11 Home Remedies For Blood Clots In The Leg & Prevention Tips

Blood clotting is an essential process that avoids excessive bleeding in the event of a serious injury. But there are times when you develop blood clots in the leg due to lack of mobility and other factors. While in most cases it is not a cause for concern, a blood clot can travel to your heart or lungs, causing serious health complications. That is why getting your blood clots checked out at a hospital is important. In this article, we take a look at some of the causes of blood clots and the treatment options available.

What Is A Blood Clot?

A blood clot is a lump of semi-solid blood that is often seen following an injury. Your blood is made up of cells like platelets and plasma proteins that help in the formation of clots to prevent loss of excess blood from your body. Blood clotting or coagulation is a significant process that is of great help, especially in times of physical trauma. However, blood clots also have the potential to become life-threatening if they are formed in your veins or organs like the heart and lungs (1).

What Causes Blood Clots In The Leg?

As mentioned earlier, in some cases, a blood clot can be formed inside any of your veins. This condition is referred to as deep vein thrombosis (2). Such clots are a common occurrence in the legs. They can also occur in the heart, brain, lungs, or in the pelvic region.

According to a study published in Statpearls, vein thrombosis is a common disorder occurring at a rate of 1.6 cases per 1000 individuals each year. The occurrence of vein thrombosis in different sites varies: distal veins 40%, popliteal 16%, femoral 20%, common femoral 20%, and iliac veins 4%.

Some of the most common causes of a blood clot in the legs are:

• Damage to one of the veins on your leg due to a physical trauma
• Interrupted blood flow
• Hypercoagulability: A condition where your blood is more likely to clot than usual
• Prolonged sitting or immobility
• Surgery: If you underwent surgery recently, you have an increased chance of developing a blood clot.
• Physical trauma to your lower body.
• Weight: If you are overweight or obese, you are at a higher risk of developing blood clots in your legs.
• Medical conditions: Varicose veinsⁱ  XA condition in which veins in the body swell up due to ineffective blood flow and are usually seen bulging on the skin. , vasculitisⁱ  XA term used to describe a number of conditions where the blood vessels get inflamed, including the arteries and the veins. , heart attack, respiratory defects, or even a recent conception or childbirth can lead to a blood clot in the vein of your leg.
• Age: Older people are at higher risk of developing blood clots.
• Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC): This is a medical condition that causes the blood to clot inappropriately due to an infection or organ failure.

All of these factors may contribute to the formation of a blood clot in the leg. A clot can further cause other changes in your body. The appearance of any of the following signs and symptoms in your body is an indication of a blood clot in your leg.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Blood Clot In The Leg?

The signs and symptoms associated with a blood clot are usually a result of obstructed blood flow and inflammation in the area of the clot. Some of them are as follows.

• Swelling around the area of the clot. If the clot is big, you may notice swelling in your entire leg.
• Subsequent onset of pain in the area of the clot
• Inflammation or redness
• A warmth around the clot
• Increased pain in the leg while trying to bend it
• Leg and calf cramps
• Reddish-blue or whitish discoloration of the skin on the affected area

Beth Waldron, a blogger, shares her personal experience with enduring blood clots in her legs and how that shaped her career journey as an advocate and educator for the disorder. She shares a tragic turn in her life when she got a blood clot—deep vein thrombosis DVT and pulmonary embolism PE. She explained about the severe leg pain, pulled muscle, chest pain, and shortness of breath that followed. She adds, “It was discovered I had a thrombophilia—a blood clotting disorder. This out-of-the-blue clotting experience became my initial motivation to become an advocate (i).”

The intensity of the symptoms may vary from person to person. But irrespective of that, it is highly recommended to treat any clot in the leg as soon as you notice its appearance. Your doctor may prescribe medications like anticoagulants or thrombolytics or you can learn more about how to dissolve blood clots naturally in the next section.

