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Dr. Grey AI

Condition

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins, usually in the legs, that bulge when faulty valves let blood pool instead of flowing back toward the heart. The evidence is strongest for horse chestnut extract and diosmin with hesperidin, and in trials of gotu kola, signs of chronic venous insufficiency improved. Those gotu kola studies were small, though, and rutin did not erase bulging veins or fix failing valves.

Sources: PMID 22419768; PMID 6896366; PMID 7936334

Supplements studied
2
Graded outcomes
2
Trials
2
People studied
97

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

2 supplements

Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola: outcomes studied for Varicose Veins
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect5 studies97 people

Studies that measured chronic venous insufficiency signs

and 2 more on the Gotu Kola page

Leg EdemaChanges; see studies4 studies160 people

Studies that measured leg edema

and 1 more on the Gotu Kola page

Rutin

Rutin: outcomes studied for Varicose Veins
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Vein Appearance

Does not reverse valve failure or erase bulging veins

NoneNo effect200 people

Key findings

  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency SignsGotu KolaImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Vein AppearanceRutin

The Varicose Veins Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 5 supporting supplements

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Fullscript collectionHeart and circulation: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

Or shop one supplement

The supplement graded A or B for Varicose Veins. Each opens third-party tested products for that supplement.

  • Grade B

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Studies cited

16 studies from PubMed

  1. Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbsAngiology · PMID 3544968
  2. Flight microangiopathy in medium- to long-distance flights: prevention of edema and microcirculation alterations with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiaticaAngiology · PMID 11666121
  3. Microcirculatory effects of total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in chronic venous hypertension: measurement by laser Doppler, TcPO2-CO2, and leg volumetryAngiology · PMID 11666123
  4. Centella asiatica extract in venous disorders of the lower limbs. Comparative clinico-instrumental studies with a placeboClin Ter · PMID 7037273
  5. Centella asiatica extract in venous pathology of the lower limbs and its evaluation as compared with tribenosideMinerva Cardioangiol · PMID 6896366
  6. The microcirculatory activity of Centella asiatica in venous insufficiency. A double-blind studyMinerva Cardioangiol · PMID 7936334
  7. Improvement of capillary permeability in patients with venous hypertension after treatment with TTFCAAngiology · PMID 2389834
  8. Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiaticaJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 18191355
  9. A clinical study on the management of generalized anxiety disorder with Centella asiaticaNepal Med Coll J · PMID 20677602
  10. Total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in the treatment of venous hypertension: a clinical, prospective, randomized trial using a combined microcirculatory modelAngiology · PMID 11666126
  11. Effects of the total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in venous hypertensive microangiopathy: a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trialAngiology · PMID 11666117
  12. Treatment of edema and increased capillary filtration in venous hypertension with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a clinical, prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging trialAngiology · PMID 11666125
  13. Treatment of diabetic microangiopathy and edema with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a prospective, placebo-controlled randomized studyAngiology · PMID 11666119
  14. Evaluation of treatment of diabetic microangiopathy with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a clinical prospective randomized trial with a microcirculatory modelAngiology · PMID 11666124
  15. The efficacy and side effects of oral Centella asiatica extract for wound healing promotion in diabetic wound patientsJ Med Assoc Thai · PMID 21298840
  16. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on acoustic startle response in healthy subjectsJ Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 11106141

Supplement stack for Varicose Veins