Get a leg up on varicose veins: don't hide your legs because of varicose veins--try a three-pronged herbal approach to tone, tighten and reduce swelling.(HOW TO SUPPLEMENTS)

Summer's skimpy shorts and flirty skirts can leave anyone with varicose veins longing for the cold days of winter, when showing skin is not so in. But relax--there is an herbal fix. So, unpack your warm-weather wardrobe and enjoy stretching your legs a little.

A QUICK LESSON IN LEG HEALTH

When the heart pumps blood to your legs, the returning blood must flow against gravity. To prevent backflow, the veins contain one-way valves that open and close. These valves can weaken (or become "varicose") and the vein swells under the pressure. The veins also become inflamed and blood pools, forcing the vessels to stretch.

Varicose veins are twisted, dark blue, enlarged and often near the surface of the skin. This sometimes causes heavy, tired, achy, painful legs. Symptoms often worsen after standing or sitting for long periods of time. Obesity, pregnancy, and having an occupation that requires standing also contribute.

The prevalence for varicose veins is higher in women than men; incidence increases with age. Less than 2 percent of younger men and women have varicose veins but 73 percent of elderly women and 56 percent of elderly men may be affected. Varicose veins are usually a cosmetic nuisance and mild discomfort. For some, deep varicose veins inflamed in conjunction with an obstructive blood-clot formation may lead to stroke, heart problems and thrombophlebitis.

1. STRENGTHEN YOUR CAPILLARIES

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is an effective herbal astringent that tones and tightens tissues, reducing capillary fragility. The main active constituents are aesculin, which thins blood, and aescin, which comprises about 13 percent of horse chestnut, and has potent anti-inflammatory, antiswelling and antioozing properties.