Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hi Terry, “My legs constantly give me a number of problems, as they always feel very heavy and tired with a lot of cramping in my calves through the night. Can you recommend a nutritional supplement or an herb of some kind that may be of benefit?” Joyce K., Toledo, OH A. Dear Joyce, The symptoms you describe are commonly associated with varicose veins. However, in some cases, these symptoms can be associated with an underlying disorder, so please talk to your health care practitioner to make sure that you are not dealing with a more serious issue. That said, there are a number of herbs that have excellent effects on reducing the signs and symptoms associated with varicose veins, and they might even reduce spider veins, too. One of the most highly researched herbs in Germany, and probably the best overall herb for varicose veins, is horse chestnut. I would look for one that is standardized for 20% aescin and enteric coated. For most people, it’s okay to use a plain tablet of horse chestnut, same standardization, but without enteric coating, there is a possibility of gastric upset. The dosage is usually 500 mg daily, which would provide 100 mg of the active component aescin.