Will Magnesium Help With Venous Insufficiency?

Magnesium is vital for overall health, but it won’t reverse or repair venous insufficiency and varicose veins.

Magnesium is found in many foods, including whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, shellfish, and baked potatoes. The nutrient has been shown to increase calcium in your body, which helps manage high blood pressure. Sufficient levels of magnesium in your diet can also alleviate some common chronic health problems, such as headaches and insomnia.

From heart health and circulation to sleep patterns, magnesium is an essential nutrient vital in numerous bodily functions. When your body lacks magnesium, you may experience muscle contractions or cramping.

This is why magnesium is often prescribed to help with restless leg syndrome (RLS), a condition where the leg muscles experience involuntary twitches and cramps. While many RLS symptoms are associated with varicose veins and venous insufficiency, magnesium will not do much to relieve the pain, cramping, and swelling of vein disease.

Magnesium Won’t Help With Venous Insufficiency, But Here’s What Might

Venous insufficiency is caused by weakened, dysfunctional valves in the leg veins. These damaged valves allow blood to backslide and pool in the vein, causing swelling, varicose veins. Other signs of venous insufficiency include skin texture and color changes, sores, itchy skin, cramping, and pain when you walk.

Minimally invasive office procedures performed by a qualified vein doctor are the only way to eliminate problem veins. There are, however, alternative methods to help reduce some of the discomforts related to venous insufficiency.

The following natural treatment and supplements are not harmful and could enhance your vein health — but they are not a cure for those bulging veins.

Before taking these supplements, talk to your doctor about the risk/benefit to you and any possible interactions with other medications you may be taking:

Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extract contains flavonoids. Its active ingredient, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complex, can boost your circulation. The recommended dose is between 150 to 300 milligrams daily in pill or liquid form.

Rutin

Another flavonoid, rutin’s active ingredient is hydroxyethylrutosides. A dose of 500 milligrams twice a day may reduce swelling in the legs.

Horse Chestnut

A popular natural treatment for varicose veins, horse chestnut shrinks the blood vessels and thins the blood, which helps speed circulation and reduce swelling. A daily dosage is 300 milligrams taken three times a day. Horse chestnut is not recommended if you are pregnant or have bleeding problems.

Butcher’s Broom

Butcher's broom is sometimes used to relieve symptoms of poor blood circulation and inflammation. A dose is considered 100 milligrams in liquid extract or 1,000 milligrams in capsule form daily. For an extra boost, combine butcher’s broom with vitamin C.

Any supplement, however safe, will never eliminate varicose veins or treat the underlying cause of venous insufficiency. Supplements provide only temporary symptom relief. If you have a bad reaction, stop taking the supplement immediately.

Minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by a vein specialist can provide more permanent relief. Here are three of the most common vein treatments:

Sclerotherapy

A vein doctor will inject a safe, saline-based solution into the affected vein. This irritates and collapses the vein wall. Blood diverts to healthier veins, and the collapsed vein is reabsorbed into the body.

Thermal Heat Ablation

Heat from laser or radiofrequency waves is pulsed into the vein, sealing it shut.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Typically performed on larger varicose veins, this procedure involves removing the diseased vein through two tiny incisions. Stitches are rarely needed.

A vein specialist can also suggest methods to treat other symptoms of venous insufficiency, such as slow-healing leg ulcers. But the bottom line remains the same. If you’re looking for a cure for your varicose veins, the supplement aisle of your local drug store or supermarket won’t help you. Make an appointment today with a vein specialist instead.

Get Your Veins Examined Now

Center for Vein Restoration physicians specialize in vascular medicine and have been treating venous insufficiency for fifteen years. If your varicose veins are causing pain and swelling, schedule your consultation today at one of our offices!