We all know what varicose veins look like – the hardened, bulging blue knots standing out in the legs which are caused, some people say, by heredity but which are likely to have been made far worse by neglect. The valves which control the flow of blood in veins and arteries collapse as a result of poor circulation which can be caused by carrying too much weight, especially during pregnancy.

Standing for too many hours at a time is also a prime factor. If you have to stand a lot try to find a few minutes every now and again to take a walk and everybody should make time for a good brisk walk every day.

Sitting on an office chair that is a bad shape can cut off the blood supply particularly if you are overweight, and so can kneeling or sitting with one leg crossed over the other knee. In fact anything that makes a limb ‘go to sleep’ is bad for it.

Restrictive clothing is another danger. Varicose veins are even less appealing and far more likely to result than a high voice or sterility, so tell that to your son when he buys his next pair of skin-tight denims.

Constipation, smoking and hot baths are all other contributory factors to varicose veins.

Diet for VARICOSE VEINS

Eat plenty of fruits including grapes, blackcuurants, citrus fruits and rose hips and a regular amount of good green cabbage, spinach, parsley and dandelion. Wheatgerm, brewer’s yeast and garlic are further vital elements in the diet.

Massage for VARICOSE VEINS

When we were children and all desperately clamouring to sit on the one radiator in our classroom our teacher would call us to order by informing us that we would give ourselves piles. This is nonsense really because piles are basically caused by constipation, poor circulation, pregnancy, overeating on a condition in which they become swollen and twisted. The major problem does seem to be constipation especially of the ‘sit and strain’ rather than the ‘I will wait until I feel like it’ variety.

Whilst piles may not be caused by sitting on heat I do wonder if they can be cured by the old method of sitting in iced water. The most recommended methods of trying to rid yourself of piles are to eat a high-fibre diet with plenty of bran, tale a vitamin B6 supplement, drink plenty of water and add honey to your diet (some people recommended it as an unguent). Walk whenever you can, every day.

• Witch hazel: Keep a bottle of which hazel in the refrigerator and use it on a cotton wool compress.

• Garlic or marigold: The old herbalists suggested a suppository of raw garlic cloves, the very thought of which makes me wince. Garlic oil, cream or skin salve are much more soothing and healing suggestions. Marigold oil or calendula cream are fragrant alternatives.

• Pilewort (lesser celandine): This very astringent little herb has been used for many years, as the name implies, to reduce, shrink and soothe piles. A decoction made by simmering 40f(1½oz) of pilewort in ½ litre (scant pint) of water until it is reduced by half can be applied on a hot compress to shrink the swollen veins.

Pilewort ointment is the favourite method of application and you can make your own by gathering the roots in the spring. Weigh them and take their weight in fresh lard then pound together. This mixture is left to macerate for five days in a stone jar after which time it is gently heated, strained and pressed through a cloth.

• Bilberry, sloes or yarrow: Decoctions of any of these are astringent and may also be used on a compress to much the same effect.

• Blackberry leaf tea: Drink this tea to help the circulation.

• Roast figs, honey and thyme: Popular as a paste for chilblains, this remedy was also popular as a cure for piles. You may draw the line at the other remedy recommended for both chilblains and piles of 1 tablespoon of honey and glycerine mixed to a fine paste with egg white and flour. However I am assured that it works after one application.

• Essential oils: Use 1 drop each of myrrh and cypress in 1 dessertspoon of olive oil or 1 drop of geranium oil in hot water can also be used as a soothing compress.

• Alum and lard: One teaspoon of powdered alum melted into 40g(1½oz) of pure lard is another very old-fashioned remedy.

• Horse chestnut: Suspend disbelief and carry one un our pocket: as it hardens so will your piles diminish. Another popular belief was to carry a small bag of the root of wood avens around the neck. Why I do not know bur sometimes these strange remedies work.

The symptoms are persistent tiredness, headaches, breathlessness, palpitations, paleness and sometimes depression – probably as a result of the aforementioned symptoms. If you feel continually under par in this way seek professional advice as three may be an underlying reason for anaemia. People who are most likely to suffer from the condition are young girls, growing children, women during pregnancy and women who use some forms of contraception. More women than men are affected, primarily because they suffer a more constant blood loss throughout most of their lives.

Although iron deficiency is usually considered to be the main cause of anaemia it may not be due to that alone. Therefore do not treat yourself with large doses of iron (which is the traditional remedy for anaemia) in the form of pills and tonics or you could well end up being disagreeably constipated and headachy. It is more likely that your body is being prohibited from using the iron which is already present by a deficiency of other minerals or vitamins.

Lots of strong green vegetables and liver used to be the answer but it is thought more important nowadays to follow a balanced diet overall. Fresh air and walks, which young Victorian ladies would have been instructed to take, certainly improve the supply of oxygen to the blood which is undoubtedly a physical, albeit a temporary improvement. When and if anaemia has been diagnosed and a course of treatment suggested, or if it is found that you are simply suffering from general tiredness and malaise caused by the hassle of everyday affairs, your state of health can only be improved by any of the following old-fashioned and very harmless ideas.

Just a Matter of Diet for ANAEMIA