Varicose veins can lead to significant discomfort during daily activities.
To address varicose veins, several options exist: wearing compression stockings, administering veinotonic agents, or removing varices by radiofrequency or laser, alongside emerging natural methods such as the use of olive oil. Known in cooking, this vegetable oil is used in skincare and contains bioactive compounds called veinotonics, such as flavonoids and vitamin E. These molecules could play a part in improving blood circulation and influence the progression of varicose veins.
Flavonoids are polyphenols that act on endothelial cells lining blood vessels. They regulate the production of nitric oxide, a vasodilator. By stimulating NO release while reducing oxidative stress, flavonoids improve capillary resistance, reduce inflammation, and decrease vascular permeability, limiting vein dilation. Concerning the vitamin E, it stabilises cell membranes and protects membrane lipids from lipid peroxidation. This helps preserve the integrity of the venous wall, an effect relevant to preventing varicose veins.
However, to date, there is no scientific evidence of the effects of olive oil on varicose veins, whether ingested or applied topically.
Despite the lack of studies, the use of olive oil as a massage oil may be of interest and could help stimulate blood flow, improve circulation, and reduce discomfort in the lower limbs thanks to its bioactive compounds. Massages are cited as a preventive measure against varicose veins. By applying a gentle upward pressure, massage promotes blood movement through mechanical action and reduces venous stasis, the pooling of blood in veins, a key factor in varicose vein formation. With repeated sessions, massage provides complementary support to prevent venous insufficiency. Adding olive oil may enhance these effects, though it does not treat varicose veins.
If you have varicose veins and wish to reduce their appearance, we recommend consulting your GP or a phlebologist.