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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Horse chestnut seed extract may be an effective treatment for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition associated with varicose veins in which leg veins have problems returning blood to the heart. The herb may help improve swelling and discomfort caused by varicose veins. Talk with your doctor before trying horse chestnut seed extract or any other herb or dietary supplement.

References
  1. Alguire PC, et al. Overview and management of lower extremity chronic venous disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
  2. Varicose veins. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vv/vv_all.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
  3. Spider vein, varicose vein therapy. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/cosmetic_spider.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
  4. Varicose veins. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec07/ch081/ch081e.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
  5. Varicose veins and venous insufficiency. Society of Interventional Radiology. http://www.sirweb.org/patients/varicose-veins. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
  6. Horse chestnut. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
DS00256 Jan. 12, 2011

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