Do you ever wish you could go back and dress your 18-year-old self? If I were allowed a personal wormhole through which to traverse a decade or two, I’d head straight to my freshman year of college. I’d immediately take myself out of the amorphous six-sizes-too-big floral dresses of the time (thank you, Winona Ryder of Reality Bites), and immediately put myself in shorty shorts and heels. Why? Because I had great gams and didn’t know it.
What do I have now? Yeah, I’m still kicking around with the same old legs. But about eight years ago, I noticed something was off. I had (closing the blinds and dropping my typing to a whisper) the beginnings of small spider veins. This did not please me. So I hiked off to my dermatologist and begged her for answers. She offered saline injections that would “kill” the veins and eventually cause them to fade. I went for it. My karma for this decision? The injections didn’t work at all and I was left with an expensive bill and the egg of “duh” all over my face.
So years later, I’ve come to embrace my spider veins and all the fun imperfections that come with wisdom and age. Just kidding – I still totally hate them and would love them gone, but like I would believe any doctor after the saline fiasco. So now, I’ve settled into a relationship of utter denial with my spider veins. I know they are there, but when I look at them the world just goes fuzzy. And luckily, they really aren’t that bad for spider veins. Considering what I just saw when I Googled varicose veins, I should probably clam the heck up.
Nonetheless, I recently decided to take a gander at what the natural world has to offer on varicose veins. Considering saline injections didn’t do squat to destroy them, I was a bit skeptical. But apparently there are things you can do to rid yourself of the wee red beasties. Spider and varicose veins are caused by smoking, pregnancy, and obesity. Some also say you can get them from sitting, standing, and crossing your legs at the knees. (And if you have bad varicose veins, see a doctor. There could be larger issues like blood clots and more.)
Once you’re cleared by a medical professional, consider these tips. When you sit down, elevate your legs to improve circulation. Losing any extra pounds will also help. Some nutritionists suggest eating a tomato a day, as they aid blood circulation. Others suggest “cherries, rose hips, blackberries, apricots, buckwheat, bell peppers, onions, asparagus, brussel sprouts, apples, pears, and the thin inner layer of citrus rinds.” These are all rich in flavonoids, which are circulation enhancers. And the more your blood circulates, the better your spider veins.
Or so “they” say.
Image: Dia