General Health - Venaforce

All venous insufficiencies: varicose veins, spider veins, hemorrhoids, heavy and swollen legs.Poor circulation, fragile capillaries, blotches (rosacea) and telangiectasia (spider veins).

Compared to the tablet, the tincture has the advantage of being more quickly absorbed and of allowing a fine-tuning of the dosage according to each patient.The active ingredients of Horse Chestnut seeds are triterpene saponines (about thirty) collectively known as aescine or escine. Aescine increases vein wall resistance and reduces permeability (seepage), objectively reducing venous insufficiency symptoms (edema, swelling, etc.). Horse Chestnut seed extract is known for its phlebotonic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vein wall protector effects. It inhibits elastase and hyaluronidase activity. These two enzymes degrade the vein wall and the surrounding tissues (like collagen) therefore increasing venous insufficiency symptoms and progression (like spider veins, varicose veins and hemorrhoids).In vitro, aescine has demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect.Horse Chestnut seed cannot reverse varicose veins. Its effect is limited to symptom control and a slowing down of the disease progression, translating in an increased quality of life.The German Commission E acknowledges its benefits in cases of: treatment of complaints found in pathological conditions of the veins of the legs (chronic venous insufficiency), for example, pains and a sensation of heaviness in the legs, nocturnal leg cramps, pruritus and swelling of the legs.

This website does not provide medical advice. Ask your doctor’s advice before taking this product. Results may vary from one person to another for genetic or environmental reasons. No individual result should be seen as typical. The statements above have not been evaluated by Health Canada. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Scientific studiesAlthough most of the published research was conducted on dry extracts of Horse Chestnut seed, these extracts are derived from the more traditional extract, the tincture. The results of the studies below may therefore be extrapolated to the liquid form of Venaforce®.A meta-analysis has collected all controlled studies conducted on Horse Chestnut seed extract up to 1996. Horse Chestnut seed extracts have been found effective against venous insufficiency symptoms like swelling of the legs, itching, pain, fatigue and heavy legs. Five studies demonstrated that Horse Chestnut seed extract was more effective than a placebo and as effective as the other available medications. One study demonstrated that Horse Chestnut seed extract was as effective as support stockings. Moreover, all researchers concluded that side effects were minor and few.A 12 weeks placebo-controlled clinical study conducted on 240 patients demonstrated that Horse Chestnut seed extract (50 mg aescine, twice daily) reduces by 25% the volume of edema in the legs (same effectiveness as support stockings). The authors mention that the full effect of Horse Chestnut cannot be obtained in 12 weeks and that a longer period of use would yield better results.A double-blind placebo-controlled multicentric study was conducted with Venaforce® on 52 patients showing signs of chronic venous insufficiency. In the treated group (2 tablets, 3 times daily), the ankle diameter was reduced by 0.5 cm while, in the control group, no changes were observed. The side effects reported were similar to those of the placebo. Venaforce® is very well tolerated and is effective to relieve chronic venous insufficiency symptoms.

Adults: take 15-20 drops in a small amount of water, 3 times daily, 15 minutes before meals. Salivate before swallowing.