Home remedies for phlebitis

introduction

Phlebitis is a painful inflammation of mostly superficial veins in the arms or legs. It occurs more frequently in patients with weak veins or a leg vein thrombosis. In addition to pain, redness and restricted mobility, fever and a clear feeling of illness can also occur.

Phlebitis can be treated in a number of ways. Home remedies in particular can prove helpful because they are easy and readily available. But not all home remedies advertised show a benefit for those affected.

For more information, also read: Treatment of phlebitis.

These home remedies can help

• Compression bandages or compression stockings

• Exercise in patients with superficial phlebitis

• Elevate the legs in patients with deep phlebitis

• Avoiding luxury foods such as alcohol or cigarettes

• Quark or clay wraps, wraps with apple cider vinegar or alcohol

• Enzyme therapy for inflammation

• Sweet clover or horse chestnut extracts against swelling and itching

• Red vine leaves against the inflammation

• Alternating baths

• (Schüßler salts and other homeopathic remedies)

You can also find information about the Duration of a phlebitis

The wraps with apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar wraps have a cooling and beneficial effect. For use, linen towels are soaked in apple cider vinegar diluted with water. These are then wrapped around the inflamed area. A dry towel can therefore be used if necessary. After just a few minutes, the affected extremity will feel less hot.

The wrap should be left on for about 20 minutes. The cooling effect also reduces the pain associated with phlebitis. Alternatively, the wraps can also be made with alcohol from the pharmacy. Wraps must not be used on open wounds, such as the open leg.

The quark wrap

Like the wraps with apple cider vinegar, quark wraps have a cooling effect due to the liquid contained in the quark. In addition, the lactic acid contained can bind inflammation-promoting substances and thus contribute to a reduction in inflammation. Quark wraps can also be used with linen towels. For this purpose, the quark is applied over a large area and not too thinly on the cloth and this is wrapped around the affected area. The wrap should be changed after about 20 minutes or when the quark has dried or become warm.

Wraps can also be used with clay. This is available in some pharmacies. Clay wraps also have a decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect. As with vinegar wraps, curd and clay wraps must not be placed on open wounds.

Read more about the here Application of curd wrap.

The compression bandage

The compression bandage or compression stockings have a different mode of action than the wraps mentioned above. The veins are compressed by the tight wrapping of the bandage or the tight structure of the stockings. This compression leads to a better outflow of blood towards the heart. Compression bandages are therefore particularly suitable for patients with weak veins. They also prevent the inflammation from spreading to deep veins or even causing deep vein thrombosis.

Compression bandages can be applied by the family doctor. Stockings can be purchased at the medical supply store after prescription by the doctor and adjustment to the leg.

You can find more information on this topic at: The compression bandage.

The Schuessler salts

Schüßler salts recommended by naturopaths for phlebitis are Ferrum Phosphoricum D12, Calcium Carbonicum D12, Calcium Fluoratum D12 and Potassium Chloratum D6. Ferrum Phosphoricum is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Potassium chloratum is said to have a detoxifying effect following treatment with Ferrum Phosphoricum. While Calcium Fluoratum is said to have a firming effect on blood vessels, Calcium Carbonicum supposedly shows a diverse, self-healing effect.

The effect of Schüßler salts has not been medically proven and is generally questioned critically. They should therefore never be used as the sole medication for potentially more severe diseases.

Also read the article: The Schuessler salts.

Elevating the legs

Especially with inflammation of the deep veins, it makes sense to take care of yourself and to elevate the affected leg. This improves the outflow of the veins towards the heart. This measure can also be helpful in the context of a deep vein thrombosis, which can result from a deep inflammation. In this case, however, additional treatment in the hospital is required.

Patients with superficial inflammation, on the other hand, are actively advised to exercise. This will help the blood to circulate better and prevent blood clots from forming. Patients can find out from their attending physician which veins are inflamed and whether elevation is recommended.

Find out all about the topic here: The phlebitis.

Smoking and alcohol

During active phlebitis, patients should definitely avoid stimulants such as alcohol and cigarettes. Since the body is already under high stress during an inflammation, it can be harmful to additionally stress it with alcohol or the like. In addition, some medications that the doctor might prescribe for the inflammation interact with alcohol.

But also patients who have already had a phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis should refrain from cigarettes. Smoking promotes the development of thromboses, especially in combination with being overweight and taking oral contraceptives (pill).

Homeopathy and naturopathy

Herbal remedies for phlebitis are sweet clover, red vine leaves and horse chestnut. Sweet clover has anti-inflammatory effects. It can also reduce the swelling. It contains substances that inhibit blood clotting, the coumarins.

The horse chestnut has a similar mode of action. It also contains coumarins and has a dehydrating effect and stimulates blood circulation. Red vine leaves have decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties. Like the herbal remedies already mentioned, it has a slight anticoagulant effect.

The roller coaster

Alternating baths or alternating showers can prevent or at least delay the occurrence of a venous outflow disorder if used regularly. The wall of the veins is trained by alternating between warm and cold water. This is to avoid sagging and sagging, which is typical for a drainage disorder. They are rarely used in acute phlebitis.

The easiest way to do this method is in the shower. After an initially warm shower, cool to cold water is selected. The shower head is initially only aimed at the feet. As a result, it can always be held a little higher until the legs are completely washed. If you want, you can extend the whole thing to the arms.

Alternating baths are usually carried out in a small foot bath. Here too, warm water is followed by cold water. Patients with thrombosis should not take alternate baths.