Home treatment phlebitis: Phlebitis (5 Natural Ways to Improve Symptoms)

11.09.202305.07.2023 by alexxlab

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Phlebitis (5 Natural Ways to Improve Symptoms)

Phlebitis — a swollen or inflamed vein — is a fairly common condition that can range from mild to deadly, depending on its location and cause. Early treatment is important to help prevent complications. In most cases, phlebitis can be effectively treated with conventional medicine. In addition, many people can take steps to naturally lower their risk of phlebitis and improve their symptoms at home.

Deep vein thrombophlebitis: A blood clot plus vein swelling in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Deep vein thrombophlebitis is the most serious type of phlebitis. If the blood clot breaks away from its location in the arm or leg and travels to the lungs, it can cause a deadly condition called pulmonary embolism.
Note: This is slightly different from deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a deep vein without swelling or inflammation of the blood vessel lining.

Other herbal blood thinners may also benefit some people: (13)
Garlic
White clove
Licorice
Feverfew
Danshen (a Chinese herb)
Ginseng
Ginkgo biloba
Chinese herbal preparations that may work as blood thinners include: (13)
Kangen Karyu
Bak Foon Pill or Bai Feng Wan
Remedies to reduce inflammation could potentially ease phlebitis-related irritation in the blood vessels. Herbs and supplements with known anti-inflammatory properties include: (11)
Fish oil
White willow bark
Curcumin (turmeric)
Green tea
Maritime pine bark (pycnogenol)
Frankincense
Resveratrol
Cat’s claw
Capsaicin (chili pepper)
Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is a plant root used in traditional medicine to treat poor blood circulation, leg swelling, itching, varicose veins and other health problems. The plant may also have anti-inflammatory effects and may be effective for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. (15) However, chemicals in this root may cause blood vessels to narrow, so do not take this without first consulting your physician.

Phlebitis is irritation of the vein’s lining. Although a supportive diet may not make an immediate difference in your symptoms, over time it may help your blood vessels stay healthy and strong. When paired with other ways to prevent phlebitis and blood clots, such as exercise, a supportive diet can help you lower your risk for future problems. According to Today’s Dietitian and the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines for lifestyle management, a diet that supports blood vessel health includes: (19)

If blood flowing through the veins is a peaceful river, then phlebitis is the body’s equivalent of the Hoover Dam. Those who have experienced phlebitis know it as much more: a painful, frightening affliction that can claim a life without warning via a blood clot that surreptitiously lodges in the veins of the heart or lungs. Phlebitis just means inflammation of the veins. It is more correctly known as thrombophlebitis. “Thrombo” is for the blood clot that is its trademark and primary danger. Two basic types of phlebitis exist: deep vein thrombophlebitis, or DVT for short, which is the more dangerous condition, and superficial phlebitis, the more common, less serious condition. Both are caused by long periods of inactivity, such as a long car trip or lengthy bed rest.

Your genes might also put you at a greater risk for developing this condition. “Both types of phlebitis are defined by a clot in a blood vessel, but a clot in one of the deep veins can travel to the heart or lungs, making it very dangerous,” says David L. Katz, MD, MPH. “Superficial phlebitis usually occurs in smaller vessels, so the clots are smaller and usually won’t reach the heart or lungs. It’s more of a localized problem.” It sounds disturbing, but you probably don’t need to stress over the tender, ropy veins of superficial phlebitis you may feel just below your skin’s surface. Here are some home remedies that may help complement your doctor’s care and help prevent phlebitis.

Planning a long trip by car? If you’ve had phlebitis in the past, then make sure your wheels aren’t the only things in motion. The main thing is to stop frequently and exercise, says Michael D. Dake, MD. “Don’t take just one pit stop during the day and walk a mile, but rather stop four or five times and walk shorter distances.” Exercise prevents your circulation from slowing down during long periods of sitting.

Scientific literature is littered with reports of people stricken with deep vein thrombophlebitis following long airplane flights. The condition is so common that it’s now known as economy class syndrome, because it rarely seems to strike those passengers seated in roomy, first-class seats. The best way to prevent DVT, says Katz, is to get up and walk around every hour or so to keep the blood circulating. In fact, you may want to request an aisle seat to make this easier.

Once you’ve had phlebitis, you’re at increased risk of getting it again. Long periods of bed rest make you especially vulnerable. While you might not be able to prevent prolonged bed rest following an injury or a serious illness, certain types of risks, such as elective surgery, can be avoided if you’re prone to clotting disorders. Consult your doctor for specific risk factors, but keep in mind that getting up and around can help reduce the risks of developing phlebitis after surgery.

