Support for the Health of Veins and Arteries

Section 1 - An Overview

Poor circulation means various things.  Cold hands and feet may indicate poor circulation.  Varicose and spider veins by their very existence indicate that circulatory issues exist.  Edema, which is often experienced as puffiness and heaviness in the lower extremities, arises from the leakage of fluids across the walls of the capillaries and generally indicates poor circulation.  Hemorrhoids are another form of poor circulation.  In all of these conditions, the structures which make up the capillaries and the veins have lost a portion of their integrity.  This allows blood to pool, fluids to pass into the tissues, and inflammation to develop.  Circulatory and venous issues, moreover, are not merely "cosmetic." Current research has begun to stress that cardiovascular diseases are caused, at least in part, by localized inflammation in the arteries of the affected parts of the body and, likewise, by damage to the structure of the artery walls.

VEINOPHIL™ (a special extract of butcher's broom, Ruscus aculeatus) is known to help with all of these problems.  Although VEINOPHIL™ is not specifically intended for cardiovascular problems, it is a product which offers benefits in all areas involving the circulatory system.  It is a good addition to any formula being used to improve cardiovascular health.

Circulatory problems are amazingly common!  Varicose veins alone afflict one half of all adults past middle age.  Many of our everyday activities––or a lack of activity––exacerbate circulatory problems.  Stress tends to reduce circulation as the "fight or flight" response closes down blood flow to the extremities.  Long bouts of standing or sitting in one place cause a pooling of blood in the legs and can cause damage to the capillaries and veins, thereby resulting in edema in the feet and lower legs.  A reduced basal metabolic rate (the energy production of the body at rest), likewise, slows circulation and can lead to cold hands and feet, especially if combined with stress.

Varicose veins are typical of damage to the circulatory system which we suffer as we age.  By definition, varicose veins are those which are permanently dilated and bulging.  Varicose veins are due, in large degree, to structural failures in the one-way valves which line the veins and the subsequent damage to vein walls, which then "balloon" into the surrounding tissues. To be sure, varicose veins offer no great health risk unless they are unusually large.  The general loss of muscle tone in the walls of veins is common as we age.  Obesity and pregnancy place special stresses upon the veins of the legs.  More generally, occupations which call for extended stretches of standing in place are damaging to the veins of the legs.  It is not walking, but rather prolonged standing which is damaging.  Walking actually uses the muscles of the legs to improve blood flow.  Even sitting for long periods without moving can lead to a pooling of blood in the legs and thus to increased pressure, which may damage the veins.

Women are about four times more likely than men to have varicose veins.  Pregnancy and occupations more typical of women than men account for part of this.  The sex-linked lesser degree of muscle tone in women's legs may account for the rest, just as cellulite is found in women rather than in men due to a differing matrix of structural support in the tissues.

VEINOPHIL™ may prove useful for any of the following conditions:

1. poor capillary resistance and capillary fragility, i.e., easy bruising, inappropriate bleeding
   
   
2. general problems in the legs, including varicose veins, spider veins, pain, swelling, itching, cramps, feeling of heaviness in the legs, other symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency
   
   
3. edema from injuries, surgery, inadequate movement, etc.
   
   
4. inadequate blood flow, especially in the extremities
   
   
5. hemorrhoids
   
   
6. inflammation in the circulatory system and elsewhere in the body
   
   
7. a number of conditions involving the eyes in which vessel integrity plays a role, e.g., retinal hemorrhage

©2000-2007  AngloSwiss Limited  All Rights Reserved.