Capillary fragility Health Dictionary

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Capillary Fragility: From 1 Different Sources

A deficiency of Vitamins C or E allows cells to deteriorate, thus weakening capillary walls and placing them at risk of being broken, severed or mashed; with subsequent clot formation, bruising, nose-bleeds, bleeding gums or petechia (small spots due to effusion of blood under the skin).

Large amounts of Vitamins C and E may be given for this condition without toxicity.

Alternatives. Teas. Dried leaves. Buckwheat. Heartsease. Marigold. Yarrow, Butcher’s Broom, Red Vine. One, or more in combination.

Tablets/capsules. Rutin (Buckwheat). Hawthorn, Motherwort.

Tinctures. Formula. Hawthorn 1; Marigold 1; Yarrow 2. One 5ml teaspoon thrice daily.

Dr Alfred Vogel. Yarrow 42; Horse Chestnut 30; St John’s Wort 21; Arnica 7.

BHP (1983). “Fagopyrum (Buckwheat) combines well with Vitamin C in reducing capillary permeability.”

Diet. Low fat. Low salt. High fibre. Bilberries.

Supplementation. Vitamin C 500mg daily. Vitamin E 400iu daily.

See also: CIRCULATION. PHLEBITIS. BRUISES, etc. 

Health Source: Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Author: Health Encyclopedia

Capillary

Any of the vessels that carry blood between the smallest arteries, or arterioles, and the smallest veins, or venules (see circulatory system). Capillaries form a fine network throughout the body’s organs and tissues. Their thin walls are permeable and allow blood and cells to exchange constituents such as oxygen, glucose, carbon dioxide, and water (see respiration). Capillaries open and close to blood flow according to the requirements of different organs. The opening and closing of skin capillaries helps to regulate temperature.

A direct blow to the body may rupture the thin capillary walls, causing bleeding under the surface of the skin, which in turn causes swelling and bruising. Increasing age, high doses of corticosteroid drugs, and scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) make capillaries more fragile; a tendency to purpura (small areas of bleeding under the skin) may develop.... capillary

Capillary Return

A test for the adequacy of blood circulation by pressing on the skin and seeing how long it takes for the colour to return. (See PERFUSION.)... capillary return

Capillary Refill Time

a quickly performed test to assess the adequacy of circulation in an individual with poor cardiac output. An area of skin is pressed firmly by (say) a fingertip until it loses its colour; the number of seconds for the area to return to its original colour indicates capillary refill time. Normal capillary refill takes around 2 seconds. Slow capillary refill may occur globally in an individual with poor circulation or in a small area (e.g. a toe) in which local circulation is compromised (due, for example, to peripheral vascular disease). This test may not be very useful in people with dark skin.... capillary refill time

Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure

(PCWP) an indirect measurement of the pressure of blood in the left atrium of the heart, which indicates the adequacy of left heart function. It is measured using a catheter wedged in the most distal segment of the pulmonary artery. See also Swan-Ganz catheter.... pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

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