Tough legwork!

Treat venous insufficiencies and liberate your legswith the line of products.

A phytotherapy correspondence course is offered by the A.Vogel Institute to all retailers, healthspecialists and the general public. Please consult our website at www.avogelinstitute.comThis document is not intended as medical advice and in no way excludes the necessityof a diagnosis from a healthcare professional. Its intent is solely informational and educational.

For more information, call toll free: 1-800-361-6320, email: info@bioforce.caor visit: www.bioforce.ca

The Horse Chestnut flower, Aesculus hippocastanum,has long healthy and strong pistil.

In Alfred Vogel’s own words…

“Plants have always been my faithful companionsand their wonderful healing properties have never once let me down. I am utterly convinced that nature provides us with everything we need to protect and maintain our health.”

Alfred Vogel believed that anyone suffering from venous insufficiencies should treat themselvesor the illness by natural means and with perseverance. Healthy veins play such an important part in your bodies that the patient attention and care we give them to ensure their proper functions will be well worth your while.Inspired by Alfred Vogel’s holistic approach to treatment, these next few pages bring you sound and user-friendly advice for healthy legs!

Pioneer in Natural Health. Since 1923.

The human body?

The human body is a complex, intricate architectural marvel that is always seeking balance and health.When there is an imbalance or a weakness in a particular area of the body, we receive signals alerting usof a malfunction. These signals may include pain, fatigueor physical signs such as varicose veins.

These signals are there to warn us that special care is required on our part to avoid further possible complications. Being the multi-dimensional individuals that we are, there are often numerous contributing factors to these imbalances. Likewise, there are often numerous strategies that can be employed to help the body.

Why do varicose veins develop?

The circulatory system includes a series of arteries and veins, which ensure that oxygen and other nutrients are transported to the tissues and organs of the body and that carbon dioxide and other wastes are transported outof the body. The venous system is that partof the circulatory system which gathers waste for disposal purposes. There are deep veins and superficial ones.

Varicose veins are considered superficial veins. Generally speaking, they representa much lesser risk factor thanproblems with the deep veins. But, symptomsof swelling, heaviness and pain in the legs as well as the visual effectsof these superficial veins can restrict one’s lifestyle.

Varicose veins are a sign that the walls of the venous system are weak and that the valves, which are suppose to ensure that blood is flowing in the direction of the heart, may be malfunctioning.

Venous blood from the feet must flow against gravity towards the heart. It is literally an upward marathon.The strength of this flow is incumbent on the strengthof the heartbeat, the muscular movement of the legs,and the unencumbered flow of the blood. The sheer distance from the feet to the heart make the legs a very vulnerable area for the development of varicose veins.If the walls of the venous system are not healthy and flexible, any obstacle along the way will cause the bloodto “pool”, stretching the vein and making it visibleto the naked eye. In other words, the vein loses tone and is unable to support the required pressure to move blood against gravity.

What are the warning signsof venous insufficiencies?

■ You often feel tension or heaviness in the legs.

■ Discomfort lessens when you raise your legs.

■ You occasionally have swollen lower legs or ankles.If the circumference of your calves and ankles before bedtime is greater than it is first thing in the morning, this is an indication of leg swelling and possible susceptibility to varicose veins.

■ You tend to have haemorrhoids.

■ You have the beginning signs of tiny, blue orred blood vessels.Spider veins are similar to varicose veins but aremuch smaller and closer to the skin’s surface.

You are at risk if you can answer “YES”to more than 3 of the following questions:

■ Is there someone in your family that has problemswith venous insufficiency?

You are at higher risk since there is a strong genetic componentto developing varicose veins.

■ Are you often exposed to overheated environments?

■ Do you spend long periods of time standing upor sitting down? Are you sedentary?The risk is especially elevated if you do not move muchin these situations.

■ Do you tend to cross your legs when sitting down?

■ Do you smoke and/or drink too much alcohol?

■ Are you overweight?

■ Do you regularly eat junk and/or refinedand processed foods?

■ Are you a woman?Pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations can increase the pressure on your veins and/or cause them to relax too much.

■ Are you taking oral contraceptives?

■ Do you regularly wear high heels or clothing that restricts blood flowin your legs(ex: tight fitting clothes)?

Title

Your strategies are varied and some may be more beneficial to you than another person, dependingon your risk factors. They include:

What are my available strategies to avoidor minimize varicose veins?

Nutrition

AVOID or REDUCE

■ Refined/processed foods

■ Salt

WHY

■ Starves your veins of essential nutrients.

■ Increases the toxic load of your blood by the presence of artificial ingredients (colouring, preservatives, synthetic components).

■ Increases water retention, causing heaviness and pain in your legs.

ACTION

■ Eat fresh, wholesome foods.

■ Add bitter vegetables and salads such as artichokes, chicory and endives.

■ Increaseyour intakeof fibre using a flaxseed-based fibre supplement such as Linoforce.

■ Consider Herbamare,an aromaticsea salt made with freshorganic plants.

■ To enhanceyour recipes,use lemon juiceor Herbamare Broth.

■ Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day.

AVOID or REDUCE

■ Tendency towards constipation

WHY

■ Develops haemorrhoids and increases your risk of re-absorbing toxins from the bowel.

■ Haemorrhoids may be an indication of a susceptibility to varicose veins.

ACTION

■ Drink more than 2 litres of water per day.

■ Switch to a diet rich in fibre.

