Summer-Ready Legs

By Christine Cheng, R.Ph. and Fred Cheng, R.Ph.

Despite our rainy reputation, summer in the Lower Mainland can be quite warm and sunny. For those who have spider veins and/or varicose veins, this could mean either suffering through the hot weather in pants or long skirts or baring the legs with some level of self-consciousness. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize the look of these conditions.

Both conditions arise from dilated veins that are not as resilient and thus tend to “stretch” when filled with blood, thus supplements that benefit venous health should be considered. These include VEINSMART by Lorna Vanderhaeghe, CIRCUVEIN by Flora Health, and WOBENZYM.  They work through different mechanisms so they can be used together.  VEINSMART is a set of herbal astringents, including diosmin, horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, and hesperidin which work together to help tighten the veins in your body to help return blood to the heart.   WOBENZYM N has been highly popular in Europe and has been available at our pharmacy for 15 years.  It is a collection of enzymes (pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, rutin) that can reduce inflammation and swelling as well as improve blood properties for enhanced flow throughout the circulatory system.  An interesting tidbit about all these products is that they can also benefit hemorrhoid sufferers.  (Circuvein is also marketed as “Hemoraid” for this reason.) Although these are natural health products, they do have contraindications, so be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before supplementing.

HOMEOPATHICS are often used in patients with circulation problems because they have no side-effects and do not interact with any medications the patient may already be on.  AESCULUS COMPOSITUM and VENOFLUID are often used orally for venous health.  There is also a topical VARICOSE VEIN CREAM or OINTMENT (available at Cloverdale Pharmasave) which can both strengthen and tighten the superficial veins.  The cream is preferred for the legs while the ointment is for haemorrhoids.

Dry skin on the legs can make spider and varicose veins look more noticeable. A good topical moisturizer applied on a daily basis can help. Taking an oral omega-3 supplement such as SEALICIOUS or NUTRASEA can help moisturize from the inside out. Benefits for dry skin conditions can be felt within days of starting these supplements.

For some, COMPRESSION STOCKINGS may be necessary, especially if their varicose veins are causing symptoms such as fatigue, pressure, and /or pain. Compression stockings are made of special elastic fibres and are designed to fit quite tightly around the ankle and gradually less so as you move up the leg.  The idea is to have the fibres in the fitted stocking help massage the legs in order to return blood to the heart to prevent pooling in the legs.  There are many styles, sizes, and strengths of compression stockings to cater to various needs, so it is crucial that you speak with a certified stocking fitter in order to pick the right ones for you and to have you sized properly. Check with your physician or pharmacist if you already have a blood clot because there are special considerations for the timing of starting blood-thinners and compression stockings in such cases.

Getting your legs ready for summer is not just about aesthetics; it may also be about your overall cardiovascular health. Speak with your healthcare practitioner to see if supplements or stockings could be appropriate for you.

Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.