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by Lyle Hurd, editor, totalhealth magazine
One day your right leg looks the
same as it always has. The next
day you’ve got a sneak peek into
the miraculous inner workings of your
vascular system—expanded veins visible at
the surface of the skin.
An estimated 30 million Americans suffer
from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI),
varicose veins and heavy, swollen ankles and
feet. Affecting primarily women, this
venous insufficiency is also characterized by
leg cramps, tingling sensations and spider
veins. As veins and capillaries lose their
tone, blood pools in the lower extremities
and fluids leak into surrounding tissues,
causing edema or swelling. Circulation
stagnates, creating fatigue, discomfort,
numbness and the feeling of heavy legs.
Varicose veins (venous disease) or other
circulatory complaints such as swollen calves
(edema) and hemorrhoids (another form of
varicosity) affect more than 50 percent of the
middle-age population in the U.S.
In women, varicose veins are dilated and
tortuous superficial veins that classically
develop during or after pregnancy and at
the beginning of the menopause; they
are known to be aggravated by hormonal
factors. In men there is a fairly even distribution
in the appearance of varicose veins
by decade up to old age. While hereditary
factors, although poorly studied, are known
to be of importance in the development of
varicose veins, the underlying cause of the
condition remains unknown in most cases.
Genetics has a great deal to do with the
chances of having varicose veins in your
legs; however your choice of careers plays a
role as well. Some of the occupations found
predisposed to venous difficulties are those
that demand long hours on the feet, such as
sales, education, hospitality, manufacturing,
nursing, hair styling and construction.
Obese persons, pregnant women and the
elderly are at greater risk. Overall, women
are four times as likely to develop varicose
veins as men.
Although it is rare, varicose veins can
lead to more significant health problems
such as phlebitis (inflammation of the
veins), painful venous ulcers and dangerous
blood clots. In the event of any complications
it is recommended that the individual
seek medical treatment immediately.
RUSPERIN C™
Keeping the venous system healthy can
minimize the risks of these conditions and
the natural products industry is sought out
as a solution source. While helpful herbs are
well-known, it isn’t often you find a real
evidence-based formula such as Rusperin C,
whose safety and efficacy is backed with
over 40 years of positive clinical research.
Rusperin C offers natural botanical
activity as a vein tonic (venotonic) providing
indisputable functional benefits by
reducing the diameter of veins carrying
blood, increasing the rate of venous blood
circulation and reducing the permeability
of the vessels to prevent fluid leakage into
the tissues (edema).
Rusperin C is a formula composed of
two proprietary compounds, Butcher’s
broom extract and hesperidin methyl
chalcone, as well as vitamin C.
Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is an
evergreen shrub native to France, central
and southern Europe and Great Britain. It
has been known for its healing properties
for over 2000 years and has been described
in the French pharmacopoeia for its benefits
to the circulatory system. This means that
Rusperin C functions as a vasoprotector to
tone up vein walls by leading a contraction of
the vein muscle fibers to mobilize blood
through the veins. The additional formula
components, hesperidin methyl chalcone
and vitamin C, help to produce an increase
of the vein wall tension. Together these
compounds yield a true venotonic. Doubleblind,
placebo-controlled clinical trials
demonstrate that the specific combination
of ingredients in this formula is safe and
truly effective. It improves the appearance
of the legs and fights the feeling of heavy
legs, so the legs not only look more
Healthy Veins and Circulation
attractive but feel more alive.
Edema is often the initial indication of
venous insufficiency. Clinical symptoms
include heavy and tired legs, pain, sensation
of evening swelling, cramping, burning sensation
and pruritus (itching) in the lower
limbs. Physical symptoms are edema, signs of
venous inflammation, pigmentary disorder
of the skin and tropic ulceration. Edema can
also be confirmed by an adjective sign—
increased ankle circumference.
In 1999 a randomized double-blind,
placebo-controlled study was conducted to
determine the efficacy of the Rusperin C
formula in patients with uncomplicated
chronic venous insufficiency. The participant
assessment criteria was that they evidenced
the clinical and physical symptoms of edema.
Patients were instructed to take two capsules
of the Rusperin C formula or placebo after
meals for 60 days. Results of the study
showed significant reduction in ankle circumference,
the sensation of evening edema
and tired leg symptoms.
PREGNANCY
During pregnancy the venous system suffers
a great deal, especially in the pelvis and legs.
At study of 2092 pregnancies in 1985 showed
venous insufficiency appeared in the legs of
about 20 percent of pregnant women.