Lifestyle

The body is built for movement. In this particular case, exercise of the leg muscles assist the flow of venous blood back to the heart and prevents blood pooling.

■ Walking and going upand down stairs aremost beneficial. If you suffer from tired legs, raise them from timeto time to help movethe blood to the heart.

■ Weight is sometimes a contributing factor. Staying fit, exerciseand proper nutritionare paramount.Helix Slim, Kelpasanand Molkosan can also help tremendously inthe weight loss process.

■ Swimming and treading water in particular will activate the muscle-vein pump.

■ Do not cross your legs when sitting down and avoid clothes that aretoo tight or constrictyour waist, groin or legs.

■ If you smoke or drink too much alcohol, you are polluting your blood. If your blood becomes like sludge, it is more difficult to move it – especially against gravity.

■ Avoid excessive heat and too many hot baths.

■ Consider detoxifying your body:

By using Rasayana DX,a 10-day herbal cleanse which will assist in removing toxins from your blood.

With vegetable and fruit fasts using Biotta juices.

Boldocynara isalso an excellentand safe herb complexthat can be usedlong-term to cleanse and support your liver in its detoxification process.

Medical

There are certain medical procedures, which can remove the appearance of varicose veins. It should be noted however, that these procedures are usually temporary in their effect and will not prevent the development of future varicosities. These cosmetic procedures include; laser surgeries and vein stripping.

Then, there are support hoses that can be purchased at most pharmacies. Prescription-strength hoses arealso available. Although effective, support hosesare very uncomfortable.

General

There are other techniques that can assist in reducing symptoms of venous insufficiencies. They include:

■ Massaging the legs gently in the direction of the venous flow (i.e. towards the heart).

■ Using essential oils such as Aromaforce Rosemary and Peppermint to stimulate foot circulation and reduce swollen feet.

■ Hawthorn Berryis excellent for the heart’shealth and can help ensure a good bloodflow in the arteriesand veins.

Herbalists around the world recommend the useof Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) remediesto support vein health and reduce the symptoms of swelling. A.Vogel Venaforce products are made from fresh Horse Chestnut seeds and help minimize the appearanceof varicose veins, spider veins and broken capillaries.

Natural Solutions

■ VENAFORCE FORTE: This is the most potent of the four products. Its extra strength is the result of the increased active ingredient i.e. 50 mg of aescin per tablet.Recent scientific studies show that the level of aescin, found inHorse Chestnut is critical to its level of effectiveness.

■ VENAFORCE DROPS OR TABLETS: This regular doseof 20 mg of aescin per tablet or 13 mg per 20 drops can be especially valuable for prevention purposes.Due to the acid-resistant coating, tablets are dissolved in the small intestine releasing aescin and preventing all stomach irritation.

■ VENAFORCE GEL: The gel is a fast acting topical formula for the relief of heavy, tired and aching legs. It should be applied to the legs with upward strokes, to assist the flow of blood back towards the heart. The clinical effectiveness of Venaforce gel in relieving the general symptomsof venous insufficiency resulted in a 97% success rate.

The benefits of Venaforce:

■ Its ability to restore already existing injuriesto the vessel walls by diminishing permeability(and therefore swelling) and brittleness of the finest capillaries of the venous system.

■ It helps to relieve the symptoms of tired, heavyand painful legs.

■ It can limit the action of enzymes, which are knownto damage the walls of the veins and capillaries.

■ It supports, strenghtens and tones the veinsand capillaries, preserving their integrityand promoting healthy circulation.

The benefits of Venaforce gel:

■ It can be used in conjunctionwith the tablets or drops for added symptom relief.

■ It brings an immediate cooling sensation to swollen legs.

■ It is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding(after the first 3 months).

■ It can be used in conjunction with prescription medications.For contraindication information, refer to the packaging.

Showing up more in industrialized countries, venous insufficiency affects approximately 1 in 5 women and1 in 10 men. Although, men do not have the risk factors associated with pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations,the effects of leg pain and heaviness can stop themfrom regularly participating in athletic activitiesand may limit their endurance.

We tend to regard varicose veins mostly as a cosmetic problem, but they can sometimes develop into extremely painful ulcers. These may form onthe skin near varicose veins, particularly near the ankles.

Calcium deficiencies are often present in these kinds of ulcers. The use of A.Vogel Urticalcin will help the body absorb calcium and could be useful. Leafy green vegetables can also be a good easily absorbed source of calcium.

Ulcers, which usuallyfollow a brownish pigmentationof the skin, require immediatemedical attention.

Do both men and women sufferfrom venous insufficiency?

If you are an office worker and spend most of your day sitting, these exercises can be done from your sitting position:

1. Rotate your feet at the ankles, turning them first clockwise,then counter-clockwise, usinga circular motion.

2. Extend your legs forwardand point your toes to the ceiling, then to the floor.

3. Lift your feet off the floorand gently bend your legs backand forth at the knees.

Exercises

Useful daily exercises to prevent or reduce varicose veins

If you are required to travel for long periods of time by car, truck, plane or train, some of the aforementioned exercises while sitting or standing may be possible. If not, try to stop every hour or so to stretch your legs, walka bit and drink lots of water.

If you are required to stand still for long periodsof the day, these exercises can be done while standing:

1. Cross your legs above the shins and put slight pressure onto the back leg. Then stand on your toes with your legs crossed and gently rock back and forth.

2. Curl your toes as hard as you can. The middle part of the foot will lift off the floor. Remain in this position for a few seconds.

3. Rock back and forth from your toesto your heel.