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Mahes Visvalingam
Post-retirement postings

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Some Experiences with Natural Medicine
and related observations

 

Varicose Veins : Reflexology and Vitamin E

 

My symptoms

2005 :

My varicose vein started to bulge during my menopause which finished in 1993.  Both the veins and lumps along them were a dark dull green to black.  The visible symptoms were indicative of a deeper underlying problem - sluggish circulation and possible clots in the deep veins carrying blood up from the feet.

 

I also had circulation problems in my legs causing restless legs after a long-haul flight.  These conditions were aggravated by the sedentary nature of an academic job, especially since I used to spend long hours on computer-based research.  The restless leg syndrome abated after retirement, when I was diverted onto more physical activity connected with moving house and developing a garden. 

 

On 14 Oct 2005, I bought Peeters (2001) book on Reflexology, which was much more digestible than the books by Eunice Ingram which I possessed.  Although, I was not sure of the 'caterpillar walk' technique for working sensitive points in the feet, I worked on the whole foot paying particular attention to the spleen and liver/gall bladder areas.  The next day, the inside of the left leg became itchy and the bulge nearest the knee became unbearably itchy and the skin seemed rough as if it had dry eczema.

 

Since most alternative therapies stimulate the body's own response system, I did not work on my feet again for a couple of days.  The photos below were taken after 3 'treatments of the feet.  The veins had started to subside but the bulges remained.  Since the varicose veins were not a life-threatening problem, I just ignored them.  But, this experiment made me think that reflexology and other therapies (such as Bowen Therapy) which improve circulation can alleviate varicose veins and restless legs. 

13 Oct 2005 20 Oct 2005

 

Vitamin E

I bought a book by Rodale (1973) many many years ago but did not get around to reading it, partly because it had no index.  I recently (2007) came across it on my shelves and decided to plough through some of it.  In his chapter 248 entitled Varicose Veins (p 130 - 134), he provides a summary of a talk given by Dr Evan V Shute (of the Shute Institute, London, Ontario, Canada) at the Second World Congress on Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Montreal, Canada, June 6, 1958.  Dr Shute had been successfully treating varicose veins, acute phlebitis (inflammation of the veins in the legs and feet) and associated ulcers with high doses of Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol).  He claimed that it not only prevents the extension of existing blood clots, it quickly resolves them and relieves associated pain and tenderness.  It is an anticoagulant.  Dr Shute had also reported that Vitamin E had an extraordinary ability to increase collateral circulation by calling into play the unused networks of veins lying in wait for emergency utilisation. "We have such venous reserves just as we have reserves of brain, lung and liver" (p 133).  Vitamin E also enables tissues to better utilise oxygen.  Rodale notes some case studies provided by Dr Shute.

 

Autumn 2006

I had come across this information in more recently published books and had tried Vitamin E with little success.  It could have been that I had not taken the high dosage for the Vitamin to act as a cure.  People with high blood pressure should not take high dose Vitamin E since it can lead to a harmful sharp rise in blood pressure, which can be life-threatening  However, since my blood pressure is on the low side I decided to move up from 200iu to Nature's Aid 500iu capsules but only took the pills every other day.  Their vitamin E is derived from soya and sunflower.  The veins have retreated and the bulges are getting smaller.  The Vitamin E may have also eased my restless legs and decreased my postural hypotension.

 

Related information

  1. Cold pressed oils: Indians and Chinese have traditionally made new mothers consume quite a lot of cold-pressed sesame oil.  Women used to be 'confined' to the bedroom for a month after child birth and were given a special diet.  The Indians omitted chilli from the curry during this period since they believed that this gave the baby colic and used to pour sesame oil all over the mother's food, as olive oil is drizzled over Mediterranean food.  Cold pressed oils are a rich source of Vitamin E.  The women were also given sweets made with sesame seeds.  I was too young to note all the details of the diet.  The Indians also make young girls consume a lot of sesame oil and seeds when they attain puberty.
     

  2. Oil rubs: My aunt, who is now in her 90s, is still very fit physically and mentally even if rather frail with her vegetarian diet and frequent religious fasts.  Until very recently she used to get about on the buses in the tropical heat and humidity and used to have problems with varicose veins and painful legs.  When I last visited her in 2005,  my cousin told me that she no longer asks him to massage her legs and feet after massaging them with Revathi Thailum (medicated oil).  I did not have time to go shopping for it to note the constituents. 

    I have tried massaging with Ranch oil (98% cold pressed castor oil + 2% basil oil) with no improvement.

March 2007
Dr Shute was convinced that a high dosage of Vitamin E was the secret to the successful treatment of phlebitis , which he believed was the cause of varicose veins.  Even after they were cured, his patients continued to take high doses of Vitamin E for healthy circulation.   After completing one bottle of Nature's Aid Vitamin E 500iu, I stopped taking Vitamin E and switched to Evening Primrose Oil.  By February, I could tell that the feet were beginning to feel heavy and uncomfortable again.   I could only get 400iu capsules which I will take daily - and will report in due course.

 

July 2007

The peak of my hay fever was over by the end of July and the symptoms had not been as severe this year.  This could have been due to the unusual weather conditions - the wettest June on record - and quite a lot of rain in July.  Other fellow sufferers also felt that the rainy weather had reduced their symptoms.  When the bottle of Vitamin E ran out, I switched to Evening Primrose Oil again to see if it made any difference.

 

September 2007

See notes under September 2007  in restless leg syndrome (RLS).

 

April 2008
While writing up my page on my reaction to polluted cabin air in aeroplanes, I realised that I needed to update this page.  My varicose veins, restless legs and postural hypotension have all improved to an extent where I am not aware of them.  Over the winter months I have been alternating between 1 one-a-day Seven Seas Cod Liver oil capsule and 1 400iu Nature's Aid organic Vitamin E.  I always get these from a reputable Alternative Therapy Shop after checking the sell-by date.  

 

Your experience

If you have found some other treatment which has worked for you, please let us know through the web log on Varicose Veins.
 

Related topics:

postural hypotension (low blood pressure); restless leg syndrome (RLS)

 

Disclaimer     

© Mahes Visvalingam, 13 March 2007

Last updated on 09/04/08