SEVERAL MECHANISMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS:
- A pronounced increase in the blood mass, which distributes preferentially in the low pressure system; venous pressure rises, especially in the legs.
- A pronounced increase in the secretion of estrogen and progesterone which lower the tone of the walls of the veins. This increased venous distensibility, which is already seen in the premenstrual period, becomes greatly exaggerated during pregnancy.
- The pregnant uterus impairs venous return by compressing the large pelvic vessels.
SIGNS WHICH ARE USUALLY ENCOUNTERED
DURING VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY DURING
PREGNANCY ARE:
- Heaviness of the legs; it is the most frequent sign. It is described as a feeling of fatigue, heaviness and tension.
- Edema, slightly less frequent, appears especially at the end of the day and has all of the characteristics customarily seen in venous insufficiency of the legs.
- Muscle cramps, mainly in the calf, are often transient and occur essentially at night. They are most frequent during the second trimester. Finally, women complain of disturbing and painful feelings of the tingling, shooting pain and spasm type.
- Other symptoms which are very frequent include vascular spiders of the legs, hemorrhoids and enlargement of the veins in the legs and vulva.
The results of treatment with the Rusperin C
formula (with four capsules daily) of venous
insufficiency of the legs in pregnant women
were evaluated on the whole as being good
and very good in nearly 75 percent of cases,
on the basis of a clinical trial with 2092 cases
of pregnancy. These good results, noted on
the three symptoms of heavy legs, edema and
cramps, are all the more of interest since tolerance
of the formula is excellent and represents
a guarantee for administration during
pregnancy.
HEMORRHOIDS
The Rusperin C formula has also been found
to be an effective treatment within individuals
suffering from hemorrhoidal disease.
Hemorrhoids are normal anatomical formations
within the anal canal. They are of a
vascular origin and are present from birth.
The influence of various factors can produce
vasomotor variations and/or changes in the
surrounding support tissues which are
responsible for the clinical symptoms of
hemorrhoidal disease. The two main signs
are pain and anal bleeding. Other symptoms
include muscle weakness and venous stasis,
local inflammation, prolapse, itching, discharge
and thrombosis.
The incidence of hemorrhoids is quite
common—affecting nearly half of the population
over 50. However, due to the varying
and episodic nature of the disease, as well as
the embarrassment caused by hemorrhoidal
disorders, patients often consult a proctologist
only for the more serious symptoms.
Treatment objectives for the milder stages
of hemorrhoidal disease are primarily directed
at the prevention of acute hemorrhage and
long-term bleeding. And the elimination of
the secondary symptoms, such as itching,
anal discharge, anal pain, tendency to prolapse,
feeling of hemorrhoidal nodes, painful
defecation and burning. In addition, hemorrhoids
are often complicated by anal fissures
and eczema as well as efforts to control bowel
movements, dietary measures and anal
hygiene. Various drugs are used as adjuvant
treatment for the rapid elimination of these
symptoms.
In 1999 an open label multicenter study
was conducted to assess the therapeutic
benefit of Rusperin C formula in the treatment
of acute attack of hemorrhoids.
The study included 165 patients from 18
to 65 years of age with acute attack of hemorrhoids
which started in less than 72 hours.
The patients were given a dosage of six capsules
of the formula for the first three days
(attack treatment) and four capsules per day
for the next four days (maintenance therapy).
The study was evaluated on the following
criteria:
- Painful symptoms: discomfort, heaviness, burning, itching, spasms of the rectum
- Accompanying symptoms: rectal bleeding, altered intestinal motility, abdominal pain
- Local signs: prolapse, congestive state, inflammation
- Overall severity score of functional symptoms
- Overall clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability
Results were:
- 70 percent improvement in the overall severity score
- 81 percent improvement in the painful symptoms
- 66 percent improvement in local signs
- 59 percent improvement in accompanying symptoms
- Over 75 percent of the physicians judged the efficacy as good or excellent,
- Over 90 percent of the physicians rated tolerably as good.
While you cannot pick your parents and you
may not be keen on changing careers, you
can help your venous system by maintaining
a healthy weight, exercising—especially
activities that involve short muscle contractions
such as walking and biking—and by
supplementing the diet with Rusperin C.
Rusperin C™ is a Technical Sourcing
International, Inc. (TSI) formula and trade
name with clinical support based on the
European drug product Cyclo 3 (r) of Plantes
and Industries/Piere Fabre. The formula is
available as Great Legs from Natural Balance
of Castle Rock, Colorado.
References available upon request.
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