These stockings, available in drugstores and department stores, impede the blood’s tendency to pool in the small blood vessels closest to the skin. While there’s no documented evidence showing that support stockings do any good in preventing phlebitis, they do seem to relieve pain and make some people feel better. The best advice for you? Wear support stockings if you’re prone to swollen legs and ankles or varicose veins.

While nutrition doesn’t have a direct connection to phlebitis, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are both related to a more efficient heart and better bloodflow. And that, in turn, reduces your risk of experiencing phlebitis, especially the more dangerous DVT. There are some nutrients, such as garlic and certain antioxidants, that have anti-inflammatory properties, but Katz says the most important thing is to focus on a whole-diet approach of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein. “They’ve never done the study, but I’m willing to bet if you had 2,000 people on airplanes, and 1,000 of them followed a healthy diet, that group would experience less DVT than the other group,” he says. (Here’s 25 must-haves for your clean-eating grocery list.)

Some studies suggest that the blood-thinning properties of aspirin, Tylenol, and other over-the-counter pain relievers may help reduce phlebitis by preventing rapid clot formation in those prone to the disease. These studies advise that you take aspirin before prolonged periods of bed rest, travel, or surgery, all of which tend to make circulation sluggish and increase the possibility of clotting.

High-fiber foods are important to your vein health for one simple reason—they keep you regular. If you’re constipated, you tend to push too much and too frequently when you have a bowel movement, which puts extra pressure on the valves of your legs. Try to eat around 30 grams of fiber a day from foods like bran cereals, oatmeal, and beans. And remember to drink extra water. Without water, adding fiber can make your constipation worse.

Even the most innocent phlebitis can be a sign of a more serious ailment. Swelling or tenderness around a reddened area on your leg is something to tell your physician. If you have a history of developing superficial phlebitis or varicose veins, you might be at risk for deep vein thrombophlebitis. See your doctor if you feel any prolonged pain or swelling in your calf or thigh, and particularly if the pain is coming primarily from the back of the calf. If you feel even the least bit of leg pain or swelling a day or two after a long plane ride or car trip, it’s a good reason to pay your doctor a visit.

Most often, phlebitis (especially phlebitis of the lower extremities) occurs as a consequence and complication of varicose veins. Also, inflammation of the venous wall can cause injury. For example, post-injection phlebitis occurs due to damage or irritation of the vein by the injection solution, and allergic phlebitis develops due to an allergy to the drug or catheter material. Often phlebitis occurs as a complication after a chemical burn of a vein (for example, after injections or improper administration of a drug).

Diagnosis of phlebitis begins with an anamnesis of the disease. The doctor examines the patient and carefully listens to all complaints, paying attention to when pain, swelling, heaviness in the legs appeared. Also, a specialist can prescribe ultrasound duplex scanning of the veins of the lower extremities, MRI and CT of the lower extremities ^1.2 . If necessary, laboratory blood tests are prescribed, as well as consultation with a therapist or cardiologist.

If the inflammation has spread to the deep veins, thrombus formation has begun, then the issue of surgical intervention may be decided. For example, for the treatment of migrating phlebitis, an emergency operation is performed – a crossectomy, in which the affected areas of the vein are bandaged or removed. In a planned manner, the issue of phlebectomy, the removal of a modified vein, can be resolved.

— Phlebitis is a rather serious and insidious disease that can lead to multiple unpleasant consequences. For example, an acute form of phlebitis, if treatment is not started on time, can turn into a chronic form, when not only superficial, but also deep veins will be affected, and if the formation of blood clots – blood clots begins, then phlebitis can turn into thrombophlebitis. Also, if the disease is left to chance, sclerotic changes and even septic embolism may occur in the venous walls.

– In general, the treatment of phlebitis should be done by a phlebologist, and self-medication with the help of traditional medicine can be dangerous. To alleviate the symptoms, you can make a compress from buckwheat groats ground into flour or with decoctions of healing injuries. When you go to bed, make sure that your legs are in an elevated position, you can, for example, put a pillow. Well, try to keep calm until the pain and swelling subside.

Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of superficial vessels. Bitsadze V.O., Bredikhin R.A., Bulatov V.L., Golovina V.I., Jenina O.V., Zolotukhin I.A., Ilyukhin E.A., Kalinin R.E., Katorkin S. .E., Kirienko A.I., Krylov A.Yu., Lobastov K.V., Makatsaria A. D., Mzhavanadze N.D., Porembskaya O.Ya., Pryadko S.I., Seliverstov E.I. ., Sonkin I.N., Soroka V.V., Stoyko Yu.M., Suchkov I.A., Schastlivtsev I.V., Cherkashin M.A. Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of superficial vessels. Phlebology. 2021;15(3):211-244. https://www.mediasphera.ru/issues/flebologiya/2021/3/1199769762021031211