How To Get Rid Of Blood Clots In Legs Naturally

1. Essential Oils
2. Epsom Salt
3. Garlic
4. Green Tea
5. Oregano
6. Vitamin E
7. Turmeric
8. Cayenne Pepper
9. Ginger
10. Yoga
11. Diet

Home Remedies To Treat A Blood Clot In The Leg

1. Essential Oils

a. Anise Oil

What You Need

• 2 to 3 drops of anise essential oil
• 1 glass of water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a few drops of anise essential oil in a glass of water and consume immediately.
2. Alternatively, you can massage anise oil on the affected leg.

How Often You Should do This

Do this 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

Anise oil is extracted from a flowering plant called anise. It has a variety of medicinal uses and is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and a muscle relaxant. Thus, anise oil can be used to reduce pain and improve blood flow to treat the blood clot in your leg (3).

b. Helichrysum Oil

What You Need

• 5 to 6 drops of helichrysum essential oil
• 30 ml of any carrier oil like coconut or olive oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil.
2. Massage this blend into the affected area on your leg.

How Often You Should do This

Do this at least thrice daily.

Why This Works

Helichrysum oil is derived from the medicinal herb, helichrysum. It has many health benefits and is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also a natural blood thinner due to its anticoagulantⁱ  XThey act as blood thinners and prevent blood clots from forming. They also reduce the chances of heart attacks. properties. Thus, helichrysum oil is one of the best options to treat the blood clot in your leg.

c. Wintergreen Oil

What You Need

• 5 to 6 drops of wintergreen essential oil
• 30 ml of any carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix wintergreen essential oil with a carrier oil of your choice.
2. Massage this blend on the affected leg.

How Often You Should do This

Do this twice daily.

Why This Works

Wintergreen oil contains a compound called methyl salicylate. Methyl salicylate is well known for its blood thinning properties and anti-inflammatory properties (4). Therefore, wintergreen oil can be helpful in treating the blood clot in your leg.

2. Epsom Salt

What You Need

• 1 cup of Epsom salt
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Add Epsom salt to your bath water.
2. Soak and relax in your bath for 20 to 25 minutes.

How Often You Should do This

Follow this regimen once daily.

Why This Works

Epsom salt is also referred to as magnesium sulfate. It is known to improve blood circulation and prevent hardening of blood clots. It is also anti-inflammatory. These properties of Epsom salt can help in the treatment of the blood clot in your leg (5), (6).

3. Garlic

What You Need

• 3 to 4 garlic cloves
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Crush the garlic cloves and add it to a cup of hot water.
2. Allow it to steep and consume before it turns cold.
3. You can also add honey for flavor.

How Often You Should do This

For best results, drink this tea 3 to 4 times daily.

Why This Works

Garlic is known for its immense health benefits. It contains two organosulfurⁱ  XThey are compounds that contain sulfur and act as an antioxidant. They can be naturally found in garlic and onions. compounds called allicin and ajoene. These compounds give garlic its anti-thrombotic properties, which can help in treating your blood clot (7), (8), (9).

4. Green Tea

What You Need

• 1 teaspoon green tea extract
• 1 cup of water
• Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add green tea extract to a cup of water and bring it to a boil.
2. Consume this before it turns cold.
3. You can also add honey for flavor.

How Often You Should do This

Drink this tea at least thrice daily.

Why This Works

The antioxidant properties of green tea are no secret. A few studies have found that green tea can also help prevent blood clots. It also exhibits anti-thrombotic properties and can help in treating blood clots (10), (11).

5. Oregano

What You Need

500 mg supplements of oregano

What You Have To Do

Consume oregano supplements on a daily basis.

How Often You Should do This

Do this at least 4 times daily for optimum results.

Why This Works

Oregano has a number of benefits associated with it. In addition to being a natural antioxidant, it also exhibits antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Oregano is also found to inhibit platelet aggregation and can hence be used in the treatment of blood clots (12).

6. Vitamin E

What You Need

400 mg Vitamin E capsules

What You Have To Do

Consume Vitamin E capsules on a daily basis.

How Often You Should do This

You must consume this once daily.

Why This Works

Vitamin E mainly consists of a group of eight fat-soluble vitamins called tocopherols and tocotrienols. Vitamin E is mainly used for its antioxidant and mild anticoagulant properties, which help in the treatment of blood clots (13), (14).

