Treating Vein Occlusions

Many treatments have been tried for vein occlusions, and almost all have been abandoned. For example, warfarin (Coumadin), which reduces the ability of the blood to form clots, does not appear to have any value.More promising are agents that reduce the blood viscosity, a property that might also prove useful with arterial occlusions. In one study, troxerutin, a derivative of a flavonoid, seemed to cause significant improvement in people with vein occlusions. Troxerutin reduces the clumping of red blood cells and the blood viscosity. Standardized ginkgo biloba extract, a common herbal supplement, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed oil and fish oils, also effectively reduce blood viscosity.