THROMBOPHLEBITIS

"Thrombo" means "clot." Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein. Thrombophlebitis (throm-bo-fluh-BI-tis) occurs when a blood clot causes inflammation in one or more of your veins, typically in your legs.The affected vein may be near the surface of your skin, causing superficial thrombophlebitis, or deep within a muscle, causing deep vein thrombosis.

A clot in a deep vein increases your risk of serious health problems, including a dislodged clot (embolism) traveling to your lungs and blocking a pulmonary artery (pulmonary embolism). Thrombophlebitis often is caused by prolonged inactivity, such as from sitting during a long period of travel in an airplane or automobile or from lengthy bed rest after surgery. Such inactivity decreases blood flow through your veins and may cause a clot to form. An inherited tendency for blood clots places you at higher risk.

Signs and symptoms of thrombophlebitis include:

Warmth, tenderness and pain in the affected area.

Redness and swelling.

Are inactive for a long period of time.

Are confined to bed for a prolonged time.

Have a type of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, that may cause an increase of procoagulants - substances necessary for blood clotting- in your blood.

Have had a stroke that resulted in paralysis of your arms or legs.

Have a pacemaker or have a thin, flexible tube (catheter) in a central vein, for treatment of a medical condition, which may irritate the blood vessel wall and decrease blood flow.

Are pregnant or have just given birth, increased pressure in the veins of your pelvis and legs.

Use oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.

Have a family history of a blood-clotting disorder.

Are overweight or obese.

Have varicose veins.

Are a smoker

TREATMENT

If thrombophlebitis occurs in a superficial vein, your doctor may recommend self-care steps that include applying heat to the painful area, elevating the affected leg and using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The condition usually subsides within a week or two. Your doctor may also recommend these treatments for thrombophlebitis:

Medications.

Support stockings.

Filter.

Varicose vein stripping.

Clot removal or bypass.

ACUPUNCTURE and THROMBOPHLEBITIS

1. Where there is an external context for formation of thrombi (for instance persons displaying risk factors, who have to take a plane trip), the patient will be informed about prevention methods; he will also be given herb treatment for the trip in order to prevent the formation of thrombi.

2. According to the given diagnosis, the doctor will try to eliminate the inner causes: decreasing the blood pressure, restoring the hepatic and the splenic balance, curing the endocrine disorders, etc.

3. The activation of certain energy centers by means of acupuncture needles will lead to recovery of the tissue and restoration of the local metabolism, a phenomenon supported and enhanced by the active substances in the herbs. The herbs also restore the local blood circulation and intensify the oxygenation processes.

Moreover, they help restore the local blood flow and movement, because, once it is inflamed, the venous wall causes micro turbulences locally in the blood circulation.