Info: 250 ml Tincture Bottle
"Venous insufficiency" might sound like a dig at men's 'Martian' communication styles, but it actually refers to a blood circulation problem where the veins that are supposed to transport the oxygen-depleted blood back up to our lungs and heart aren't working properly. Vein Tonic is a combination of seven herbs to help treat chronic venous insufficiency and its associated symptoms, including varicose veins, spider veins, and haemorrhoids.
Info: 250 ml Tincture Bottle
"Venous insufficiency" might sound like a dig at men's 'Martian' communication styles, but it actually refers to a blood circulation problem where the veins that are supposed to transport the oxygen-depleted blood back up to our lungs and heart aren't working properly. Vein Tonic is a combination of seven herbs to help treat chronic venous insufficiency and its associated symptoms, including varicose veins, spider veins, and haemorrhoids.
Product Notes:
Our heart muscles provide the impetus to move the oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood through our arteries and capillaries to every cell in the body. But the deoxygenated blood's return journey through the veins is not propelled by the heart but by movement, aided by a series of valves to try to ensure it only goes in the one direction – even when gravity is pulling it in the opposite. That can sometimes go wrong, especially in the lower extremities, which can lead to pooling blood, swelling, discoloration, varicose veins, spider veins, and haemorrhoids, which can be accompanied by symptoms such as aching, heaviness, burning, or muscle spasms.
To help relieve such symptoms, St. Francis has assembled a group of herbs with circulatory effects, largely due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (from flavonoids), antispasmodic (muscle-relaxing), astringent (tissue shrinking), and/or tissue strengthening or toning properties.
These include the three discussed in these videos – Gotu kola; Stone Root [aka Richweed, Horseweed, Ox-Balm, Canada Horsebalm, Hardhack, or Collinsonia root: a 4 foot tall perennial with very dense roots]; and Horse chestnut – plus Hawthorn, Yarrow, Ginkgo and Rosemary.
St. Francis Vein Tonic Ingredients:
Each ml contains:
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica, tops): 0.24 ml (1:1; QCE 240 mg fresh OR 1:4; QCE 60 mg dry)
Stoneroot (Collinsonia canadensis, root): 0.18 ml (1:4; QCE 45 mg)
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum, seed): 0.15 ml (1:3; QCE 50 mg)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, leaf): 0.14 ml (1:4; QCE 35 mg)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, leaf, flower, and berry): 0.12 ml (1:4; QCE 30 mg)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium, leaf and flower): 0.09 ml (1:4; QCE 22.5 mg)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, leaf): 0.08 ml (1:4; QCE 20 mg)
Non-medicinal ingredients: Organic Alcohol, Distilled Water, Organic Vegetable Glycerine.
QCE = Quantity Crude Equivalent
Suggested Usage:
Adults:Take 3 mL (90 drops) 2 times daily in a little water on an empty stomach.
Warnings:
Do not use St. Francis Vein Tonic if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; or if you have heart disease, high or low blood pressure, kidney or liver disorder, diabetes or edema (swelling of hands, face and feet); or if you are taking products containing diuretics; or if you have a known allergy to yarrow or other members of the Compositae (daisy) family or gotu kola or other members of the Apiaceae/Carrot family.
Consuming this along with alcohol or other medications or natural health products with sedative properties is not recommended.
Consult a healthcare practitioner before use if you are taking cardiac glycosides such as digitalis/digoxin or blood pressure medication, or if symptoms worsen or persist despite using it.
Hypersensitivity (e.g. allergy), including headache, gastric irritation, itchiness or gastrointestinal upset or nausea has been known to occur; in which case, discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner. Stop use and seek medical attention immediately if you experience dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness or pain, abnormal heartbeat and/or difficulty breathing.
Health Canada Natural Product Number: 80077514.
Supporting Science for Top 3 Ingredients:
re: Gotu Kola:
- Chong, Nyuk Jet, and Zoriah Aziz. “A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Centella asiatica for Improvement of the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency.” Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative medicine: eCAM, 2013.
- Seo, Myung-Gi et al. “Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Vascular Leakage Effects by Combination of Centella asiatica and Vitis vinifera L. Leaf Extracts.” Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative medicine: eCAM, 2021.
re: Stone Root:
- Shoemaker, J V. “Collinsonia Canadensis.” British Medical Journal, 1887.
- Stevens, JF et al. “A novel 2-hydroxyflavanone from collinsonia canadensis.” Journal of Natural Products, 1999.
- Lohsiriwat, Varut. “Hemorrhoids: from basic pathophysiology to clinical management.” World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2012 [for its section on the efficacy of Oral flavonoids].
re: Horse Chestnut:
- Gallelli, Luca. “Escin [the active component of Aesculus hippocastanum]: a review of its anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, and venotonic properties.” Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 2019.
- Owczarek, Aleksandra et al. “Bioactivity Potential of Aesculus hippocastanum L. Flower: Phytochemical Profile, Antiradical Capacity and Protective Effects on Human Plasma Components under Oxidative/Nitrative Stress In Vitro.” Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2021.
Pittler, Max H, and Edzard Ernst. “Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012.