Witch hazel: what are its benefits against heavy legs?

For legs in great shape, veins must defy the laws of gravity! The feeling of heaviness appears when the blood circulating inside the veins is no longer able to rise efficiently to the heart. The reasons? Excessive expansion of veins whose wall has lost tone and elasticity, a malfunction of the small valves which, inside these “muscular” pipes, prevent the reflux of blood downwards, or even the lack of physical exercise. Brief, this network sometimes, even often, lacks resilience.

Also called “witches’ hazel”, thewitch hazel East a good veinotonic. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also recognizes its traditional use against heavy legs.

It grows naturally in North America and is today grown in Europe.

We use the leaves, stems and branches, as well as the bark of the shrub. They contain a multitude of tannins (more than 10% of assets), as well as flavonoidstwo families that are highly protective of the veins.

Witch hazel, thanks to its tannins and flavonoids, increases the resistance and elasticity of the vein wall. Vasoconstrictor, it promotes venous return. “It is thus indicated in cases of heavy legs andvenous insufficiency chronic,” observes Dr. Patrick Aubé, doctor-phytotherapist.

Instructions for use: in oral, drinkable form, 20 drops 3 times a day before meals, or in powder form, 2 to 4 capsules per day. Cure of one month maximum.

When blood stagnates at the ankle, the surrounding tissues suffer. They are less oxygenated and in addition to the heaviness and pain, the skin reddens and receives fewer nutrients. When venous insufficiency is significant, healing is less effective. Here again, witch hazel provides valuable services. It improves the trophicity of the skin. It can even treat significant minor skin lesions (bruises).

Instructions for use: “in the oral, powder or drinkable form, we can locally combine a gel based on witch hazel for circulatory purposes,” suggests Dr. Aubé.

By reducing the permeability of the vein wall, witch hazel prevents the leakage of fluid into the extracellular space, one of the major components of heaviness in the legs. He is useful on painful, swollen legs at the end of the daysymptoms accentuated by jobs that require walking (hairdresser, cook, waiter, etc.).

Instructions for use: infusion is preferred here. The recipe: 2 g (1 tsp) of dry plant in 150 ml of boiling water. Infuse for at least 4 minutes, then drink throughout the day. As a 15-day treatment every 3 months. “The use is safe, just some digestive disorders if the infusion, too long, lets a high concentration of tannins escape,” points out the specialist.

There are no official contraindications to the use of witch hazel. But considering the lack of data, it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Furthermore, the tannins it contains can decrease iron absorption. It should therefore not be taken at the same time as medications or iron-based food supplements.