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    Hi, Deb!

    I do mean the tinctures, yes. It’s a little trickier to get the lotion to emulsify when you’re using all tinctures, so if it’s difficult, you can also just make your lotion with the oils (calendula and plantain) and use rosewater for the water, and then mix the tinctures in a separate bottle – apply the tinctures first (as if they were a liniment) and then put the lotion on top. sometimes that’s easier than emulsifying the alcohol.

    or, in our house, i will do it that way sometimes because then the whole family can use the lotion – it’s also great for plain dry skin – and i apply the tinctures separately.

    🙂 hope that helps!



  56. Aly on 26 March, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    Hi there! Thanks for this post.

    I’m curious, have you heard of/tried this horse chestnut cream: https://www.drugstore.com/planetary-herbals-horse-chestnut-cream/qxp138758
    What do you think of it? Do you think it could work similarly?

    Thanks!



  57. ryn on 29 March, 2012 at 11:50 am

    Aly,

    i think it looks fine, and has many of the same ingredients as katja’s recipe. still, homemade is usually better, especially because this product has parabens, which are a bad idea. besides, part of the medicine is in the making.

    )

    be well,
    ryn



  58. Dave . L on 7 April, 2012 at 11:23 am

    wow !.. does this natural treatment really work? I have this really ugly nasty veiricose vein on my front leg in the shin area. I have had this since i was 18 (now 43) and it is constantlly growing over the years. I hope this works!
    Thanks.



  59. katja on 7 April, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    It does – though to be honest, I was shocked! I didn’t think they could repair, so I never bothered. I had the bad ones on my shin maybe since early 20s, and now i’m 38.
    Now though I’ve really come to question ANYTHING they say “can’t get better”. The body has tremendous capacity to regenerate, so why do we think things can’t get better?

    If you want change, you have to CHANGE, but if you change, then of course, things will actually change!
    So, try this, and also walk more and sit less, and keep us posted! 🙂

    warmly,
    katja



  60. Kris on 27 April, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Hi Katja, I’m so happy to of come across this website. I’ve been searching for some kind of help for my spider veins that seems real and may help. I’ve had spider veins since I was sixteen, I’m 38 now and my legs are just completely covered. I’ve had sclerotherapy and laser surgery it seemed to help a little short term but I think it actually made them spread faster. I’m scared to do any more treatments.

    I’ll cut to the chase, I have a couple of questions about making your lotion. If you double the recipe, does the lotion loose it’s potency? The one ounce yarrow and horse chestnut seems expensive, I’ve found the 2 ounce for less money, so I thought about doubling it.

    I also wanted to know if yarrow and horse chestnut extract are okay instead of tincture? You say to use tincture, on the herb pharm website the bottles say extract. The tincture is hard to find online and it’s really expensive, I think 20 a bottle for 1 ounce.

    One last question, I just started taking Veinfactors supplement a couple of days ago, it has diosmin with hesperidin and I think a small amount of horse chestnut extract in it. Do you think using the lotion and the supplement is too much together?

    Thanks Kris



  61. Roy on 19 May, 2012 at 10:09 pm

    I found a gel in europe from a company named Anton Hubner. it has hamamelis, and horse chestnut combined with a few others.
    I am using at the same time Gingko, and aple cider vinegar. the vinegar seems great, because the temperature in my leg is only high when I walk. when seated now it goes to normal, and the veins are not so big after 3 days.
    good luck to all



  62. ryn on 21 May, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    Kris,

    as long as you keep the proportions the same, doubling the recipe should maintain the same potency.

    a tincture is an extract made with alcohol. as long as the product you’re looking at is an alcohol extraction, it will work for this purpose. depending on the herb, $20/oz is not an unreasonable price.

    from what i understand about the veinfactors product, it should be fine to take concurrently with use of this lotion, and the tea also.



  63. Karin on 12 August, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    So, I just bought all the ingredients for this because I’m only 26 and am getting varicose veins so I am desperate to stop this as soon as possible! But I’m a little skeptical at the same time. Has anyone actually tried this and had success other than the author or this blog? And does anyone have pictures to prove it? Also, I just bought yarrow and horse chestnut tinctures by Fushi Wellbeing. Has anyone heard of that or know much about that company? It sounds pretty legit and is UK ethical approved but just thought I’d ask for other opinions.



  64. katja on 14 August, 2012 at 11:08 am

    It’s ok to be skeptical, Karin!
    Fortunately, nothing on this list can hurt you – the worst that can happen is a bit of dry skin if you’re using the alcohols directly on the skin instead of making a lotion, and a bit of moisturizer or olive oil fixes that. Which means you can experiment and find out for yourself, which in the end is the best proof of all!

    Our modern culture is so accustomed to letting the doctors do all the work, but in fact, we are the ones responsible for our health. When we experiment with things – even if we’re initially skeptical, and even if they don’t work out – we are building our way back to personal responsibility. And as long as the situation is safe – you’re experimenting with herbs that are mild and your particular health situation is not threatening in any way – this is a great way to start getting to know your own body.

    I would definitely say that in addition to the herbs, make sure you are walking in your day, and if you sit for your job, make sure you get up every hour and walk around some. Be diligent with the herbs – they won’t work if they sit on your shelf! And take this as an opportunity to look at your diet too – if you eat a lot of take out, this is a good time to switch to fresh veggies and good quality meats.

    Good luck! And let us know how it works out for you!
    warmly,
    katja



  65. Karin on 15 August, 2012 at 11:49 pm

    Thanks Katja. Ya, It’s not that I’m worried about any negative affects, I just really want it to work! I worry if I’m having signs of varicose veins already at 26 how it will be in another 10, 20, or 40 years!
    I don’t sit at all at my job actually. I’m a chef so I’m constantly standing which I feel like may have contributed to this plus the habit of crossing my legs which I think I’ve almost broke 🙂 I”m not over weight but am a bit meaty…will losing some weight help in big ways to cure the nasty veins? I do eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies but because I’m a chef (although everything I do is made from scratch) I nibble on a lot of fattening things here and there too which doesn’t help to lose the weight. I’m also wondering, you say to walk a lot to strengthen the veins…because I’m on my feet all day already is the walking going to put more stress on them? I actually go to the gym 3-4 times a week and I don’t want to stop exercising obviously but I’m just wondering about being on my feet soooo much.
    You wrote this about a year ago, how are your varicose veins doing since then?



  66. Karin on 16 August, 2012 at 12:05 am

    also, how necessary is the aloe juice? I forgot to pick some up and it’s already cost a lot of money!



  67. Karin on 20 August, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    what is your opinion on this? Having to do with red clover flowers…

    Due to its activity on estrogen receptors, it is contraindicated in people with a history of breast cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, or other estrogen-sensitive conditions, but others have suggested the high isoflavone content counteracts this, and even provides benefits in these conditions.
    Due to its coumarin derivatives, it should be used in caution in individuals with coagulation disorders or currently undergoing anticoagulation therapy.
    It is metabolized by CYP3A4 and therefore caution should be used when taking it with other drugs using this metabolic pathway.



  68. Karin on 24 August, 2012 at 11:36 pm

    another question! So I made the ‘lotion’. it’s more like a drink, very liquidy but I don’t mind except I’m wondering since I used more liquids than oils if it won’t work as well. You didn’t say how many parts liquid to oil so I wasn’t sure. I will still use it put just wondering about it’s effectiveness.



  69. katja on 10 September, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    hi, karin!

    it’s fine if it’s liquidy. the key to making lotions is to use equal parts waters and oils, which is in the article but i will make it more clear when i do the “part 2” article!

    there’s no problem with it being liquidy though, as long as you can still get it rubbed in. in fact, some people don’t bother making lotion at all and just use the blend of the tinctures!

    also this lotion is harder to make thick, because instead of water it’s mostly alcohol – it just doesn’t emulsify as well.



  70. katja on 10 September, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    red clover does have phytoestrogens, however, they are beta estrogens. we have different kinds of estrogen – in particular, alpha and beta. alpha estrogens cause things to grow, and are problematic for folks with estrogen dominant cancers. beta estrogens stop the growing, and are very useful for folks with estrogen dominant cancers. the human body makes both, but with a slight emphasis on the alphas. most phytoestrogens, including red clover, are beta estrogens.

    and then the isoflavones, which are fabulous, yes!

    red clover also does have a “blood thinning” effect, though it is not the same as taking a blood thinner. you would think of it more as improving the filtration, which in turn improves the quality of the blood. in folks with varicose veins, often there is also a “gloppy” characteristic to the blood – which goes right along with the high carbohydrate content in the standard american diet, not to mention the buildup of crud from poorly digested “foods” (many of which are not food at all!) prevalent in our culture – oreos, for example. so in this case, we specifically want this aspect of red clover to improve the blood! however, we do use caution with red clover internally for anyone taking heparin, warfarin, etc.



  71. katja on 10 September, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    the aloe juice is really just for buffering the skin against the alcohols, but the oils are doing that too, so it’s just fine to leave it out. i put it in if i have it, and i don’t bother if i’m out.



  72. alicia on 11 September, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    hi katja. i’m so glad you took the time to post this for the rest of us. i have a vein in my calf that i’ve had since early twenties, maybe even late teens (i’m 32 now). it’s dark blue and has become darker over the years. it’s not a “varicose” vein by definition, because it doesn’t bulge under my skin…yet. but it’s definitely unsightly. and i’m developing spider veins. just wondering if this lotion/tea combo would help with the discoloration as well as the swelling (which i don’t experience). have your veins also become lighter, or just not swollen? and i apologize if you already answered this. i tried to skim through the comments.



  73. katja on 3 October, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    Hi, Alicia!

    The color is coming from pooled up stagnant blood, and as you can move that out, then there’s nothing left to cause discoloration. I had one big one in particular that was all the way black (well, I’m sure they were really purple, but they looked black) that are gone now. I have other areas that have lightened but not fully drained yet. I expect in time that they would all go away, assuming that the owner of the varicosities was walking regularly and eating a low-insulemic diet, not wearing high-heels, etc.



  74. katja on 3 October, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    Hi, Karin:

    I think I missed this one before.

    I don’t like to see people at the gym. Our bodies are highly adapted to walking, and that’s the best exercise. If you love yoga or something, that’s great! But walking is so much better than anything the gym has to offer.
    Cross reference http://www.alignedandwell.com for more information about that!

    At work, definitely make sure you have some cushy pads to stand on around the kitchen, and don’t wear shoes with heels – this will make your varicose veins worse. In fact, if you can move to barefoot shoes, that’s ideal!

    As for nibbling, well, it’s a side effect of being a chef. But try to stick to nibbling meat, veggies, fats, and some fruit, and stay away from sugar and carbs and anything made with flour, and you’ll lose the weight. A website I particularly love for this is this ungangly URL:
    https://whole9life.com/2012/08/the-whole30-program/

    I have been wanting to write a follow-up to this article now for several months, and I really have to! I have to admit that I’m pretty non-compliant: I only use the lotion about one month out of three, and then sporadically. I drink the tea about one day out of three. I work a *lot* between seeing clients and running the herbschool, and I definitely let this slide. That said, I do still continue to see progress. It’s not as fast as it was during the original period where I was super compliant and vigilant, however, everything is still moving in the same direction, and I also notice that when I go for a long period of time without using the lotion, my status does not “degrade” – the progress that I’ve made sticks. So that’s good!



