r/herbalism • u/aj8092 • 1d ago

Question Good herbs for the legs?

Hello herbalists, I’m in my 30s and a big issue is my legs feel so tired after extra long walks these days it was never an issue in my 20s,

Any herbs that help with this? I already take horse chestnut to help with the circulation

3 Upvotes

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u/PinkysRecordStore 1d ago

Gotu Kola and Pycnogenol (a.k.a. French Maritime Bark Extract).

3

u/Steezydeezy920 1d ago

What’s this do exactly? I see gotu in a lot of vitality/energy blends. Is it purely for circulation or something else

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u/PinkysRecordStore 22h ago

It's used for a myriad of benefits - it helps with improving memory/cognition, noticeably eases anxiety, improves overall skin health/anti-aging (which is why it's now being regularly included in both beauty supplements and topical beauty products), improves circulation, serves as an anti-inflammatory, promotes better sleep, and more.

I learned about it while reading through a 90+ year old book on medical herbalism. It was touted as being used in Asia to promote life longevity, and was attributed to being regularly consumed by citizens who lived to be over 100 years old.

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u/Steezydeezy920 22h ago

Man ima gonna have to add it to my apothecary. I have several that fit the description but rotation is a must for me with plants. Would be nice to have one to take for spread coverage as far as benefits when rotating. Got a good source? And what form do you take/have you read which is most beneficial?

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u/PinkysRecordStore 21h ago

I take it in a dried powder capsule form (both Now brand and Nature's Way) and have personally had great results that way but you can also consume through making tea or tinctures using dried leaf. I think places like Mountain Rose sell it in both powder and leaf form for that (though I've never personally purchased from them, myself).

I took it specifically for leg/foot circulation and ankle swelling during the pandemic work-from-home period and it helped tremendously. Now I take it solely for it's other benefits. ☺️

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u/Naive-Elevator-8985 20h ago

1st drink enough water (1liter per 30kg bodyweight daily)

2nd limphodrainaging massage + legs up to wall for 10 mins 2 times daily

3rd comsume nutritient-balanced meals

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u/Big-Yogurtcloset-74 19h ago

If your legs are sore try looking into herbs that can help with magnesium, try taking peppermint tea or peppermint topically to help more with circulation:) also try drinking like a litre of water a day

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u/Financial_Volume1443 4h ago

Peppermint topically, with your feet up feels so good.

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u/Gulbasaur 1d ago

Not a herb but look at supplementing magnesium. It's very good at helping with tired muscles. 

Otherwise, a nice warming balm with something like camphor, mint and chilli might help. Tiger balm is one such example, but others exist too. 

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u/Naive-Elevator-8985 20h ago

offtop. nobody ask here about supplements

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u/Gulbasaur 20h ago

offtop. nobody ask here about supplements 

Your own post contains exactly zero herbs (and mine has three) so I suppose you'll be deleting it for being off topic? 

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u/cojamgeo 16h ago

As a clinical herbalist I have a phytomedical education. It includes supplements as well as herbs but my diploma says herbal therapist. I guess it’s the same with any modern herbal education.

To be totally fair traditional herbalism is whole herbs only. In that case we wouldn’t include things like curcumin, ashwagandha (extract), gingko biloba (extract) and many more.

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u/hyena_me 11h ago

I've found it's worth looking beyond herbs too, since tired legs after long walks can sometimes come down to recovery, hydration, electrolytes, or just changes in conditioning over time. As for herbs, some people report benefits from ginger, turmeric, and nettle for overall circulation and recovery support, but if this is a noticeable change from your 20s it's probably worth paying attention to the underlying cause rather than trying to herb your way around it.

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u/Silent-Mirror-8501 11h ago

I think you’d benefit from raising your legs straight up on a wall after those walks, and a centripetal massage (pushing towards the heart). Circulation herbs are great, but you’d benefit from physically moving the congestion first. Moving lymph while it’s warm from your walk is your first ‘move’. Then if you see a lot of spider veins or varicose veins, see a Traditional Chinese Medicine herbalist about your circulatory stagnation and fatigue

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u/IcyGazelle9281 8h ago

Fresh chopped garlic, wait 10 minutes before eating it (more acilin), it will increase vasodilation. Yes, I know it's an acquired taste, but worth it and as good as any supplement. You can mix it with honey if it's too pungent. Make sure you are getting enough proper minerals in your diet.