Causes and Treatments of Peripheral Neuropathy

Did you know that over 20 million Americans suffer from some form of pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs – all of which can progress and cause continual discomfort for years? This condition is known as neuropathy and it is quite complex. While some medical experts believe there is no real cure for it, I am a firm believer that with lifestyle and dietary changes along with some supplementation, neuropathy can be kept under control and you can enjoy a pain-free life.

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy, which is sometimes referred to as peripheral neuropathy, is not ONE health condition but describes a range of problems involving damage to the peripheral nerves. [1]

Symptoms can be temporary or permanent, are usually worst at night and include:

• Numbness
• Tingling sensation
• Prickling or burning sensation
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Muscle weakness or wasting
• Muscle cramps or spasms
• Muscle twitching
• Muscle paralysis such as Bell’s Palsy
• Localized pain
• Random shooting pains
• Loss of ability to detect hot or cold
• Eye disorders such as pain, difficulty focusing or dull vision
• Hypotension caused by autonomic neuropathy
• Recurring digestive disorders caused by autonomic neuropathy
• Organ and/or glands dysfunction

What causes neuropathy

According to the Mayo Clinic, neuropathy forms when high blood sugar interferes with the nerves’ ability to transmit signals, weakening the walls of the small blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. Without those nutrients and oxygen, the nerve cannot properly maintain healthy function. The tingling sensation sufferers experience is the undernourished nerves misfiring, the numbness is a starved group of nerves without enough blood flow to function at all, and the pain is the body alarm system signaling that something is going wrong.

Several diseases, acute infections, and toxins can also cause neuropathy.

12 Natural Remedies for Nerve Pain

There are several measures you can take to naturally help reduce symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and some of these remedies may be even more effective than medication if used consistently. Here are some natural remedies:

1. Hot baths

Taking long hot water baths or showers is one of the simplest ways to help ease nerve pain by improving circulation in the body. I recommend adding Epson salt to your bath water as it contains high amounts of magnesium which is an effective treatment for reducing peripheral neuropathy. [2]

2. Herbs

Herbs like chamomile, horseradish, valerian, and elderberry may be beneficial for stopping your chronic pain. They can be taken in the form of an herbal tea to relieve pain, spasms, and inflammation, and help to relax damaged nerves.

3. Garlic Milk

Garlic milk is one of the most popular natural remedies for nerve pain, especially sciatica. You can prepare this by cooking two crushed raw garlic cloves in about half a cup of milk and drinking it daily.

4. Celery Juice

Celery is also noted as one of the most effective natural remedies for nerve pain. Drink half a cup of celery juice mixed with some carrot juice daily. A combination of celery and potato juice is also said to help.

5. Meadowsweet

The flowers and flowering tops of the herb meadowsweet have been used medicinally in Europe, North America, and Asia. It has been useful in stopping chronic nerve pain by acting as a diuretic and mild astringent to reduce the inflammation.

6. Essential Oils

Massaging painful areas with essential oils like peppermint, rosemary, lavender, clove, eucalyptus, and wintergreen mixed with a carrier oil like sesame or almond oil can also be very beneficial.

7. Feverfew

Feverfew extract is used predominantly throughout the world for the relief of pain and inflammation and is held by some to be particularly effective against the type of chronic nerve pain which results from hypersensitivity (sometimes known as “skin sensitivity”).

8. Passion Flower

Passion flower extract is frequently used in alternative medicine for the relief of stress and anxiety that can come from being in constant pain.

9. Vitamin B

Addressing vitamin deficiencies is critical for nerve health. A study showed that when study participants took B vitamins, especially vitamin B-6 over a 45-day period they had a highly significant reduction of pain. [3]

10. Vitamin D

Also ensuring optimal levels of vitamin D levels in your body aids in the promotion of nerve regeneration and treating traumatic peripheral neuropathy. [4]

11. Cayenne Pepper

An ingredient called capsaicin found in cayenne pepper can help relieve pain. Capsaicin works by depleting substance P, a pain-causing chemical, from nerve receptors. Applying cayenne pepper in a topical ointment initially stimulates the release of substance P but then depletes it, which decreases pain. Cayenne can also be added to the diet or taken as a supplement to relieve neuropathy sensations.

12. Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help to trigger chemicals to be released by the nervous system to calm or subside nerve pain. Ongoing treatments may be necessary to experience a long-term positive effect and pain management.

