Natural remedies for varicose veins

My mother has varicose veins and the early stages of chronic venous insufficiency. She’s mainly troubled by swelling and a heavy feeling in her legs. She has compression stockings but finds them uncomfortable to wear. Are there any effective alternative remedies?

L.R., via email

Some 20 percent of the population suffers from varicose veins¹ —veins that have become twisted and swollen because blood isn’t flowing through them properly. They can develop anywhere in the body, but the legs are the most commonly affected, as they have to move blood along against gravity.

For many sufferers, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. But they can also be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a progressive condition in which the valves