Walk Away From the Pain of Intermittent Clandication.

When you have intermittent claudication, the arteries that feed the muscles of your legs are blocked. The resulting calf discomfort can range from painful to debilitating.
The typical drug treatment for intermittent claudication consists of two medications that improve circulation by "thinning" the blood: pentoxifylline (Trental) and aspirin.

Some patients with the problem end up having surgery that's similar to a heart bypass. Arteries are "stripped" from another part of the body and implanted in the legs. Or patients undergo angioplasty, in which a balloon-like device is inserted into the artery and inflated, clearing the blockage. Another alternative is steting, which uses a balloon-like device along with wire mesh, which is left within the artery to keep it open.
But Seth Baum, M.D., an integrative cardiologist and founder of the Baum Center for Integrative Heart Care in Boca Raton, Florida, has found that unless symptoms are extremely debilitating or a patient may be facing amputation, natural approaches for intermittent claudication are actually superior to conventional approaches.

CARNITINE: Alternative Fuel for Muscles
This supplement is similar to an amino acid, a component of protein. Many practitioners believe that it helps muscle cells work even when they're not getting enough oxygen by supplying them with higher
levels of fatty acids, a nutritional fuel.    For someone with intermittent claudication someone whose leg muscle cells can't get enough oxygen and are desperately in need of another type of fuel carnitine may be a godsend.
"Eighty percent of my patients with intermittent claudication who take carnitine either have a complete resolution of symptoms or can walk significantly farther without pain," says Dr. Baum
The key factor in using this nutrient is making sure that you get
enough. Dr. Baum has found that the best level is 2,000 milligrams twice
a day. Carnitine has no significant side effects, he says, and it's safe to
use indefinitely.

GINKGO: Outperforms Prescription Drugs
Several studies show that the herb ginkgo lets people with intermittent claudication walk farther without pain, says Glenn S. Rothfeld, M.D., regional medical director of American WholeHealth in Arlington, Massachusetts.
In fact, numerous studies tested the herb against placebos (inactive substances) or pharmaceutical drugs commonly used to treat the disease. The studies confirmed ginkgo's ability to increase walking capacity, and many of them have shown that ginkgo improves circulation.
Dr. Rothfeld gives his patients a 24 percent extract of 40 milligrams of ginkgo three times a day. It's safe to take this dosage for 3 months, then take a month off. If you are taking a blood-thinning medication such as
warfarin (Coumadin), however, do not use ginkgo.

VITAMIN E: Improves Circulation
Dr. Rothfeld has all of his intermittent claudication patients take 400
international units of vitamin E daily. He says that studies have shown
that people with intermittent claudication who took that level of vita
min E every day could walk farther without pain. "It probably works by
making blood less 'sticky/ improving circulation," he says. It's safe to
take this long-term.

NIACIN: For Your Arteries
The B vitamin niacin is thought to help widen arteries, bringing more
oxygen to the leg muscles. Studies show that niacin can help people
with intermittent claudication increase the distance that they can walk,
says Dr. Rothfeld.
He recommends a special form of niacin called inositol hexaniacinate (or inositol hexanicotinate), which he believes is the most effective form for people with intermittent claudication. It's also the safest. It doesn't cause liver problems, a possible side effect of niacin, nor does it trigger a "niacin flush," the overheated, itchy, red-faced reaction that some people develop after taking the niacin, he says.
He suggests taking 500 milligrams twice daily. Try it for 3 months, then take a month off.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS: For Efficient Oxygen Delivery
The type of fats found in fish oil, known as omega-3 fatty acids, are thought to soften the membranes of red blood cells so that they can more easily deliver their oxygen to muscle cells.
Jill Stansbury, N.D., chair of the botanical medicine department at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, recommends that people with intermittent claudication take a 500- to 1,000-milligram omega-3 supplement daily) following the dosage recommendations on the label. It's safe to take this long-term.
There's one caution, however. Since fish oils can possibly contribute to nosebleeds and easy bruising, and may cause upset stomach, do not take them if you take blood thinners or use aspirin regularly.

YOGA:
The shoulder stand is a yoga posture that can help improve leg circulation in people with intermittent claudication, says Dr. Rothfeld. Here's how to do the pose.
Lie on your back with your knees bent, your feet flat on the floor, and your arms at your sides with your palms down. As you exhale, push your palms down and draw your knees in and up. Then straighten your legs as you raise your hips (a)
Bend your elbows, place your hands on the back of your pelvis, and slide your hands up to your lower back as you continue to raise your hips. Keep your legs straight, but don't lock your knees. Your feet should be directly over your head (b). Stay in this position for as long as you feel comfortable, up to 5 minutes.
Next, ease your hips to the floor, using your hands for support, then bend your knees and lower your feet to the floor. Dr. Rothfeld says to do the pose once or twice a day.