Butcher's Broom: Benefits for Circulation and Swelling Relief

Varicose Veins
Posted by Cynthia (Grand Junction, Colorado) on 01/23/2008
★★★★★

Two herbs, Horse Chestnut and Butchers Broom, have been very helpful to me -- they have taken away the sore, aching, tired feeling from my legs. I don't know if the *appearance* of my leg veins has improved or not. They seem less noticeable now, but I've gained a little weight on my legs, so there may be more fat hiding some veins now.

These 2 specific herbs have made such a difference to my quality of life.

Background: I started getting varicose veins, and the aching that goes with them, when I was 16! Sixteen years old with varicose veins! And no, I wasn't pregnant, or obese.

The varicose veins just got worse over the decades.
The aching, TIRED feeling bothered me more than how they looked. I usually wore jeans, slacks, or a long skirt to hide them. And I hate support hosiery. It's so uncomfortable, especially in summer.

A few years ago, I was reading some traditional, conservative woman's magazine, maybe it was Woman's Day or Ladies' Home Journal, but I can't remember. There was an article about several herbal remedies that actually have some scientific evidence for being effective. It said that the herbs Horse Chestnut and Butchers Broom were helpful for varicose veins.

I tried the herbs.

The local natural foods stores sell several brands of capsules with the herbs in them. Affordable.

A couple year's ago, a doctor warned me not to take those herbs for a few days before a planned surgery, and for a couple weeks afterwards. Doctors wisely are cautious about any herb or drug before surgery, that may or may not affect circulation or blood or the speed of bleeding and/or coagulation. Other than that, my physician does not object to the herbs.

The usual common sense caveat: Of course you should talk to your doctor about any herbal remedies that you are thinking of trying. Because (1) I'm not a physician, and (2) each person's body and health are different, and (3) natural herbs can still have side effects and/or interactions with other drugs/herbs.

The Horse Chestnut and Butchers Broom herbs have worked like a miracle for me, so I'm surprised that they are not well known.