7. Turmeric

What You Need

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 glass of warm milk

What You Have To Do

Add turmeric to a glass of warm milk and consume immediately.

How Often You Should do This

Do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Turmeric is a natural antioxidant and is used in treating a variety of skin ailments. It contains a compound called curcumin that is responsible for its numerous benefits. Curcumin also displays anticoagulant properties and can, therefore, be used in treating the blood clot in your leg (15), (16), (17), (18).

Quick Tip

If you want to avoid dairy, you can mix turmeric in warm water along with lemon juice and honey. Drink this concoction twice daily.

8. Cayenne Pepper

What You Need

450 mg cayenne pepper capsules

What You Have To Do

Consume cayenne pepper capsules before your meals.

How Often You Should do This

You must do this at least twice daily.

Why This Works

Cayenne pepper has a high amount of salicylates. These salicylates have powerful blood-thinning effects and can be used to treat the blood clot in your legs (19).

9. Ginger

What You Need

• 1 inch of peeled ginger
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Allow the ginger to steep in hot water for 15 minutes.
2. Let it cool. Consume this healthy tea immediately.
3. You can also add honey for flavor.

How Often You Should do This

You must drink this tea 2 to 3 times a day.

Why This Works

Ginger contains a compound called salicylate. A very popular blood thinner called acetylsalicylic acid is derived from this compound. Thus, ginger can be a potential treatment for blood clots in the leg (20), (21), (22).

10. Yoga

What You Have To Do

Do some yoga asanas such as Uttanasana and Virabhadrasana I.

Uttanasana is a standing forward bend pose and mainly involves bending from your hips. You must continue to descend slowly until you are able to touch your feet. Following this, slowly bring your palm to the back of your ankles and stand in the same position for 30 seconds to 1 minute. For more information about this asana, click here.

Virabhadrasana I requires you to keep your legs about 3 1/2 feet apart. You must then bend one knee and stretch your other leg to the maximum. Stretch your hands above you until you lift your entire ribcage from your pelvis. Hold this position for 30 seconds to 1 minute. For more information about this asana, click here.

How Often You Should do This

Do this every morning.

Why This Works

Yoga is extremely beneficial in keeping your mind and body healthy. The asanas mentioned here will help in stretching your legs and encourage blood circulation. This, in turn, prevents the formation of blood clots in your legs (23), (24), (25).

11. Diet

Including some foods in your diet may help in blood thinning and treating existing blood clots (26), (27). You can follow a diet having the following foods to speed up your recovery.

• Vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions
• Fruit juices like pineapple juice, strawberry juice, cranberry juice, mulberry juice and grape juice
• Nuts such as walnut, almonds, pine nuts, cashews, and pistachios
• Fish such as mackerel, tuna, and salmon

Prevention is always better than cure. Following a healthy diet and making some positive lifestyle changes will reduce the chances of recurrence of the blood clot. You can follow the preventive tips mentioned below along with the remedies to help the blood clot heal faster.

Preventive Tips

• Keep a check on your weight and BMI
• Avoid activities that involve prolonged periods of inactivity
• Get up and walk every couple of hours if you have been sitting or lying down at a stretch
• Elevate your legs every once in a while to promote blood flow
• Wear compression stockings to improve blood flow
• Exercise

Quick Tip

Avoid crossing your legs for prolonged periods of time to reduce the risk of developing blood clots in your legs.

If the remedies mentioned above don’t help, your doctor may prescribe blood thinners to help manage the condition. However, you may encounter some side effects while using them. Scroll down to know more.

Side Effects Of Blood Thinners

Blood thinners may increase the risk of bleeding, both externally (nosebleeds, easy bruising) and internally (stomach or cerebral bleeding). Other potential side effects include nausea, rash, and hair loss.

Some other side effects include (28):

• Heavier than usual periods
• Blood in your urine or stool
• Gum bleeding
• Throwing up or coughing up blood
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Severe headache or stomach ache
• Reduced platelet count
• Numbness
• Difficulty seeing

Infographic: Other Home Remedies For Blood Clots In The Leg

Blood clots in the legs can form due to various reasons. Although they can be managed well with medical intervention, certain home remedies can ease the discomfort.

