Vipera: A Complete Homeopathic Remedy for Varicose Veins & Venous Congestion

• Common Name: Viper
• Family: Reptilia
• Source: Trituration or venom of the European viper (Vipera berus)
• Type: Animal remedy

Sphere of Action

Acts powerfully on the venous system, especially on the veins of the extremities, producing inflammation, varicosities, and thrombosis. Also affects blood circulation and skin.

Temperament & Constitution

• Best suited to plethoric, venous, torpid, or phlegmatic constitutions
• Individuals with venous stasis, varicose veins, and tendency to thrombosis

Clinical Indications

• Varicose veins with inflammation and bursting pain
• Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis
• Erysipelatous inflammation of the skin
• Cellulitis with burning, black-blue appearance
• Gangrene or septicemia
• Hemorrhages with black, thick blood
• Post-surgical thrombosis

Key Characteristics

• Swelling of veins when limb is allowed to hang down
• Bursts of pain in veins when standing or letting leg hang
• Veins feel as if they would burst
• Cannot keep limb down; must be elevated

Mind Symptoms

• Anxiety and fear during pain
• Restlessness due to burning or bursting pain
• Irritability and fear of death in septic states

Extremities

• Veins swollen, blue, and painful
• Intolerable pain on letting limb hang down
• Must keep leg elevated to relieve pain
• Phlebitis after injections or IV treatments
• Skin discolored, blue-black with burning pain
• Ulcers with black base and fetid discharge

Circulatory & Skin Affections

• Blood is dark, thick, and slow to coagulate
• Hemorrhages with septic tendency
• Skin swollen, red, mottled, or bluish-black
• Edema of affected parts
• Gangrenous tendency after thrombosis

Modalities

Worse From	Better From
Letting limb hang down	Raising the limb
Slight movement	Rest
Warm weather	Cold applications

Keynotes

• Bursts of pain in veins on lowering limb
• Affected limb must be kept elevated
• Bluish-black discoloration with edema and burning
• Septic or gangrenous tendencies
• Post-operative or injection-related thrombosis

Potency & Dosage

• Commonly used in low potencies (3x to 6C) in septic conditions
• Mother tincture is not commonly used due to its toxic nature
• Higher potencies (30C, 200C) for constitutional symptoms

Relationships

Compare With	Complementary/Related Remedies
Lachesis, Bothrops, Arsenicum, Secale, Crotalus horridus	Hamamelis, Pulsatilla, Calc. fluor., Fluoric acid

One-Line Summary 

Vipera is a valuable remedy for varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and gangrenous skin conditions where pain is aggravated by letting the limb hang and relieved by elevation.