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Diet for nerve pain

A good diet can help you manage your symptoms and, in some cases, even reverse some of the damage. Some foods can cause further damage to the nerves, weakening them even more. And it is important to know not just what to eat, but what to eat to make your nerves stronger and keep your neuropathy from getting any worse. [5]

There are some foods that may help repair damaged nerves which can lead to much relief from your symptoms.

Good for You

1. Ginger

Yes, ginger is a strong, natural, pain reliever that contains gingerols, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Water

Drinking water is part of keeping inflammation down in the body which can mean that the pain you experience as part of neuropathy does not get any worse. When you start to get dehydrated, your blood starts to thicken, and your muscles go into spasm. As a result, inflammation occurs and affects areas where pain receptors and nerves are located.

3. Lean protein

It is important to stick to lean protein, which is necessary for your body to be able to build and repair new tissue. But don’t eat too many animal fats. Stick to low-fat dairy and poultry choices. Lean protein is not just important to combat neuropathy, it also has a positive influence on your blood sugar level.

4. Fruits and vegetables

Aiming for a diet of 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables helps to nourish your nervous system and provide a rich source of antioxidant protection. This is why it is so critical for you to eat foods from all the colors of the rainbow. So, eating a ‘rainbow diet,’ provides all the nutritional colors essential for optimal health.

5. Omega-3 rich foods

Increasing the amount of omega-rich foods such as fatty fish, flaxseeds and raw nuts can reduce chronic low-level inflammation which can lower neuropathy symptoms.

 

Bad for You

1. Gluten

Avoid gluten, particularly, if you have celiac disease. If you are allergic to gluten, consuming it can trigger neuropathy or make symptoms much worse.

2. Refined grains

These have a high glycemic level, so they can significantly impact your blood sugar. You must be able to control your insulin and glucose levels especially if you have diabetic neuropathy.

3. Sugar

Sugar foods like cookies, cake, and pastries have no nutritional value and can trigger neuropathy symptoms. These foods are particularly important in controlling diabetic nerve pain.

4. Saturated Fats

These are found mainly in whole fat dairy products and fatty meats. They can lead to inflammation, as well as increasing your chance of having type 2 diabetes.

In general, avoid eating processed foods, deep fried foods, cheese, butter, whole milk, and fatty meat. Not only can these make your neuropathy worse, they can also lead to heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Diabetic nerve pain

Diabetic neuropathy is caused by persistently high blood sugar levels and most often damages nerves in your legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms can start with pain and numbness in feet and legs first, followed by hands and arms and can eventually lead to serious issues with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, and heart.

Supplements for Neuropathy

Alpha Lipoic Acid

ALA is a powerful antioxidant with the rare ability to cross the blood/brain barrier and go directly to where it is needed in the brain. Among its many benefits, it has been shown to help with neuropathy by:

• Relieving the pain, numbness, and burning
• Promoting better blood flow and oxygen to the nerves
• Improving cell “transporters” that carry and distribute glucose
• Promoting the entry and breakdown of glucose into cells (converting it into energy)
• Lowering blood sugar levels

I recommend my clients take Lipoic Acid Supreme which is very powerful formula containing 300 mg of lipoic acid, along with 4 mg of pure biotin and 500 mg of taurine which play important roles in maintaining healthy insulin function.

There is also a brand-new product that is really promising in helping neuropathy sufferers. NeuroRenew™ is a comprehensive formula designed to support healthy nerve function. It contains a superior form of Alpha Lipoic Acid along with supportive nutrients.

Other pain and inflammation relieving supplements I recommend include phytocannabinoids which are becoming increasingly popular. You may have seen lots of CBD products suddenly on your health food store shelves and in ads.

Studies have found that CBD supports numerous body processes including a proper inflammatory and pain response by helping the central nervous system respond appropriately to stimuli that influence the body’s inflammatory response. It also encourages normal levels of cells and enzymes involved in the inflammatory pathways to assist in regulating this response and, thus, help ease pain.

And it is also important to get enough MAGNESIUM. Magnesium deficiency is extremely common—occurring in up to 80% of adults—and is a major contributing factor to neuropathy. We all need magnesium for the proper firing of neurotransmitters inside our body. Here is a magnesium product I highly recommend for this purpose.

Remember you do not have to live in pain. CONTACT ME today and let’s talk about all these options and more to help you find the best way to reduce your pain and increase your joy in life.

 

References:

1.  What is peripheral neuropathy?

2.  Magnesium for Pain Relief.

3. The effect of benfotiamine in the therapy of diabetic polyneuropathy.

4. Vitamin D2 potentiates axon regeneration.

5. Best foods for neuropathy.