The following infographic discusses a few more effective remedies to manage blood clots. Check them out.

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pulmonary embolism?

Dr. Michael Ombrellino, MD, FACS, says, “A pulmonary embolism is a condition that occurs when one or more of the arteries that enter the lungs from the heart become obstructed by blood clots. Often, these clots originate from blood clots that break off from the veins of the lower extremities (deep venous thrombosis). This condition causes symptoms, such as acute chest pain, upper back pain, and shortness of breath. When this blood clot is massive or extensive, it can be the cause of significant strain on the heart or, in certain situations, sudden death.”

Is a hot bath good for blood clots?

According to Dr. Ombrellino, “Taking a hot bath neither helps nor hurts in the development of a new blood clot. For those patients who already have a blood clot, the heat from a warm or hot bath may aid in the absorption of the blood clot by the body. This is especially true for patients who have superficial clots of the lower extremities.”
He adds, “Heat has been shown to speed up the ability of the body to absorb and reestablish blood flow in the vein closed off by a blood clot. This is referred to as recanalization. It is for this reason that I always recommend heat over a cold when treating patients with blood clots.”

Can walking dissolve a blood clot?

Dr. Ombrellino says, “Exercise has many benefits, including the prevention of a blood clot, as sedimentary individuals have a much higher chance of developing a blood clot than those individuals who are very active. Once a blood clot has formed and has become fully adherent to the blood vessel wall (usually after two weeks) exercise may help.”
He adds, “Exercise plus blood thinners when indicated can speed up the resolution of a blood clot in the legs. This is because exercise allows the development of different vein pathways that bypass the clotted vein and also allows more blood flow to come in contact with the clot itself. This allows the body‘s natural blood clot busters to work on the blood clot and potentially allow it to re-open the closed-off vein. As always, please refer to your physician’s recommendations prior to starting exercise after a blood clot.”

How do you know if you have a blood clot?

If there is a discolored patch of skin on your leg coupled with pain and swelling, there is a high chance that you have a blood clot in your leg. Also, any swelling associated with a blood clot does not go away even on icing it.

How does a blood clot in one’s leg feel?

A blood clot is usually reddish blue or pale in appearance. The affected area is also warm to touch and becomes painful subsequently.

Does drinking water help dissolve blood clots?

Yes, drinking plenty of water regularly throughout the day may help improve blood circulation and promote proper movement of blood throughout the body. Maintaining proper hydration may help reduce your risk of developing blood clots.

Do you put ice or heat on a blood clot?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that heat helps improve the movement of blood across the body, while ice does not treat blood clots. However, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor and follow their instructions for managing blood clots.

How long does it take for a blood clot to go away with blood thinners?

With proper treatment, blood clots can dissolve between 3 to 6 months.

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations. She graduated as a top ranker from Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Ayurveda and Research Centre , Navi Mumbai, and is a specialist in Panchakarma therapies. She believes that Ayurveda...more

• Dr. Michael OmbrellinoMD, FACS

  Dr. Michael Ombrellino, MD, FACS, is the Chief of Vascular Surgery, Morristown Medical Center, at The Cardiovascular Care Group and has been practicing medicine for over 23 years. He went to medical school at Universita Degli Studi of Bologna, Italy, completed his surgical residency at the State University of NY at Brooklyn Health Science Center, and vascular fellowship at North Shore University Hospital of Manhasset.
  
  Dr. Michael Ombrellino, MD, FACS, is the Chief of Vascular Surgery, Morristown Medical Center, at The Cardiovascular Care Group and has been practicing medicine for over 23 years. He went to medical school at Universita Degli Studi of Bologna, Italy, completed his surgical residency at the State University of NY at Brooklyn Health Science Center, and vascular fellowship at North Shore University Hospital of Manhasset.

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling. Her passion for writing and her educational background have assisted her substantially in writing quality content on topics related to health and wellness for over three years. In her free...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications. She writes articles that provide guidance on natural remedies for common health concerns, empowering readers to embrace the healing power of...more