  75. Jaime on 29 October, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    Hello, I would love to try this! I have had 6 kids and have very bad veins. Also, we have long line of vericose veins too! Would love to get the whole recipe for this what u used and acurate/aprox amounts would be helpful. I know you listed on here some of the recipe but some says equal parts of stuff is that 1 tsp or something i would like clarifing! Thank you for your help, and good luck with more great vein recovery! Jaime



  76. Laquita on 1 November, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Where is a good/reliable sorce for golgi berries?



  77. CWH on 3 November, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Jaime,

    “parts” can be any unit of measure — the idea is to keep the ratio consistent, regardless of how much you’re making in total.

    you might try making the lotion in a test batch as follows:

    1 oz yarrow tincture
    1 oz horse chestnut tincture
    1 oz oak bark tincture
    2 oz witch hazel extract

    2 oz calendula infused oil
    2 oz plantain infused oil

    . . . but you’ll have to try it out to see if that gives the right consistency.



  78. michelle on 5 November, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    What is good for the under eye dark circles… I have allergies and have had these for a long time..
    Im taking horse chestnut and hawthorne extract now..

    I have HBP.. and have some tingling in my lower calves.. no pain .. just like a feeling u get when u get goose bumps .. but without feeling cold.

    Im in Las Vegas, NV… where do u get Goji berries???i never seen them …



  79. ryn on 5 November, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    Laquita,

    we usually order them from Mountain Rose Herbs. you get much better pricing than buying them at the store.



  80. ryn on 5 November, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    michelle,

    dark circles under the eyes often indicate some adrenal depletion, so you might see them start to resolve if you work on getting sufficient sleep and rest for a while.

    we usually order goji berries from Mountain Rose Herbs.



  81. Jessica on 11 November, 2012 at 8:40 am

    Hi!

    I started having problems with my veins almost two years ago when I was 8 months pregnant with my son. I am now 31, in very good healthy, healthy eater, thin, and in pretty good shape. Almost two years later after my problems started, I still have them. I have been to the doctor over 50 times about the blue vein in my left calf that is painful for me. They tell me its fine and it should go away. It’s been two years and all they tell me is to take Advil. I have decided to order these herbs and try your idea in hopes it will help me. I have tried everything…and the military doctors do not sound like they can help me (I’m a Navy wife). Thanks so much for your post! I will let you know how it turns out. I will take pics too.



  82. Karin on 20 November, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    So the lotion didn’t make them disappear but helped with the soreness which was impressive enough for me, although to have them go completely away would have been amazing! oh well. Thanks



  83. Jon on 4 December, 2012 at 11:59 pm

    Out of many posts and sites that I have been reading, this one offers information that I am excited about. The recipe you provide seems to encompass so many single remedies that I see that it would be hard to know which one is better than the other; but why not use them all?!

    Alright, I am writing as I have a female friend that has a varicose vein that is on her thigh and it one of the larger veins. It causes her pain and is of concern to her doctors. However, removing it could also have long term effects.

    I am going to put this recipe together and let her try it. I am sure I will have more questions and comments along the way. I will take pictures.

    In gathering the ingredients I am really concerned about where to purchase as to hopefully achieve the same results and not find a sub quality product thwarting progress. Can you list or email me some sites to purchase the ingredients? Also, on mountainrose I found calendula and plantain oil, but it did not say infused, can you let me know if this matters?

    I will look forward to the information!

    Thank You!



  84. Jon on 5 December, 2012 at 12:31 am

    I apologize, you have already been asked and have answered my question. Please disregard.

    I do have another question that is not listed. How would you steep the tea overnight? I am not familiar with making tea. I had a cup that you pour hot water in and place it on top of your mug and it will strain the herbs and allow the water to pass… Other than this I have no idea…

    Thank You!



  85. ryn on 5 December, 2012 at 11:56 am

    Jon,

    if you have a mason jar, or a french press, or really any heat-tolerant container you can pour boiling water into, you can use that. just put enough herb in the bottom so that it’s about an inch deep, then fill with boiling water and cover loosely. let it sit alone overnight, then strain the next day and drink.



  86. ruth on 12 December, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Hello finally I have hope after accessing your website . Please am based in kenya how can I get the ingredients for the lotion.



  87. False Hopes on 15 December, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    Unfortunately scientificall y you canno t reverse varicose veins once they appear. Any topical concoction cannot change the physical changes that have taken place. Usually from a damaged valve lotions and potions can not “repair/reverse” the valve. The only way you could alter the problem would be through a medical procedure. While your concoctions may temporarily alter the appearance it will not magically fix a damaged veins and valves. You will be wasting time and money believing this, but if it makes you feel better by all means do it.
    In varicose veins, there are reflux and incompetent valves as well as vein wall dilation. Primary structural changes in the valves may make them ‘leaky’, with progressive reflux causing secondary changes in the vein wall. Alternatively, or concurrently, the valves may become incompetent secondary to structural abnormalities and focal dilation in vein wall segments near the valve junctions, and the reflux ensues as an epiphenomenon. The increase in venous pressure causes structural and functional changes in the vein wall that leads to further venous dilation. Increase in vein wall tension augments the expression/activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which induces degradation of the extracellular matrix proteins and affect the structural integrity of the vein wall. Recent evidence also suggests an effect of MMPs on the endothelium and smooth muscle components of the vein wall and thereby causing changes in the venous constriction/relaxation properties. Endothelial cell injury also triggers leukocyte infiltration, activation and inflammation, which lead to further vein wall damage. Thus, vein wall dilation appears to precede valve dysfunction, and the MMP activation and superimposed inflammation and fibrosis would then lead to chronic and progressive venous insufficiency and varicose vein formation.



  88. ryn on 15 December, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    False,

    when people have varicose veins, they experience stagnation of blood flow, swelling, and tenderness/pain. when they use a lotion like this one, in conjunction with changes to their movement habits (more walking, primarily), they experience relief in those symptoms. were your assertion that repair is impossible true, this would not happen.

    the distinction between functional and organic damage is useful here. if we persist in the behaviors that led to an impairment in the function of a tissue, we may reach a point where the best possible recovery will be less than 100% of its original capacity. however, that doesn’t preclude partial improvement, and that may mean a relief of the presenting symptoms.

    i don’t doubt that there’s organic damage in varicose veins, and that some cases are very advanced–but we see the changes, people who work with these therapies feel them, and to discount that experience on the basis of our knowledge of a process which occurs on the molecular and cellular levels is to miss the forest for the trees.

    any pathology has an etiology, it does not arise without reason. saying that only surgical interventions are of use removes personal responsibility from the equation. suggesting that no change of behavior or at-home therapy can have an effect on the problem implies that it occurred spontaneously, and had nothing to do with the choices made by the one suffering–that nothing they could have done would have prevented it, and nothing they can do now, under their own power, could make it any better.

    we do not want to give false hope. we don’t want to give false despair, either.



  89. ryn on 15 December, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    ruth,

    i don’t have any personal connections with herbalists in Kenya, but i’d recommend that you try to find one local to you.

    the exact plants used in our formulas aren’t necessary to achieve similar results. the actions of the herbs in this formula include: lymphatic moving, vulnerary (wound-healing), circulatory stimulant, and astringent. there will be local plants that can accomplish the same effects. a knowledgeable herbalist should be able to find substitutes.



  90. Katy on 21 December, 2012 at 4:56 am

    Maybe this sounds dumb, but…. I have never worked with tinctures before. So when you say 1 part of something, I dont understand how much that is. Will you please give me an exact measurement of the things you use that creates the final product? Thank you. I am only 23 but in the past few years (actually since I was 16) I have been getting very deep pains in my legs with spider veins all over the area of pain. I just fear there is something more that I cannot see yet and would love to start fixing the problem. Thank you Katja!



  91. katja on 21 December, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Hi, Katy!

    A “part” is actually a cooking measure. It means, “whatever measure you’re using”. To say that you use 1 part of one thing, and 2 parts of another thing means that you have a precise measurement that is scalable, which is important, because now you can adjust the recipe for batch size without doing any math. It also means that you don’t have to worry about dry measure and liquid measure, since everything has been worked out in parts. So, if you were baking a cake for a party and you needed one part of eggs and two parts of flour, the measure that you use might be a cup. But if you were making a teeny tiny cake for your little sister’s dollhouse, your part might be a teaspoon – one teaspoon of eggs, two teaspoons of flour. But the “part” will stay the same through the whole recipe: the cup or the teaspoon.

    So if you have a formula like this, where you need one part of yarrow and two parts of witch hazel, it doesn’t matter what measure you use, as long as you use THE SAME measure each time, and as long as yarrow gets one and witch hazel gets two. With my particular blender, I don’t usually like to fill it past the two-cup mark, so I’m going to make sure that I use parts so that the oils add up to about 1 cup and the waters (in this case, alcohols too) add up to one cup.

    If it seems hard, just use the italics instructions at the bottom and don’t bother making a lotion at all! 🙂

    Also, don’t forget to walk. Walking is your new best friend. Try to work yourself up to walking five miles a day or even more – it will make a big difference!



  92. katja on 21 December, 2012 at 10:57 am

    Yay, Karin!

    Keep using it – and make sure you show your partner or mom or someone who knows your legs fairly regularly. They might be changing more than you realize 🙂 Either way though, keep using it, because just reducing the soreness means you are already making a difference, and stopping further damage!



  93. jacob on 27 December, 2012 at 6:58 am

    Hey there! So glad I came to this site. I was wondering, my veins in my lower left leg are in awful shape and my cousin said they could form a serious clot. Will this lotion reverse that possibility? I am 30 & as a Pastor, I certainly can’t afford an 8-9 thousand dollar surgery. Also, is wrapping my leg or wearing compression stalkings a good idea? I could send you pictures. Its pretty bad. Your help/advice would be most greatly appreciated! Thanks!



  94. CWH on 27 December, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    jacob,

    without seeing your condition in person we can’t make a solid prediction one way or another, but we have seen some very good results with this as part of a larger protocol. compression stockings do seem to help some people, but we feel that regular walking exercise is a much more important therapy. you start where you are–begin with three ten-minute walks in a day, like one before each meal. gradually increase your distance until you are getting 3-5 miles in every day. together with the lotion and tea, it should help a lot!



  95. karen on 31 December, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    please send me an email on what I need to buy for my vericous veins in my legs. I need to know how much I am suppose to put in a blender. I am not sure what 1 part this or that means. I would like to start to try this out asap. I am 54 as of sat.and i have quit a few verc.veins in my legs. My knees always feel like the are swollen inside making it hard to cross my legs. Will this lotion help. Will the goji berries help this problem. Thanks for your help. Dont mean to ask silly questions. Have a great day. Karen



  96. ryn on 1 January, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    Karen,

    i think we’ve covered your questions in the other comments here. give them a quick read, and then let us know if you still have any questions.



