Plants contain a large number of flavonoids, and diosmin, a flavone glycoside, is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits. Diosmin was first found in 1925 in the wort plant and has since been used as a natural treatment for hemorrhoids, varicose veins, venous insufficiency, leg ulcers, and other circulatory issues.
The most commonly-used and widely-studied venoactive drug (VAD) is micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF), which has found to be effective at all stages of chronic venous disease (CVD). It has been shown to significantly reduce leg pain and leg heaviness and swelling, as well as ankle edema and functional discomfort. Experiments employing animal models of CVD have demonstrated that MPFF has anti-inflammatory and venotonic effects at the microvalve level.
Diosmin is a VAD that works on blood vessels in a variety of ways to improve circulation. It improves lymphatic drainage and microcirculation–as well as venous tone and suppleness. It is often used to improve vascular health and in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and hemorrhoids when combined with other flavonoids, particularly hesperidin.
Because of its characteristics, diosmin is a good therapeutic treatment for a variety of disorders. It has antioxidant and anticancer characteristics and scavenges oxygen free radicals, lowering oxidative stress levels–it reduces oxidative stress by altering the activity of particular enzymes and promotes apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines via several ways. Diosmin also has anti-diabetic and mild anti-bacterial properties. It has the ability to lower the levels of numerous inflammation markers and helps alleviate the consequences of diabetes, such as neuropathy and dyslipidemia.
Recommended by Dr. Karen Herbst, 500 mg to 900 mg by mouth once or twice daily.
Belcaro, G., et al. (2017). Management of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency in a comparative registry with nine venoactive products in comparison with stockings. The International Journal of Angiology.
Davidson, K. (2020). Diosmin: Benefits, dosage, side effects, and more. Healthline.
Diosmin. (n.d.) Drugs.com.
Diosmin. (n.d.) Healthline.
Diosmin. (n.d.) National Library of Medicine.
Diosmin. (n.d.). WebMD.
Huwait, E., and Mobashir, M. (2022). Potential and therapeutic roles of diosmin in human diseases. Biomedicines.
“The complex diosmin + hesperidin (90% diosmin and 10% other flavonoids expressed as hesperidin) has also been widely studied; it appears to be less powerful and effective than Venoruton® (oxerutins) and pycnogenol in patients with chronic venous insufficiency; it is definitely less potent than pycnogenol alone and needs a dosage some 10 times higher than pycnogenol.”
— From the research paper Management of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency in a comparative registry with nine venoactive products in comparison with stockings
Diosmiplex
Diosmiplex, going by the prescription name Vasculera, is a prescription medical food containing purified diosmin (MPFF), a high-quality ingredient that has been designated “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), the highest standard of safety. Diosmin (MPFF) is a flavonoid isolated from hesperidin, found in citrus, that restores the body’s microcirculatory balance.
Recommended by Dr. Karen Herbst.
Save on Vasculera. $132 for 3 months’ supply.
Primus Care Direct is a hassle-free, mail-order pharmacy service where patients can get their Vasculera prescription for $49 for a 30-day supply or $132 for a 90-day supply ($44 per month), Medicare patients included. This is the lowest possible price available and includes free home delivery. If you have insurance coverage for prescription medical foods, you may pay even less. Vasculera Prescribing Information
Blink Pharmacy Plus also offers a discount on Vasculera.
Research
Bouskela, E., Lugli, M., & Nicolaides, A. (2022). New perspectives on micronised purified flavonoid fraction in chronic venous disease: From microvalves to clinical effectiveness.
Feldo, M., Wojciak-Kosior, M., Sowa, I., Kocki, J., … & Bogucka-Kocka, A. (2019). Effect of diosmin administration in patients with chronic venous disorders on selected factors affecting angiogenesis.
Huwait, E., & Mobashir, M. (2022). Potential and therapeutic roles of diosmin in human diseases.
Lyseng-Williamson, K., & Perry, C. (2012). Micronised purified flavonoid fraction: A review of its use in chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcers and haemorrhoids.