I said, but inside, I felt defeated.That night, I couldnât sleep. My legs pulsed like they were filled with lightning. I rubbed ointments, elevated my feet, tried compresses. Nothing helped.So I did what most desperate people doâI searched. I went online and typed in the words, ânatural remedy for varicose veins.â Thousands of results flooded the screen. I clicked, scrolled, and nearly gave upâuntil I stumbled upon a story from a woman in a small village in Turkey. She swore by a simple recipe passed down from her grandmother.Garlic. Lemon. Olive oil.I blinked. Could it really be that simple?She said it had worked for her mother, who used to limp around the house just like I did. She called it âvein eraser oil.â That caught my attention.I wrote down the recipe, unsure but willing to try anything:â 5 cloves of garlicâ Juice of 1 lemonâ 2 tablespoons of olive oilShe recommended crushing the garlic into a paste, mixing it with lemon juice and olive oil, and letting it sit in a sealed jar for 12 hours. Then, each night, massage it into the legs, especially around the bulging veins, and wrap the legs with a warm cloth for about an hour.I had all the ingredients already.I made the mixture that evening and let it rest on my counter overnight. The next day after dinner, I warmed the jar slightly by placing it in warm water, then massaged the oil into my calves and thighs. The smell was strongâsharp, pungentâbut something about it felt comforting.I wrapped my legs in an old cotton scarf and lay back on the couch, a book in hand, hoping for the best.That first night, I noticed something different. The usual sharp, biting throb wasnât there. My legs still ached, but the pain felt dulled, like it had softened at the edges.I did it again the next night. And the night after.By the fourth day, the swelling had gone down slightly. I wasnât imagining itâmy legs looked a little less puffy. The dark, twisting lines were still there, but something was changing.By the end of the first week, I could sit through dinner without needing to stretch or stand.By the second week, I walked to the store and back without stopping once.But it was on the twenty-first day that the real magic happened.I was getting dressed and caught a glimpse of my legs in the mirror. I paused. My eyes widened. Continue reading…