  97. Becky on 9 January, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Hi,
    I have started the lotion and tea regimen and I was wondering how long it took before you noticed a difference in your varicose veins? I’ve been doing it for about two weeks and am anxious to see changes.
    Thanks,
    Becky



  98. Jessica on 13 January, 2013 at 9:31 pm

    Hi! I have tried the lotion on/off but Im not sure if I have used the right measurements. Would you by chance be able to post the measurements you use for each? Also, would it hurt if I added beeswax (to help combine the waters and oils I think) and heated it up with some coconut oil to make it more like a lotion?



  99. melody on 22 January, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    Seems like too much to be searching for. Need someone with an eaiser solution with before and after pictures. That shows results. Someone please help the simple minded people find the cure for spider veins. Dont wan to here the surgery crap. Please respond with a simple home remedy that actually works.



  100. Kathy on 31 January, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    How much Water is needed?



  101. Daniela on 6 March, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Hi Katja,

    a couple more things that really work, are elevating your legs whenever you can to reverse the blood flow getting stagnant in your legs. For example putting thick phone books under the lower end of your mattress so your feet are a bit higher than your torso. A wide mattress pillow at the end would work too, any thing that gets the slight elevation angle accomplished, so you will sleep for many hours this way. This does half of the work for you in combination with maybe yoga poses like head stand or shoulder stand where your feet are in the air and then of course not wearing any kind of restrictive clothing like tight socks on your lower legs. Also, circulating your legs as in walking and swimming helps, not letting the extremities overheat or the opposite under circulated, that can lead to circulation issues too. Constipation needs to be remedied ASAP and move your legs a bit when you stand any prolonged time in one position. Avoid having extra weight on you while standing whenever possible or elevate legs afterwards to reverse blood flow. Definitely massaging your legs with as much lotion as you can and drinking lots of teas (and maybe some ACV (apple cider vinegar)) to thin the blood..can reverse unsightly and painful veins. I have reversed several beginning varicose veins that way and it works! I also use horse chestnut, witch hazel, aloe vera gel, and some more and I will look for red clover, thanks for the tip. I wear a lot of Birkenstocks. Good footwear rather than cute unhealthy shoes. Love your legs and they will love you back!



  102. Kim on 12 March, 2013 at 8:47 am

    I’m sooooo happy to have found this website! I’ve had bulging veins behind my knees since I was 16 years (I’m now approaching 50) & new ones have developed through the years. My legs have always felt “heavy”, but am now starting to have discomfort at my ankles. I also have a huge bulging vein on my inner left thigh (for about 5yrs now). I’ve placed my order & can’t wait to get started. I’ll check back in and report my progress once I’ve started. Thank you so much for this wonderful post!



  103. Pastor Jacob White on 23 March, 2013 at 6:01 am

    Hey,
    I just wanted to stop by and let you know that my stuff came in yesterday (I hope it was right! It cost me $230 for these 4-ounce bottles!)
    What I ordered was YARROW EXTRACT, HORSE CHESTNUT, WITCH HAZEL EXTRACT, PLANTAIN EXTRACT, and CALENDULA OIL.

    I just put them in a container (tried to be relatively right with the measures of course) and shook them up… It is very very runny so I swabbed it on my leg….

    Is this the right thing I ordered and is this the right method?

    I hope and pray it is, this thing is HUGE on my leg now (I took pictures… so if it works, I’ll get to show before and after pictures, yay!!)



  104. Cattie on 28 March, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    This is fabulous, I have one vein that bulges out in places on the back of my left calf, and last summer, my leg was super swollen and uncomfortable on hot days. I’m starting this right now and hopefully that won’t happen this summer!

    I was wondering though, can you just put the witch hazel and horse chestnut in jojoba (I can make calendula-infused jojoba if that’s better than plain) and make it sort of a body oil rather than a whipped thing?

    Also, I looked up yarrow and it said to stay away from it if you are allergic to ragweed, and I am allergic to so many things that that kind of worried me. What does the yarrow do?



  105. bjushka on 10 May, 2013 at 10:40 am

    Hello!

    This blog looks interesting but did it help anyone till now?

    I also have varicose vein. The only way I am curing them, till now, is by regular exercise. This only helped by minimizing pain caused by varicose vein, so please it will be very helpful to have feedback about the herbal cure…

    Hope to have news from you soon,

    BR,
    bjushka



  106. Pastor Jacob White on 13 May, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Hey you all, this is Jacob checking in again.. I was wondering if someone could read my previous comment and let me know if it is alright. I am not sure that it is helping, but I can’t tell (I see my leg everyday haha)
    Please let me know if there is anything else I need to add to the mixture (it is very runny, like water! I also added a little bit of apple cider vinegar because I read elsewhere that it too is supposed to help)
    Thanks,
    Jacob



  107. Joan Pask on 21 May, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    I am 80 years old and have very disfiguring varicose veins. I have read about the recipe described by Katja and am thinking of trying it. I am very slender and exercise frequent(mostly swimming laps) and have no pain or feeling of heaviness in my legs, but since I turned 70, the veins in my legs have become VERY unsightly. running from the top to the bottom of my legs. I got my first varicose vein when I was about 30 and several years after the birth of my second child–but not during my pregnancy. This condition seems to run in my family. It seems from what I have been reading, most removals of such veins usually result in a return of the problem. Have you any advice?



  108. TraceyD on 21 May, 2013 at 3:44 pm

    What great information!

    I would love it if you could put up a photo so I can pin this on pinterest.

    Thank you



  109. Etienne on 1 June, 2013 at 8:28 pm

    Hello,
    Regarding parts, how many ml of tincture are you using per ounces or ml of oil?
    Thank you,
    Etienne



  110. Regan on 3 June, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    I cannot wait to try this, thank you. I had my fourth child 4months ago and thought that my varicose veins ( in both inner thighs) were a terrible thing I must live with! It looks as though i just apply the lotion to my whole leg I assume, thank you again!!



  111. bj on 11 June, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    I made a batch about 3 months ago and it was a liquid form rather than a thicker consistency. I will say that I used it faithfully twice a day and I do see an improvement. I am going to make my second batch and I will post the results as I can. Thanks for taking the time to post this information.



  112. lynn on 15 June, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    My story is similar to all of yours, always seeking help for varicose veins. Thrilled to have found this site by Katja, thank you. I am going to try this formula, any improvement would be a dream come true, I am extremely hopeful:) Lets keep sharing our results!!!



  113. Patti on 17 June, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    Does anyone have any pre/post pictures of results?



  114. kay on 18 June, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Hi there – thank you for this. I am going to try it. Do you happen to have any before and after pix?

    Thanks!



  115. Nadima on 21 June, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Hi
    I read the herbal remedy for the varicose veins
    I’m doing this for my mum who has a really bad case of varicose veins and has had two operations. The remedy sounds really good but I can’t seem to find the ingredients
    I checked holland and Barrett but they didn’t have the right things
    Please could you tell me where to get the ingredients from ASAP
    Thank you



  116. katja on 22 June, 2013 at 9:58 am

    Hi, Nadima:

    I just went through and made links out of the names of places to get the ingredients, so now it should be much easier for you to find everything directly online – just click the links! You don’t even have to Google! 🙂

    Also remember – get mom walking as much as she can, and watch the sugars as well. With varicosities that advanced, lotion will provide pain relief, but to really make good progress, she’s also got to get up and move around.

    warmly,
    katja



  117. katja on 22 June, 2013 at 10:00 am

    Hi, Kay and Patti!

    I didn’t take before and after pics. And even if I did, the only real proof would be in trying it for yourself! The ingredients should only cost you 20 or 30 dollars for a six-week or so supply, and none of them are risky, so don’t take my word for it! Just try it out and decide for yourself! 🙂
    (and then let us know if you liked it!)

    warmly,
    katja



  118. Nadima on 22 June, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Thank you that really helps



  119. Nadima on 22 June, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Please can you send me the email with the links again
    I have checked my email and I haven’t recieved an email from you
    Send it the 11nnawaz@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk thank you
    And after I have made the lotion how long does she need to use it for and at how many times a day does she need to use this.
    Please reply ASAP this is really important for me
    kind regards
    Nadima



  120. Natalie on 26 June, 2013 at 5:58 am

    Hi Katja,

    Could you please advise if the treatment is allowed during breastfeeding?



  121. CWH on 27 June, 2013 at 7:54 pm


  122. CWH on 27 June, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    Natalie,

    yes, it is safe to use these herbs while breastfeeding.



  123. mary williams on 30 June, 2013 at 11:26 am

    Katja i’m so inlove with ur post and my story is the same, variscosities runs in our family and mine is getting worse. Am 32 still single, meaning by d time i’ll get married and have children dt will be good bye 2 skirts. The problem am having right now in trying this ur recommended herbal lotion is that i am from Nigeria, i dnt where and how to get this herbs, maybe we do hav them here, bt the names we call dem cud b different, what can i do, pls help.



  124. juliet on 1 July, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    Thank goodness,I came accross this blog. I have spider veins on my two legs that are so disguiting. I can’t wear anything below my knees. Please I have searced all over in my local stores in my country for those ingrediets you mentioned but didn’t get them. I beg of you to know if you have send them over to me through a cargo or whichever means.I will apreciate,if we can chat more througgh my email as am in dear need for this remedy. I am in terrible pains and my legs look so bad.



  125. Rachel on 4 July, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    I see a lot of people interested in trying this out, likely in desperation, but not too many people coming back to report positive results. This seems like a good bit of money, time and energy to invest in something that offers little assurance or promise for actual results. I am not accusing the author of anything or trying to deter readers from making their own judgments, but rather making a simple observation. It has been 2 years since the original post, and the more time passes, the less practical it seems to follow this advice (in my opinion). I just want to point this out to those who come here desperate for a solution to this problem. Really think it through before spending money and setting yourself up for potential disappointment. I am only saying this out of concern for those who are vulnerable. If you feel you have nothing to lose or have no problem trying out an experimental remedy that may or may not accomplish anything significant, then have at it by all means. Once again, I say this with good intentions. I am sure the author means well also, and I do not wish to take anything away from her. This is a simple warning for those who may benefit from considering it. Beyond that, people will do what they please and that is fine by me. I wish everyone luck in their attempts to heal themselves.



  126. Jessica on 5 July, 2013 at 9:08 am

    I am so excited to try this and so happy I came across this blog I have varicose veins I’m 30 and I haven’t worn shorts since I was 18 years old I’m going to make the lotion wanted to ask you Katja if the red clover tea should be taken everyday? And if so how many times and if their a regimen I can follow to get the best results I can? I’m desperate and tired of the unsightly veins and pain that goes along with it



  127. Jessica on 5 July, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Thanks for this post! I have some spider veins on my face, which I really hate. Do you think this lotion will be safe to use on my face as well? I have really sensitive skin.



  128. Daphne on 5 July, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    This might be a dumb question, but is there any difference between, for example, Yarrow “Extract” and Yarrow “Tincture”? I can find “extracts” on the herb pharm website, but not “tinctures.” Thanks for any help!



  129. Daphne on 7 July, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    Also, where do you buy the rest of your ingredients? I found some on Mountain Rose Herbs, but I can’t find tinctures on that site, and I’m curious where you got the rest of your ingredients anyway. Thank you!



