Varicose Veins is a condition of the veins in the lower extremity (legs) that is characterized as enlarged, swollen, winding, bulging or dilated. They are visible under the skin showing red, purple, blue or even black colors. In some severe cases, twisted veins look like earthworms. Patients usually feel sensations of burning, heaviness, weakness, tiredness, cramps and pains. If not promptly treated, Varicose Veins can also be associated with skin damages, open sores or thrombosis, phlebitis and sclerosis.
 
Acupuncture, a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has several thousand years of history. It does not have side effects. It works effectively on Varicose Veins. According to Chinese Medical explanation, Varicose Veins are caused by stagnant blood in the veins. Stagnant blood blocks the veins and blood vessels like the blockage in a water pipe. Stagnant blood can be caused by many factors, such as heredity, pregnancy, obesity, improper diet, strains due to heavy lifting or long periods of standing and walking.
 
Acupuncture re-distributes abnormal blood and energy flow and corrects poor circulating conditions. The insertion of acupuncture needles forces the stagnant blood to move in the blocked veins and surrounding blood vessels.  Meanwhile, the points for coordinating the organs are selected to enhance the energy and blood flow to supply more blood to the area, like the blocked pipe being opened by a forceful water supply. When the blockage is removed, improved blood and energy will strengthen the body’s immune system. Therefore, this treatment can enhance the immune system’s function too.
 
Acupuncture is not as painful as people might imagine. Patients usually experience a small pinprick sensation when the needle is inserted. Once it is in, patients may have the sensation of weariness, tingling, pressure or electrical stimulation along the Meridians (Channels). Those sensations usually go away shortly during and /or after the treatment. Some patients may feel itchiness or heaviness in the needled area. This is a normal reaction when the deposited blood in veins and peripheral blood vessels starts moving, but the blood still cannot circulate normally due to insufficient blood supply. At this point, patients need to continue the treatment while the stagnant blood in the veins and vessels is cleared and washed away completely by increased blood flow. Then the dark color of the veins gets lighter and lighter. The veins are filled with new and healthy blood. Since the blockage is removed, the elasticity and flexibility of the veins will gradually recover. Finally, Varicose Veins would disappear.
 
Some patients need 7-plum-needles tapping treatments that cause minor bleeding on the skin surface to let out the superficial stagnant blood. Sometimes patients are given oral herbal pills or herbal tablets to improve the entire body’s blood circulation or herbal decoctions for soaking and washing the concerned area to speed up the healing process.