Varicose Veins Affect One in Five Hong Kong Residents; TCM Offers Multi-Pronged Treatment Approach
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Varicose veins affect approximately one in five Hong Kong residents, with prevalence rising to 35 percent among those in occupations requiring prolonged standing or sitting. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners employ a combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and topical treatments to improve blood circulation and alleviate symptoms. Early detection is crucial as the condition can progress from mild discomfort to serious complications including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
Key Points
- Varicose veins result from venous compression or valve insufficiency, causing blood to flow backward and accumulate, leading to abnormal vessel dilation
- Registered TCM practitioner Lai Wing-sze explains that early-stage patients may experience leg soreness, heaviness, itching, swelling, and fatigue without obvious external signs
- Mid-stage progression shows superficial veins rising and expanding, creating spiderweb-like patterns on the lower legs
- Advanced cases exhibit skin thickening, darkening, potential dermatitis, bleeding, and venous ulcers, with risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
- High-risk groups include those with poor posture, congenital valve abnormalities, genetic predisposition, and women due to pregnancy, high heels, and hormonal changes
- TCM classifies varicose veins as "tendon tumors" and treats them through oral herbal medicine, acupuncture, fire needle therapy, bloodletting, and herbal washes
- Treatment approaches vary by diagnosis: fatigue injuring qi (use codonopsis, astragalus, cimicifuga); cold-damp congealing tendons (use cinnamon twig, evodia, fennel); trauma causing blood stasis (use chuanxiong, danggui tail, safflower)
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong's working population, where desk jobs and retail positions requiring extended hours are common, understanding varicose vein prevention and treatment options is essential for long-term vascular health and quality of life .
For Hong Kong's working population, where desk jobs and retail positions requiring extended hours are common, understanding varicose vein prevention and treatment options is essential for long-term vascular health and quality of life .