  130. Xcidio Castel on 8 July, 2013 at 1:27 am

    Hi, is there any chance you would sell this lotion and tea? I been taking horsechesnut by itself and it helps some, but the bad taste is unbearable. I really need a solution, I’m in my 30’s and the situation is getting worse. If you can assist me on these, I would be for ever grateful!!! I live in AZ.



  131. ryn on 8 July, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Daphne,

    in this context, it’s probably the same.

    an “extract” could be any of a number of different things – a tea/infusion is a water extract, a tincture is an alcohol extract, etc. HerbPharm makes mostly alcohol extracts – tinctures. the ingredients will include alcohol. they do make some glycerin extracts (glycerites), but those will be labeled “alcohol-free” and the ingredients will include glycerin.



  132. ryn on 8 July, 2013 at 11:05 am

    we get all the dried herbs from Mountain Rose or other suppliers if we don’t wildcraft them ourselves, and either make the tinctures ourselves or buy them at a local co-op or natural foods market. if they’re not available in your area, you can get them from HerbPharm‘s site.



  133. Frances on 10 July, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    Can’t wait to try it wondering if Kim seen results since march 2013
    Fran



  134. markiza on 11 July, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    Quick question, does it have to be calendula and plantain oils? I have am assortement of other oils which I’d like to use up, such as jojoba, walnut, sesame, macadamia, avocado oils-would these work just as good instead? Thank you



  135. markiza on 11 July, 2013 at 6:34 pm

    Katja, I also would like to ask if you have any kind of certifications in order to talk about this legitimately? You have said that it is ok to use your lotion for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but do you know for a fact that it is ok? What about allergies? Many herbs are not suggested for use by pregnant/breastfeeding women because they have adverse effects; are you certified or educated in this field to make your statements? There are numerous aspects to consider before switching from making a suggestion based on your personal experience to becoming an actual “medical” adviser, or making people think you are an expert ….. and are you? I’m asking you this for my own piece of mind. Many people have talked about their problems but not many have come back to talk about the results. Just above, in my previous comment, Ive asked you about the oils i could substitute.I only have some spider veins on my inner thigh, and I’ll definitely give your recipe a go…however, I do my own research as well, so i know exactly what im doing, and i hope that all your readers are smart enough to do the same thing, to do their own research, instead of simply relying on someone else’s work to make sure they know what they are doing, and that it is safe for their bodies. In any case, thank you for your blog.



  136. ryn on 12 July, 2013 at 12:15 pm

    Markiza,

    calendula and plantain oils are oils which have been infused with the herbs. jojoba, walnut, etc – those are the carrier oils. they have their own properties, but are not medicinal in the way that an infused oil would be. so yes, use your oils, but infuse them with these herbs before blending them into the lotion.



  137. Arleen on 30 July, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    I plain to give this a try. I know my age is the factor at 66 years old. With the thick veins and the unattractive age spots it is hard to look at my hands. Do you have any suggestions for age spots?



  138. Liz on 9 August, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    Hi there,
    What is the recipe for the tinctures such as the horse chestnut tincture?



  139. Lisa on 21 August, 2013 at 4:37 am

    Hi,
    I don’t know how this is the first time I’ve come across this blog. I’ve been searching for a non-surgical, non-laser solution to my grown spider vein problem for a few years.
    I have been taking horse chestnut for a few years- my spider veins have not improved but significantly worsened. I continue to take it because I found it had a positive effect on other things…
    Anyway, I will probably try this lotion, but like many before me, am wondering what has happened to the many people that tried it before and never posted results.
    Any feedback?
    And what has happened to Katja? I see answers are now posted by “Ryn.” Who is Ryn?!
    Thanks for the recipe and here’s to possibly better looking legs and no more red marks on my face.



  140. Elizabeth on 21 August, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    I’m seeing & feeling results with the tea & tinctures Katja suggested at two weeks usage. I have mainly spider veins & a few thread veins. They are lighter, smaller. Normally during my period I have pain associated with the veins in my legs. This time I felt barely a twinge & only once.



  141. Lisa on 22 August, 2013 at 2:19 am

    Now I’m sad. I just read through the whole thread and found the post about the premade cream:

    “I’m curious, have you heard of/tried this horse chestnut cream: https://www.drugstore.com/planetary-herbals-horse-chestnut-cream/qxp138758

    If this cream really is pretty much the same as the recipe above (I see the main ingredients are the same), then I’m guessing the recipe won’t work for me. I’ve tried that cream and used the whole jar with no change in my spider veins at all.

    🙁



  142. katja on 22 August, 2013 at 12:52 pm

    Hi, Lisa:

    Ryn is the Co-director of our school and clinic. We maintain the website together. We have a lot of students and clients, and we reply to comments when we have time, whichever one of us gets to them first. You’ll find more information about Ryn and me on the Faculty page, and of course you can read lots of his articles in the complete list of articles as well.

    It sounds like you’re taking horse chestnut internally? That’s better used topically – it is far too astringent for regular use internally. You won’t be able to absorb the medicine anyway, but you can also impair your ability to absorb nutrients as well. If you find other benefits from it, you would be better off finding another plant with similar properties that is not so astringent – it’s best to see an herbalist in person to do that. If you don’t know any in your area, we can try to help you find one.

    Also remember that your varicose and spider veins have a cause. If they’re getting worse, you may need to be working more at the cause – getting a good walk every day is very important. I walk to work instead of driving, which is about 6 miles every day, but if you’re new to walking, just try 5 or 10 minute walks every two or three hours. Also, reducing or eliminating your sugar intake is a big part of getting your circulation under control!

    Good luck, and keep us posted!
    warmly,
    katja



  143. katja on 22 August, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    Hi, Lisa:

    I looked up the lotion you mention – it’s really drastically different than our recipe. Although there are a few herbs in common, who knows what proportions they were using, or the quality of the herbs, or the extraction method. We don’t actually know whether or not that lotion is medicinally active. More importantly, that lotion has a lot of crap in it, including parabens, which are highly absorbable and which are endocrine disruptors in the body. Parabens are linked to, among other things, breast cancer. We never want to see anyone put anything on their skin that they wouldn’t eat, and our lotion recipe is food grade. You wouldn’t eat this, because of the horse chestnut being more astringent than you want it to be in your guts – it would nullify the effects of the medicine because you wouldn’t be able to absorb it – but it isn’t poisonous or toxic.

    In the end, if you make it yourself, you know what went into it. If you buy it from someone who made it themselves, you can trust that too. If you’re going to buy a product from a big company, definitely make sure that they’re using food grade ingredients and no chemicals.

    So try again if you like with a better quality you make yourself, and make sure to incorporate walking and lots of moving around, and see if it doesn’t get better this time!

    good luck!
    katja



  144. katja on 22 August, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Hi, Markiza!

    I’m not a medical advisor. I’m just an herbalist with varicose veins, sharing what worked for me. There are no certifications for herbalists in this country, and though I do teach for two pharmacy schools and speak at herb conferences across the country, you should always do your own research about whether or not these herbs are safe for you. I wouldn’t expect anyone to do something just because they read it on the internet, even if it’s written by someone with lots of experience! However, given that there’s nothing toxic in this recipe, and there are pre-made products out there which do contain chemicals and parabens, I’d worry a whole lot less about something I made in my own kitchen than something I ordered from a corporation.

    warmly,
    katja



  145. ryn on 22 August, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Elizabeth,

    what great news! thanks for checking back in with your results so far.



  146. Lisa on 25 August, 2013 at 3:47 am

    Hi again,

    Thanks for your replies!
    I walk alot. In fact, I’ve been walking 10-14 miles/day for the past 8 or so years. And probably about 8 miles or so day before then. It’s kind of an obsession 🙂

    I do, however, have a major problem with sugar. I always have. Even though I’ve been quite thin and very, very athletic for years, my regular western medicine doctor told me I should stop eating sugar. So if sugar can cause spider veins, it’s probably the biggest contributor in my case. I’ve certainly noticed the effects of sugar much more as I’ve age, too, so I imagine the toll it’s taking is more acute.

    I thought it was odd that the lotion in that link contained parabens. It didn’t seem in line with that brand. I went to a natural grocery today where i’d bought it in the past, and sure enough, they had it and it did NOT have the same ingredients as the one in that link. No parabens. I was torn between the homemade and the premade. But the cost for the homemade was higher when taking into consideration I’d have to buy 2 bottles of witch hazel tincture. So I ended up buying the cream AND tincturs of horse chestnut and yarrow, as well as calendula oil. I mixed the cream with the tinctures and the oil and I’ll see what happens. Nobody had Plaintain oil. I called several places (I live in the San Francisco bay area, so there are quite a few). Found it online, but didn’t want to wait. I bought plaintain leaf with hopes of making my own infused oil, but that remains to be seen.

    For future reference in re: the witch hazel- I found an astringent with isopropyl (14% witch hazel), and another toner alcohol made with aloe but did not say the % of witch hazel.
    Could i use the stuff made for face toner, or does it have to be the (much pricier) tincture?

    I also got all the herbs for the tea. I’m not a tea drinker, though, so I don’t know how much that’ll happen.

    Thanks again! Here’s to hoping I see a difference!



  147. Lisa on 25 August, 2013 at 3:51 am

    Urgh! Sorry. Can’t edit.
    I meant to write that I found a witch hazel toner WITHOUT alcohol:

    https://www.swansonvitamins.com/thayers-natural-remedies-original-witch-hazel-aloe-vera-12-fl-oz-liquid?SourceCode=INTL405&CAWELAID=417113338&catargetid=530002460000000567&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CKPM2oeOmLkCFStxQgod4SsAQg

    and wondered if I could use this instead of the tincture. I know it wouldn’t be as strong, but need it be? You mentioned sometimes adding aloe to the mix, and it seemed this would be a good, cheaper way to add both ingredients.



  148. Lisa on 31 August, 2013 at 11:44 am

    Hi does this lotion really work? I have a terrible huge varicose vein on the back of my leg that was caused by a hernia putting pressure where my veins join up in my groin, I’ve since had the hernia gaused in and have been thinking about surgery to remove the vein as I love to wear skirts and shorts in the summer and have become way too paranoid. So would try anything before going to the hospital.



  149. lostcoyote on 2 September, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    hi katja,

    i have just bought these ingrediants to try out this recipe.
    up in your introduction post, you talk about water containing alcohol:

    “I usually start with the waters – in this case, the waters are going to contain quite a bit of alcohol, but that won’t affect the quality of your lotion any, it just might make it thinner or more “runny”…

    about how much alcohol should i incorporate into the water?
    (and about how much water/alcohol should i use roughly – 2fl oz, 3, 4?)

    Thanks much!

    -lc



  150. ryn on 3 September, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    lostcoyote,

    by that, katja just meant that instead of plain water blended with our oil, we’re going to be blending in some things that have alcohol content. that is, our “waters” include some tinctures and some extracts, so they’re not 100% water. you don’t have to add any additional alcohol to what’s already contained in the witch hazel extract or the tinctures.

    as for how much to use, that’s up to you – that’s why we write the formula in “parts”, so that it can be scaled to whatever amount you need to make at a time.

    be well,
    ryn



  151. lostcoyote on 3 September, 2013 at 10:40 pm

    thanks for the clarification ryn 🙂

    my vericose veins may be the result of an old injury which occured almost 30 years ago. i had a ski accident and my right leg’s popletiel artery was crushed resulting in a bypass operation… and so my right leg is minus one vein. (my left leg is clear of any verocose veins)

    still, i want top try this recipe and see what happens – or end up wearing those dang stockings.

    -lc



  152. Lisa on 5 September, 2013 at 3:01 am

    Soooo, I’ve been using a modified version of the lotion for over a week now. I use the premade horse chestnut cream mentioned earlier mixed with horse chestnut extract, yarrow extract and calendula oil. Unfortunately, I’m not seeing any change in spider veins. Initially i thought the one under my eye was lightening, but last night it actually looked darker.
    I know, it’s not the exact same formula. However, the premade cream has not only many of the same ingredients, it also includes the white oak and some other stuff Katja mentioned as optional/additional.
    I did take pics before, and I think it may be helping with the two varicose veins I have behind my knee, but since it’s hard to see, i’m not positive.
    I also tried the tea for a couple days, but I started getting some really bad stomach pains, so discontinued it. I don’t know if stomach issue was tea-related or not.
    How important is the plaintain oil in the recipe? I thought it was mostly to soothe and act as a base, so didn’t use b/c I couldn’t find any locally. Is it an active that would make a big difference?
    I will continue with the stuff I have til I run out and gauge any changes then.



  153. CWH on 5 September, 2013 at 12:45 pm

    Hi, Lisa!

    I wouldn’t expect you to see results in just a week. It took time for you to get these veins – it’s going to take some time to repair them. I saw changes in six weeks, which I thought was lightening fast. So on that front, it would definitely want more time.

    On the other hand, using the cream you mentioned earlier is going to cause damage (from the parabens etc) even as it’s delivering herbs. So if you end up getting through this batch and you don’t see results, you would want to do it again with a clean batch that doesn’t have the harmful commercial ingredients in it. If you get through this batch and DO get results, that’s awesome, but you should still make your next batch without the parabens, because that’s not something that we want to have absorbed along with the medicine!

    It’s a good idea to discontinue the tea. I don’t think anything in it should cause any kind of stomach upset, but every body reacts differently and you have to do what’s right for your body. It’s possible you could have an allergy you didn’t know about, or it’s possible that it’s just a coincidence, but the best thing is to listen to your body and let that be your guide! The best thing in the world won’t be the best thing for you if you happen to be allergic to it!

    good luck!
    katja



  154. Jimmy on 10 September, 2013 at 10:16 am

    Hello,

    Have a quick question, is it ok to use alcohol free tinctures for the lotion?

    Thanks,
    Jimmy



  155. CWH on 10 September, 2013 at 10:39 am

    Jimmy,

    yes, that’s completely fine.



  156. Lisa on 15 September, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    Hi CWH- as I mentioned in an earlier post, the cream to which a link is provided does NOT contain the same ingredients as that available locally. I don’t know where that cream is from, but I think it’s NOT the real Planetary Herbals cream, as they don’t use parabens. The stuff I got has these ingredients:

    https://www.swansonvitamins.com/planetary-herbals-horse-chestnut-2-oz-cream?SourceCode=INTL405&CAWELAID=249783980&catargetid=530002460000000567&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CMHPptj8zrkCFSU6QgodBCIAKQ

    And I spoke with a woman working at a local herb store last week who said she actually uses the cream and saw results within a week. She was also surprised I had no luck with it in the past (used two jars with no change).



  157. C on 16 September, 2013 at 3:14 am

    I am very glad to have your suggestions. I want to make the lotion, but am unsure how much base ingredient to buy. How much of each oil would you suggest to make a six week supply? Both plantain and calendula oils are quite expensive. Thank you!



  158. C on 16 September, 2013 at 4:17 am

    I just ordered the following quantities:
    4 oz Yarrow Tincture
    4 oz Horse Chesnut Tincture
    16 oz Witch Hazel Extract
    8 oz Plantain Oil
    8 oz Calendula Oil
    The cost was about $130 including shipping, so I am hoping that it makes enough to last a little while. I am very excited to try this, since so far even surgery has been only minimally helpful for me. It is definitely less expensive and healthier than surgery!



  159. katja on 16 September, 2013 at 8:31 am

    oh my goodness, that should last you for a good while!
    i was just replying to the other one, and it won’t help now but will for the future: why not just make the stuff yourself? it’s MUCH cheaper that way, it’s downright cheap!

    you can find really easy directions on “how to make an herb tincture” and “how to make an herbal oil” online, even video versions on YouTube. just order the dry herbs themselves from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com, and then make them up according to the super easy directions you’ll find (basically: put the herb in the jar, fill the jar with vodka or oil, wait four weeks, strain it out and keep the liquid and compost the leftover plant stuff). if you want to get very fancy, warm the oils and add a bit of beeswax to them, then let it cool again, before you make the lotion – this will help your lotion be less runny and more creamy. also, you’ll find lotion directions on YouTube as well, if mine leave you still with questions. When I update this post eventually, I’ll include links to really good video instructions, but you can just google “how to make a lotion”.

    if you do that, in order to make the amount you already purchased, you’d buy about 4 ounces of each dried herb. don’t bother to make the witch hazel, just get Thayer’s brand (i like the rose scent) from Whole Foods or your local health food store. the cost of the dried herbs will be maybe $15-25 incl. shipping.

    warmly,
    katja



  160. Dawn on 20 September, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    Hi I have been reading through this site on varicose veins. Questions i have are : In making the tinctures with oil soaking the herbs for 4 weeks. Is jojoba or castor oil or any oil okay?? Can i use Glycerin instead. ??? Are infusing the dried herbs in the oils or glycerin as effective as alcohol???? And do i leave them counter top or place them in the refridge during theses 4 weeks. Can I do the same for the calendula and plaintain or must they be infused through the heating process mentioned awhile back on this site????is it okay to soak all the herbs together in one big jar???? Is it okay to use oakbark and horsechestnut together rather than one over the other???? Thanx Daw



  161. Dawn on 21 September, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    Oops i meant to say Alcohol soak or glycerin in requard to the tinctures. Sorry Dawn



  162. C on 23 September, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Thank you so much! I will definitely try that in the future. For now, I am glad to have things pre-made, since I am just learning (and also have a very full schedule). My oils should be delivered today, and I’ve already received the tinctures. I can’t wait to get started!



  163. C on 24 September, 2013 at 2:15 am

    I just made my first batch. I ended up with a VERY runny lotion. I added slightly more of the oils than waters, trying to achieve a better consistency, with no luck. I’m sure it will still work fine, but it is messy to apply. My biggest issue is that the smell is terrible. Is there anything I can add to improve the fragrance? Thank you!!!



  164. C on 3 October, 2013 at 2:56 am

    Well, I have to say, this is definitely effective. Although the smell is strong and application is messy, it is worth it! In only a few days, I have seen changes. I will continue and see what happens over the next few months. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!!



  165. Tu on 3 October, 2013 at 5:43 pm

    Hi Katja, well I was doing a home treatment, castor oil/olive oil/almond oil and cold baths 20 min with ice on it.. and was going well, I was seeing the spider veins turn kind of purple and slowly fading away, and for ten days now I am using the tea and the lotion, Now the big veins are having spots fading too. I’d like to know if there is a limit or at some point will stop improving or everything will fade away slowly? Thanks.



  166. Linny on 10 October, 2013 at 3:31 am

    I have spider veins since I was 14, so it’s heridatory. The herbs they usually sell at my natural food store against spider veins are a combo of garlic, hawthorn and mistletoe which I have been taking at certain periods in my life. I took them orally, but I think transdermal use of tinctures may indeed work better.

    Have you ever tried with emu oil, I read it penetrates deeper than other oils? Also DMSO, a substance that can take any other substance (if particles are small enough) directly into the blood stream. For that reason I wouldnt try to mix it with alcohol based tinctures, but ACV and perhaps even a celtic seasalt brine could help.

    I also have bought a tincture which I’m now going to try rubbing on my skin instead of taking orally. It contains butcher’s broom, cranberry, horse chestnut and gotu kola.



  167. Linny on 10 October, 2013 at 3:34 am

    and what about grape seed extract, I read that’s also good against spider veins. Would blending up real grapes be strong enough or is that not the same as an extract?



  168. Linny on 16 October, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    My concern about these tinctures is the alcohol content. Isn’t alcohol actually bad for blood circulation?

    And what if you made a tea of these herbs, let it cool off and put that in your lotion or is that less strong than an alcohol based tincture?



  169. cindy on 19 October, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    Can you tell us exactly how much to use of each tincture and how much we will have/how long it will last? Maybe write it out like a recipe–I’m kind of confused how much to use. When I went to Mountain Rose Herbs, they don’t have a plain witch hazel extract.

    Thanks for any help!



  170. cindy on 19 October, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    How is that tincture working? where did you get it??



  171. snodebb on 22 October, 2013 at 11:55 am

    I am trying to buy the ingredients to make the lotion but I am not finding yarrow Tincture. I can only find the extract or oil. I’m new to this herb stuff and I really need that lotion! This is my last resort. Is Tincture different than the extract or oil?



  172. Emma Clarke on 23 October, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    I have one very large varicose vein. Do you know if these oils are suitable for use in pregnancy? Thanks



  173. lauren mcneal on 17 November, 2013 at 5:07 am

    Hi I was just wondering where it would be easiest to buy all the herbs and oils from?



  174. Atlantida on 18 November, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    I made myself most of ingredients (except Witch hazel extract, have ordered it via ebay), so will see does it work or not. In any case cant be harmful. Thank you, Katja, for sharing this!



  175. Holly on 21 November, 2013 at 10:46 am

    Hi,

    I have ordered all the ingredients to make this lotion. Looking forward to trying it out on my legs. I also have very sensitive skin on my face, with rosacea and broken capillaries…. would this lotion be helpful for my face? Or would the alcohol be too irritating?
    Thank you, Katja, for sharing this lotion recipe!



  176. Maria froese on 22 November, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    Wondering if you would make/sell me some if this lotion and ship it to me. This would be so much easier for me? 🙂 my email is maria_froese@yahoo.com



  177. Michelle on 7 December, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    I scanned two years of post and am surprised of all the interest and numbers of those who bought the ingredients, no one has posted a follow up as to the short/long term results.



  178. ryn on 10 December, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Michelle,

    i take it you mean “no one” aside from Karin, bj, Elizabeth, C, and Tu, who all wrote back above?



  179. Sunil Jain on 5 January, 2014 at 6:35 am

    Hi. I also made an oil for vericose veins. My wife had pains red and black patches and swollen skin lumps. I prepared an oil just massaged it and in a fortnight everything cleared up.



  180. SARAH on 7 January, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Dear Sunhil.Do u mean u tried Katja’s recipe or another pls for your wife.?I live in the Uk and am not sure where to buy Katja’s ingredients in the Uk.I am worried it might not help mine as they are green/purple long and lumpy and knotted.Thanks



  181. SARAH on 7 January, 2014 at 8:56 am

    DearJacob.Has the varicosevein lotion worked pls?Wondering whether to risk spending the money.Many thanks



  182. SARAH on 7 January, 2014 at 9:03 am

    Dear Katja.Mine r all green/purple long and knitted and lumpy and I have spider veins too.V Veins run in my family.Were yours whole length of thigh (mine r diagonally whole length) and were yours lumpy and green/purple pls?Where can I buy the ingredients online in the UK pls?many tahnks



  183. Alexis on 12 January, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    I decided to buy tinctures of all four herbs, still missing (plantain), and make a spray instead of a lotion. In less than three weeks, the pain in my leg has gone down to the point that I am no longer wearing a compression sock! The swelling in my vein has reduced, but it is still visible.



  184. SARAH on 13 January, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    Dear Alexis.I don’t know why Katja’s comments have stopped so will have to ask u.Were your veins greeny blue and lumpy please?Mine r.Hoping it will work.Have asked a herbalist to makeme some but she hasnt replied yet.I live in the UK so cant use Katja’s suppliers she gave links to.Thanks



  185. SARAH on 15 January, 2014 at 4:29 am

    Dear Kim.Has Katja’s varicose vein lotion worked please?Thanks v much.Best wishes
    Sarah



  186. Atlantida on 15 January, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    Dear Sarah, u may order the herbs via ebay or amazon, if u dont know how to make them urself. for everything there are recipies on internet. I live in Austria, and I found all the things, there are many suppliers in EU as well. I also put some bee wax in it, so it is not that running. I havent seen that anything has changed with my veins sinc ei use this lotion, but as i have said, cant be harmful. Hopefully it will help someone. 🙂



  187. SARAH on 16 January, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Dear Atlantida.Thanks for helping.Howlong have u tried these lotions pls?Thanks



  188. Atlantida on 17 January, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    U are welcome, dear Sarah, I know how big problem is this, at least to me. Im using it since the start of december. Im not sure if it is too early, and maybe it depends how big actually the problem is (i have a lot of them and already one operation behind myself), but i will continue to use this. It is better than lotions we may buy in shops.



  189. Julie on 19 January, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Was just confused on what makes these ingredients into a lotion thickness?
    Thank you



  190. SARAH on 20 January, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    Is anyone else out there apart from me and Atlantida trying this at the moment and if so is it making the varicose veins disappear please?Been trying the witch hazel and horsechestnut about 10 days then when the tea and plantain came on Tues been drinking the tea adding plantain.The yarrow and calendula came sat but didnt find in garden from postman till sunday.Feel v disappointed but maybe will see results after a bit longer.Thanks



  191. SARAH on 20 January, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Dear Alexis How r the veins now pls?Thanks



  192. SARAH on 20 January, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Dear C.How r the var veins now pls?Thanks



  193. katja on 20 January, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    Hi, Sarah!

    A good rule of thumb is to expect one month of healing for every one year you’ve been “sick” – in this case, had varicose veins. So if you’ve had varicose veins for a year, then you would expect to experiment for a month to get good results. I imagine you’ve had it longer. 10 days isn’t very long! As I wrote above, in six weeks I saw marked improvement, so I would expect that is a decent guideline.

    Remember too, that you got varicose veins for a reason – if you don’t change that reason, then you’re working against yourself. If you eat a bunch of sweets, or if you sit all day and never go for a walk, your recovery time will be much longer and you won’t recover as well.

    Imagine that you used a lot of bleach with your hands, and your hands got dry and cracked. I can make you up a salve or a lotion that would help your hands heal, but if you don’t stop putting your hands into bleach, that healing will be difficult.

    Make sense? Be persistent and remember to look at the rest of your life too!

    warmly,
    katja



  194. katja on 20 January, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    Hi, Julie!

    Emulsifying water and oil makes lotion – it’s like making mayonnaise. However, in the case of mayonnaise, eggs are thicker than just plain water (or in the case of mayo, vinegar), and they make it easier to get the mayo thick. You can make a great lotion with just water and oil, but it is easier if you add a little beeswax.

    I’ll be rewriting this post soon with more complete instructions – when I have a minute (I run a school and a very busy clinic as well as raising a daughter) – and I’ll include instructions on using beeswax. In the meantime though, you can youtube for how to make a lotion, and watch lots of videos of exactly how to do it – then you’ll just do it using these ingredients!

    warmly,
    katja



  195. Julie on 21 January, 2014 at 12:08 am

    Thank you!



  196. SARAH on 21 January, 2014 at 5:38 am

    Dear Katja.Thanks so much for replying.V veins run in my family unfortunately.I don’t drive so walk everywhere.I hardly ever eat sweet things and v few carbs.I have given up dairyt and gluten and eat mainly fish, some meat (mainly organic), eggs (organic) vegetables and oats and herbal tea.I am 47 and got these awful varicose veins in my 30s when I took Diannette (hormone pills) in desperation as last resort to get rid of acne I’d had since my teens.Then the varicose veins got worse when I got married and had 3 children and 2 miscarriages.I was put on progesterone with my son to avoid a 3rd miscarriage whilst pregnant with him as I had a blood clot in my womb whilst carrying him.They got much worse after having children.My husband got divorced in 2005 so am on my own with them and v busy.How r yours now and your patients’ varicose veins.Have theirs and yours gone yet please?thanks so much.



  197. SARAH on 21 January, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    Dear Katja.Does this tea make u hungry pls?Seem v hungry since started drinking it.Many thanks



  198. SARAH on 25 January, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Dear Katja.Today I tried putting apple cider vinegar on kitchen roll and wrapping it round my varicose veins.Is it ok to do this as well as use your lotion pls and does cider vinegar help get rid of varicose veins pls?thanks v much



  199. SARAH on 2 February, 2014 at 8:15 am

    Is anyone else trying this lotion at the moment and have u seen improvements pls?I feel like I must be the only one trying it now as noone is replying.Thanks



  200. katja on 2 February, 2014 at 8:27 am

    Hi, Sarah!

    We teach every day – even on weekends. We’re just getting ready right now to go out and teach for 8 hours. On weekdays we usually teach in the morning for three hours, see clients in the afternoon until dinner, and then teach our evening classes after that. On weekends we teach 10 – 5 (plus setup and cleanup of course!). We also have an 11 year old daughter to care for as well. There’s just the two of us, and we can’t be everywhere.

    If YOU are trying the lotion, then you are doing great! Work at it, give it some time, make sure to go for walks and watch what you’re eating, and then you can post back with your results. If we are not replying, please understand that our school and practice are just very busy. If other people are not replying, that’s ok. This is just our personal blog – we’re not trying to sell anything or start any kind of world-wide movement, we’re just two herbalists doing our thing and sharing what we find interesting. If it works for you, we’ll feel really happy! If you have trouble, we’ll try to reply as fast as we can. In the meantime, you might like some of the other articles that we’ve written as well: health doesn’t happen in a vacuum! You don’t just need to work on your varicose veins, there are certainly other factors involved and you may find some other interesting things here that can help you get ideas to bring your whole situation more into control.

    warmly,
    katja



  201. Karen on 3 February, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Hi, this blog is very popular. varicose veins are such a curse to many. Like you, Katja, I didn’t think anything could be done about them. My mothers legs have been riddled with them since her early 40’s. When I developed my first serious varicose vein (have plenty of spider veins) I realised how painful they were and whined to my mother about it and asked how she has put up with them all these years. She nonchalantly informs me that they are a fact of life, life goes on and be prepared for more! Well that didn’t impress me. So I researched and found out there are all sorts of solutions, mainly involving procedures with doctors, but also found yours which I started on 5 days ago. To my joy the discomfort has diminished significantly. I have been applying three times a day (cause I can). Now a question. If, like you said nicotine patches and hormone patches are absorbed through the skin, then it doesn’t really matter where this lotion is applied. Placing it around the offending vein, doesn’t mean that it will affect that vein. Is that right?



  202. Karen on 3 February, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Dear Sarah, you poor dear. You are doing everything right, walking, diet, not on hormones, not having anymore children:-). You sound busy but I really think putting your feet up (literally) helps. I sleep with a pillow under my feet and do “legs up the wall” whenever I can. Oh and I have also started taking horse chestnut capsules which are straight dried horse chestnut because there has been a lot of positive research about this.
    I have only two milder v veins but lots of spider veins. I made up this lotion about 5 days ago and started applying it 3 x a day to all the areas that had the veins. The visual effects of the veins have not changed but the sensations definitely have. At the moment that is more important to me as I didnt want to be constantly conscious of them. They especially pained WHEN I walked.
    I promise I will let you know if visually they change.
    Hope this helps



  203. SARAH on 4 February, 2014 at 9:50 am

    Dear Karen.At last there’s someone else trying this and replying!(apart from busy Katja who replies when she can)Mine r all diagonally down right thigh and behind r knee and all down left calf.They r all blue green lumpy.Unfort I cant lift both legs when lying as had a prolapsed birth canal and cervix operation last May and am not allowed to.(had children with wide shoulders like ex mother in law’s shoulders!)I tried by mistake other day forgetting leaflet said not to and it felt like my prolapse was comimng backso quickly put legs down.I have horse chestnut pills too but stopped taking when I started this lotion in case I overdosed.R u in UK like me or America?Glad to have someone to compare results with.I think some r getting paler but horrid lumps and knots just the same as b4.Katja said to give more time.R u taking th e tea too?Does it make u hungry?Thanks so much.Love Sarah



  204. Sarah on 10 February, 2014 at 2:25 am

    I cried the first week I used red clover on my varicose veins because I couldn’t believe the results!! And I have been using it ever since. Firstly, I have genetic varicose veins to the left mid thigh, behind my knee and lateral knee. These areas had bulging aching veins that bothered me daily and not to mention the visual aspect. I am a nurse and on my legs for 12 hours straight full time. My legs would ache before I even got to work. I tried compression socks with minimal success. At this point I thought it was hopeless. I am 40, work out 5 times a week, I’m in excellent shape and eat very clean. So firstly I made a red clover infusion, applied the liquid topically and then covered it with a salve over night. So after only 2 applications of the external red clover tea infusion and salve, I had NO pain and the size of my veins decreased by 20% in 2 tries. I was floored! So this time I made a jar of red clover infused oil (the tea is really messy) and let it sit for 2 weeks and then put it in a spray bottle and have used it every night for 2 weeks. It has been a MIRACLE. Every morning I wake up and I see less and less vein and no pain. I am now making my mother a batch….I am not one for “miracle thinking” however this has shown me otherwise.



  205. Karen on 12 February, 2014 at 2:03 am

    Wow, that sounds great Sarah. I think I shall give that a go. I am away overseas for the next two weeks(by the way I live in Australia) but will try it when I return. You have been doing a lot of experimenting. So, you got red clover leaves and flowers and put them in a jar with oil? Is that right?
    Karen



  206. SARAH on 18 February, 2014 at 8:54 am

    That’s amazing.What is a salve pls and how do u make it pls?Thanks



  207. SARAH on 18 February, 2014 at 8:55 am

    How r your veins now pls Karen?Thanks



  208. SARAH on 20 February, 2014 at 4:53 am

    Dear Karen/Katja.Pls can u tell us how to make red clover infused oil and if safe to use as well as your lotion.Many thanks



  209. Karen on 27 February, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    Sarah, the red clover infused oil can be made by packing a small jar with dried red clover and then filling the jar with one of the oils katja recommends on this site. Leave the jar in a dark place for 4 weeks and then the oil can be used. You can speed the proces up by putting the jar in one of those yogurt makers and repeatedly refilling the yogurt maker with hot water. I think this then takes two weeks but you can google “making infused oil”. The discomfort of my veins is almost non existent now but visibly no change. While away on my holiday I just took the horse chestnut tablets and applied the red clover tea twice a day and rubbed it in as I didn’t have time to make the infused oil.



  210. jrleen perez on 5 March, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    is it possible to send a little sample at no charge?



  211. SARAH on 25 March, 2014 at 5:48 am

    Dear Katja.Can red clover stop/delay periods please?Mine is 2 weeks late this month and still hasn’t come.It’s always been very 28 days approx but not this month.
    Have been drinking the red clover marigold and yarrow tea 3 x a day and putting red clover tea and now oil on my veins as well as katja’s mix.I am 47 so I suppose it may be menopause starting.Feel v upset as feel too young for menopause.I live alone with my 3 children as husband got divorced and left 10 years ago so I am not pregnant by the way.Many thanks



  212. katja on 27 March, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Sarah:

    It really sounds like you should have a local herbalist. We can share our experience with you, but we really can’t give you personal counsel on a website.
    I have not known red clover to have this particular effect, however, many things will delay a period. 47 is a reasonable time for menopause-related irregularities to start, however, stress is a very common reason for periods to be delayed as well. In my experience none of these herbs would delay your cycle, but I’ve never met you so I can’t say anything about what’s going on in your body.

    Your best bet would be to find someone local to work with!
    warmly,
    katja



  213. katja on 27 March, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Sarah:

    It really sounds like you should have a local herbalist. We can share our experience with you, but we really can’t give you personal counsel on a website.
    I have not known red clover to have this particular effect, however, many things will delay a period. 47 is a reasonable time for menopause-related irregularities to start, however, stress is a very common reason for periods to be delayed as well. In my experience none of these herbs would delay your cycle, but I’ve never met you so I can’t say anything about what’s going on in your body.

    Your best bet would be to find someone local to work with!
    warmly,
    katja



  214. Lynne on 5 April, 2014 at 9:51 am

    So glad I found this site! I decided yesterday it was time to explore surgery. But, I am going to delay this decision and try the lotion instead. I don’t have all the ingredients, so I liberally applied my coconut oil/vitamin e mix, then added drops of horse chestnut to my legs. I will try it this way, (starting 2x a day)as I am also on a high-potency vitamin C program. I took pictures…I am not so concerned about how the veins look, but more on how they feel. The aches were beginning to make me stop doing things I love due to discomfort. As a peri-menopause gal, I notice that the discomfort is worse during hormonal upheavals, such as menstruating. Thanks Katja for this site. Stay tuned!



  215. joselin on 22 April, 2014 at 6:53 am

    katja
    where to get these ingredients in UAE?



  216. Kay on 30 April, 2014 at 10:41 am

    Dear Katja and Ryn,

    First many thanks for your contributions on varicose veins! Have been following natural therapies for years (for other health issues that came by living in India many years, still I live there half year) but not so much on the veins. I am almost 60 and have had one bulging one on my left calf starting in my 30’s, and others and some getting worse. Standing for years for hours on cement probably contributed as had years of sitting meditation.

    So if it takes one month per year to heal that would take 36 months to address the large one. Not sure have the persistent nature to keep at it for that long. So, for the first time am considering some invasive procedure like laser or pulling the vein – have never done surgery and always followed natural methods for health so am rather leery to say the least.

    Some are getting worse and a new one popped up on my thigh. I am on a detox cleanse at present, so likely won’t start for awhile as am already doing this and that, but I will order the herbs and apply externally……but walking more is a good reminder! Am walking but apparently not enough! Am certainly willing to give your suggestions a try, but sticking at it regularly for so long will be challenging, especially as I travel a lot.

    I know with natural remedies it takes time and often requires a combination of things. But I guess my question is from your years of experience as herbalists, have you seen such old varicosities heal and disappear? One of mine goes from blue in my ankle and bulges on the calf almost to the inner knee. I guess I will have to experiment and see, try it on all of them (spider and other small bluer ones) and on the old one and look and bear witness.

    Thanks again for all your offerings and the support from your blog. Keep up the good work and know what you are doing is much appreciated and valued.

    Shanti….. all the best……



  217. C on 6 May, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    Sarah,
    I am so sorry! I sort of dropped out of this thread due to my crazy schedule and resulting exhaustion. I really haven’t done much at all since I ran out of my first batch of lotion. I did get results initially, but I have severe varicosities and really need to treat for a number of months or years before I can realistically expect results. I am going to make another batch of lotion soon, and get back to my efforts. I will let you know!!!



  218. nancy on 10 May, 2014 at 11:42 am

    can i make the lotion with out alcohol in it



  219. Puneet on 17 May, 2014 at 12:19 am

    hello, have your varicose veins cured completely? kindly reply



  220. Puneet on 17 May, 2014 at 12:27 am

    hello katja,

    I m from delhi (INDIA). I am also suffering from varicose veins in my both legs since 10 years. could you please mention the quantity of ingredients required please… for example :-
    1 part yarrow tincture – mg or gram ?
    1 part horse chestnut tincture – mg or gram ?
    2 parts witch hazel extract – mg or gram ?
    water – ?
    calendula and plantain oils, in equal parts as same as water

    also tell me, we just use the lotion as any other moisturizers or have to massage for some minutes..

    If i drink only tea, will it work?

    Regards
    Puneet



  221. Puneet on 17 May, 2014 at 12:30 am

    hello sunil,
    I m from delhi. Could you please tell me which il you used to treat your wife.. kindly tell the ingredients and making procedure of the oil which u used..

    Regards
    Puneet



  222. Puneet on 17 May, 2014 at 12:39 am

    hello atlantida,
    r u still using the lotion.. did it work for u. hv u cured from your varicose veins problem.. kindly revert.. yesterday by luck a visited this blog… otherwise i m trying to cure myself through raw juice therapy, exercises, yoga n pranayam since 5 months.. swelling of my legs has decreased about 50%.. but veins still looks twisted.. i use combination of 200ml spinach juice n 300 ml of carrot juice… its beneficial… but i would like to get rid of my varicose veins.. planning to use this lotion too…. so kindly tell me about ur recovery..

    regards
    Puneet



  223. Puneet on 17 May, 2014 at 12:43 am

    hello karen,

    did u get any results..



  224. Puneet on 17 May, 2014 at 12:51 am

    hello sarah,
    did u use the same lotion tell by katja? or u use only red clove infused oil? have your problem cured now? kindly revert…

    regard
    Puneet



  225. Puneet on 19 May, 2014 at 7:36 am

    hello sky,
    kindly reply….



  226. Puneet on 19 May, 2014 at 7:40 am

    hello katja,
    could you also recommend some remedy for stretch marks… i have varicose veins and stretch marks since 10 years….



  227. Anne on 24 May, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    Hi,
    This lotion looks great, but I have one big problem, I am severely allergic to Yarrow! Any substitutions you can recommend? Thanks and thanks for posting this! Best, Anne



  228. Anne on 24 May, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    I just looked it up, maybe Butcher’s Broom or Gotu Kola extract as a substitute for Yarrow? What do you think? “_



  229. puneet on 25 May, 2014 at 9:07 am

    hello katja,
    kindly mention the quantities of ingredients and also tell the proceedure to use it.. i mean by massaging or just use as any other lotion.

    regards
    Puneet



  230. Karen on 25 May, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    I’m not the same Karen who has posted other comments here, but would like to clarify the “parts” for the recipe. When parts are given in any recipe, it just means you choose the measurement. It is a ratio. Simply use the same measurement for each part. In your example, if you choose mg, you would use one mg yarrow, one mg horse chestnut and 2 mg witch hazel. The use of parts simply allows you to adjust the total quantity and obtain consistent results without multiplying or dividing. Just count. Any measurement you choose from drops to handfuls to tonnes will work as long as you use the same measure for each part. Hope this helps.



  231. deepak on 29 May, 2014 at 2:54 am

    i hve vericose veins in my right leg i m wearing compresor stocking
    doctor told me lazer surgery ,,my age is 30 yrs.can i drink alchol after surgery it ok pls tell me



  232. deepak on 29 May, 2014 at 2:55 am

    wht i hve to eat in vericose veins



  233. puneet on 30 May, 2014 at 8:47 am

    hello deepak,
    surgery will not cure varicose veins permanently.. u can take combination of carrot (300ml)and spinach (200ml)juice.



  234. puneet on 4 June, 2014 at 1:56 am

    hello karen
    thanx for ur help..



  235. Helen on 7 June, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    Hi Katja,

    I am so happy I found your website & so excited to try this! Just one question, are the tinctures & the oils equal parts?



  236. puneet on 12 June, 2014 at 2:04 am

    hello katja,
    kindly recommend me some remedy to remove old stretch marks…

    thanks



  237. noeleen on 19 June, 2014 at 7:02 am

    Hi I am dying to try this remedy for varicose veins, can you use it while pregnant?



  238. freddy on 20 June, 2014 at 12:32 pm

    Varicose veins are caused by damage to the walls and valves of vessels. The damage starts at the smallest ends of the vessel and works its way up. So the damage isn’t just at the location where you see them. It’s further down as well. It’s true that chemicals will permeate the skin. But it’s not going to do anything to repair the valves and walls. The only thing that will repair damage is stem cells contained in the blood vessels themselves. And that’s not going to happen because of a lotion. I’m sorry to be blunt but if you think your concoction does anything to fix varicose veins you’re deluded.



  239. Narayan sharma on 22 June, 2014 at 8:27 am

    hi, Katja
    i am having varicose veins from several years, can it be cured without ENDV or laser surgery, i m not beliveing,coz its hard to beliveve, but little bit hope came in my mind after reading your text above. i live in Nepal ,can u tell me such medicine can be avalible in my country ,can my vericose veins problem be cured?

    below i m writting about my doopler study report check it out

    [personal medical info removed. -rm]



  240. Marina on 6 July, 2014 at 11:07 am

    Do you have a recipe to make your own tinctures for the lotion? an you please share? Thanks! Marina.



  241. Linda on 6 July, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    Do you have any before and after pictures of any one’s results



  242. Michelle on 11 July, 2014 at 7:56 am

    Hi katja,
    Is this safe to use while nursing? The lotion and tea i mean 🙂



  243. marshy on 11 July, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    hi! this is very helpful. I wonder if I can use rosemary oil in making the lotion? Just to add some scent?

    I am really looking forward with the results. My varicose veins are just getting worse I think, considering I am so young to have them…



  244. Neko kincaid on 11 July, 2014 at 11:57 pm

    Hi! I just wanted to thank you for your post sharing your experience and formula with everyone. I have been applying your formula twice a day for a month along with horse chestnut pills and saw about 30% to 40% improvement on my legs. Even my husband is amazed that I have not complained about leg pains for few weeks.

    I have a long history suffering with varicose veins, not hereditary but pregnancy back to back. I will keep it short since I am writing on my small iPad. With my second child I had varicose veins all over my right leg and 3 large ones going into my groin and backside. The pain was so severe that I was only able to stand an hr at a time throughout the day. After giving birth I had leg stripping and lazer surgery done. With my son , varicose veins came back worse on my both legs plus DVT, blood clots, and spider veins. My son is about 16 months now, surgery really didn’t help, tried Doterra oils for 6 weeks and no result. I obsessively researched about varicose veins every night and came across katja’s site. I was very skeptical but was curious. I ordered most from the mountain rose herbs and amazon.com. I threw all the ingredients in a bottle, applied it with cotton balls. I just completed my 4 the week of the solution and started see the results. So I ordered the tea stuff. I am going to take a picture of my legs today and try to post it tonight.
    I am very greatful! Thank you so much!



  245. Neko on 12 July, 2014 at 7:38 am

    Hi. I just want to thank you katja for sharing your experience and recipe with everyone. I have used your lotion for about a month now along with horse chestnut pills and my legs have improved 30 to 40%. Even my husband was surprised that I have not complained about my leg pains for few weeks. The bluish purplish appearance has improved as well.

    My varicose vein problems came due to my pregnancies not hereditary. I had 3 children back to back. My second child I had it bad, from my calf area to upper thigh, 3 large veins went all the way up to my groin and backside, I could only stand an hr at a time throughout the day. After birth I had a laser, vein stripping surgery, and got my fitness body back. With my 3rd child, varicose veins came on both legs all the way to groin, DVT (blood clots), spider veins, I was in a lot of pain.

    My son is now 16 month old and am still battling varicose veins. I saw a specialist and we discussed surgery again. I tried Doterra Essential Oils for 6 weeks and no results, I tried to eat food that supposedly helpful including gluten free diet but got worse, massage, Epsom salt bath, etc. and foremost wore compression stockings but no change. Every night I obsessively researched anything that could help and came across your website. I was very skeptical but I decided to give it a try.

    I ordered most of the stuff from Mountain Roseherb and amazon, put it all in a plastic bottle, applied it twice daily with in taking horse chestnut. It has been a month now and I am seeing results. So I ordered tea stuff few days ago. I took pictures and trying to figure how I can post it here. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!



  246. Bob on 14 July, 2014 at 2:23 pm

    How long does it take to work? I bought the 6 different Items. I’ve been using it one week so far! When should I start to see results?



  247. Ketaki on 18 July, 2014 at 8:45 am

    Hello!

    I had signs of varicose vein in my left leg from age 18.. That vein got worse in the past 10 years and now I see the blue bulgy vein all the way unto my ankle. After realizing that its only getting worse and no exercise can help it I decided to take it seriously. I started doing Yoga.. in particular the head stand and now I can hold it for 1 minute but that doest seem to be helping. I don’t want to get a surgery right now at 27 as the problem will get worse with age.

    During my web search/research this is the only page I came across that actually talks about healing these ugly veins. I ordered the ingredients and looking forward to see the results of the treatment. Will definitely take before and after pictures. Its definitely hard to believe that the simple topical lotion can cure a problem as severe as this.

    Katja, I’m curious if you have an update about your treatment since its been a few years since your first post.

    I will update here when I start seeing some results.



  248. charlie on 24 July, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    Hi Katja
    I wanted to ask about an aside you made in one of the earlier posts if possible -you said that it was common to use St John’s Wort for nerve tissue damage – and in the context you seemed to be meaning topically. I was just wondering if you could share a little more information on that. I have a rare neurological disorder and I’d very much like to explore natropathic remedies if I can. Thanks so much in advance for your help with this. You’ve been very generous posting all this information 🙂 best charlie



  249. Jeanie Stubblefield on 30 July, 2014 at 9:31 am

    So HAPPY to find this info, Katja! I am going to apply it to my situation. I, too, have heriditary varicose veins & one, esp. in my left calf is getting ridiculous…lol! Anyway a quick question…I have been drinking Butcher’s Broom root tea twice a day. In my prior research I saw this recommended. Any thoughts? Wondering if I should continue or drop it. Thank you for your time! Jeanie



  250. Brandy Collin on 2 August, 2014 at 9:51 pm

    By any chance will this work on spider veins on the face? Also, do you think the lotion is safe during pregnancy? I’m desperate but not to the point of hurting my baby.



  251. Terynn on 3 August, 2014 at 1:30 am

    Hi! I am super excited to try this and I happen to have yarrow in my garden so I wanted to make the tincture myself. I looked in the interwebs to see how but wanted to ask you which part of the plant is best? I saw one that used just flowers but I also saw another with just the leaves. How do you do yours? And if I could find the horse chestnut, what part do I use to make that? I was also wondering if this lotion could be made with coconut butter to thicken it up or would that dilute the properties of the herbs? Thanks for the help!



  252. Terynn on 3 August, 2014 at 1:43 am

    Oh also after further research wanted to know if I could use buckeye instead of the horse chestnut. Apparently they are the same genus but not species. Big difference is one is in Europe and the other in Ohio…. GO BUCKS! Lol



  253. Widya on 6 August, 2014 at 12:58 am

    I made already the lotion and start using it. But for the tea I miss one item e.i Red Clover flower, Is it ok if I make tea without it ? Does the tea taste a little bit bitter ?



  254. BOB on 21 August, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Today it will be Six weeks using the concoctions from here using it Three times a day, with every little if any results! How long does it take? Does it even work? I’m not over weight and in good shape, I also raise my legs up every night for 30 min.



  255. Lynn Josephson on 27 August, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    I too am concerned about the fact that there aren’t many testimonials about this stuff. How do we know that this person isn’t someone trying to sell products for the companies mentioned. I also don’t like how wobbly the ingredients for the “lotion” sounds. Why isn’t the person giving us more accurate measurements on how to make this stuff, and it’s confusing to a lot of people… you can add this – if you want – or add that – if you want, or you don’t have to have this, or that. And it sounds like more of a potion – not a “lotion”. I would continue to do more research, this sounds very expensive, and time consuming.



  256. Lynn Josephson on 29 August, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    I noticed that my August 27th post was deleted from here. I am a product freak, and am always looking for new and up coming products that work. On this I would be skeptical. The reviewers seem somewhat confused on like what a “part” is and how much to make. It sounds more like a “potion” than a “lotion”. It sounds like it would be expensive to make, and isn’t going to go far for long. I would be willing to give it a try, but won’t, because of the money you have to invest. It sounds like the reviewers keep asking “how long before I see results?” They’ve been doing it for a while, and haven’t seen any results yet. Thank goodness for product reviews now, it’s a great way to find out about stuff. I wonder how the Preacher faired? You didn’t lie to him did you?



  257. Lynn Josephson on 29 August, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    I have yet to have my comments posted on this sight. Two of them have already been deleted. Something I’m saying?



  258. ryn on 29 August, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    Lynn,

    your comments were not deleted, they just hadn’t moved through the moderation queue yet. we check in on the website comments only once in a while, and approve new commenters in batches rather than one at a time. our comment policy is to manually review all comments from a new commenter before they are posted; after that initial approval, the rest of their comments are posted immediately. this is a fairly standard practice, but all the same, i’ve updated our template so this is spelled out above the comment box every time. despite your insults, yours are posted now.

    you are, as you say, a “product freak”. i think the fundamental miscommunication here is that you (and some others who’ve commented) are mistaking this post for a product, when it’s information. neither of us work for any herb companies, we don’t even use affiliate links on our site. it might help if you try to understand that this is not a strict recipe for a single product, it is a description of a strategy. katja’s working on an update to this post, which may be of some interest you, and i think she’ll expand on these ideas more fully there.

    beyond that, the lotion and tea described here don’t have to be expensive. if you make your own infused oils and tinctures instead of buying them pre-made, especially if you grow or ethically wildcraft your own herbs, i’d expect you can put everything together for under $5 an ounce.



  259. Sarah McNulty on 3 September, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Can you make some for me?



  260. Sheila Saunders on 21 September, 2014 at 10:43 am

    I have been using the liniment for 3 weeks now and I am noticing a difference already. I used the tea as well for a while but due to time restraints have not been faithful in that. I have put the liniment on at least once a day mostly twice. The pain is gone and the appearance is showing improvement, Thank you for your efforts in publishing this information for those of us who suffer the pain of VI and feel like the only way out is surgery. Having already had surgery once and injections as well, that is only a temporary fix. I made my own tinctures with herbs I purchased and oil from obtaining the plantain in my yard. This was very inexpensive in contrast to surgery or injections–not as fast of a result. However, I am feeling like this may be a long term solution. I am looking forward to the new post from Katja.



  261. Ken on 8 October, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Hey,
    I am a 28yo male with varicose veins on my leg and I noticed also the veins in my arms(!!!) to pop out much more recently (only when its warm), which is kind of concerning.
    I would love to try out those herbal treatments, but I am from Germany.

    Does anybody know a good source to buy those ingredients in Europe?



  262. J on 18 October, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    Hello,

    I am a scientist and while I find this interesting, I would like to know the mechanism of action.

    As someone posted before, varicose veins result from damaged vein valves, and the medical consensus seems to be that these delicate valves do not repair themselves and cannot be repaired surgically. (This is not my subfield.) I cannot imagine how this concoction would help the valves heal. Perhaps there is some secondary effect that addresses the symptoms? I still cannot think of what that might be.

    Have you thought about testing your lotion scientifically, perhaps by having a Doppler test before and after treatment to find out if the veins are working properly?



  263. sarah on 27 February, 2015 at 10:11 am

    Hello! It’s 2015 now, and I don’t know if you still monitor this post, but I was curious if this remedy is still working for you. I’d love to hear an update and if you’ve needed to try anything else!



  264. Michele lightsey on 21 April, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    I heard butchers broom works well for varicose veins as well you think adding that to it might be beneficial I currently add it to my drinks and when I don’t the achenes comes back I have had 2 surgeries caterization of the major veins and now going for removal of all varicose veins do to them popping all the time very week I will have to try this before I do it thanks



  265. Keely on 1 September, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria has been isolated in varicose veins..This bacteria which can cause gingivitis can translocate from the mouth. It has the ability to evade the immune system and destroys healthy tissue. This would explain why the vein essentially collapses.

    Out of interest..have any of you guys on here suffered with much tooth decay or bleeding gums..?

    You can research this by checking out the scientific papers on the internet such as pubmed, google scholar etc.

    PS. it can also cause arthritis in some people..



  266. Lea on 20 October, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    I used this lotion, with plantain oil in the recipe as well. I have had 3 surgeries, take 800 IU Vitamine E daily and have struggled for years!! After the lotion recipe-I have indentations where there used to be bulging veins!!! It is amazing! It took about 2 1/2 mos of using it faithfully 1-2 times per day. I never stopped my vitamin E, and every few months I will pick up the routing again just to keep them at bay. I cannot thank you enough!!



  267. Ann on 15 November, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Hi,Keely!
    Is it enough to get his teeth, that is repaired holes? Should bad teeth pulled out? What kind of fill must be used to repair holes in his teeth? Can I get this bacteria out of his body?



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