Home Remedies For Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a disease characterized by weakness, pain, and numbness especially in the extremities, i.e. your hands and feet. The nerves in the peripheral nervous system control a number of bodily functions and are responsible for sending signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. When peripheral nerves are damaged, they can interfere with how your body responds to temperatures, pain, sensitivity, and other reflexes. Treatment for peripheral aims to alleviate pain and ease any discomfort as well as symptoms a patient is experiencing. Other than medical interventions, there are various home remedies you can try out to help improve the condition. ^[1]

Increase your intake of certain vitamins, most especially vitamin B and D. Vitamin B helps boost your nerve health whereas vitamin D can help with preventing nerve pain.

Although you can get vitamin B from food intake and vitamin D from sun exposure, it is vital that you consider supplements so as to get the right quantities which will help reduce some neuropathy symptoms.^[1]

Take capsaicin, which is a compound mostly found in hot peppers. This compound is thought to make nerves less sensitive to pain signals, thus helpful in alleviating chronic neuropathic pain.^[2]

Exercising is known to help improve various illnesses, including disorders that cause pain such as peripheral neuropathy. Any type of exercise will be beneficial in that it helps combat pain and improve your overall health. On top of that, it improves blood flow to your arms and legs, which are often affected in this case, and also helps reduce stress. You can try some gentle exercises e.g. water aerobics, which helps improve cardiovascular circulation without applying pressure on joints, which could be painful.^{[3] [2]}

If you are a smoker, you should quit smoking since it affects your blood circulation. Smoking causes your blood vessels to narrow, thus less oxygenated blood courses through your vessels. Smoking is a risk factor that worsens peripheral neuropathy, therefore, quitting will help alleviate symptoms and in the long run, improve blood circulation.^[1]

Take warm baths, which will prove beneficial in improving pain symptoms. This is because warm water increases blood circulation throughout your body hence reducing symptoms of pain, which could be attributed to by numbness.^{[1] [3]}

You can use some essential oils such as chamomile and roman lavender, which contain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Adding to that, they also help increase blood circulation, as well as reduce tingling and stinging pain, especially when applied directly.^{[1] [3]}

Try acupuncture, which is a recognized pain relief procedure. Acupuncture promotes natural healing by stimulating the body’s pressure points. As a result, the body releases certain chemicals which can change your pain experience. Needless say, acupuncture also provides an energy balance to the body that can improve your overall emotional well-being and reduce symptoms of numbness and tingling pain.^{[1] [2]}

Adopt a healthy diet and take dietary symptoms if necessary. There are foods which can help in curing pain and there are also those which can worsen it. Foods that you should avoid are; artificial sweeteners, meat, and preservatives. Foods that you should eat in plenty include fresh fruits and vegetables and any other foods you can eat raw to get as many nutrients as possible. As for dietary supplements, consider those with neuropathy supplements which are rich in nutrients that will promote nerve health as well as their functionality.^[4]

The symptoms a patient exhibits will depend on the nerves affected. If the motor nerves are affected, they are likely to experience difficulties while walking and use of hands in doing activities, such as holding things. In cases where sensory nerves are affected, one may exhibit sensation problems such as unable to feel pain or temperature or high sensitivity of the same. If the autonomic nerves are affected, one may exhibit symptoms of vomiting/nausea, dizziness, excessive sweating, as well as the loss of control of bladder and bowel functions.^[3]

Home remedies basically help alleviate some of the symptom’s individuals with peripheral neuropathy experience. Eating a healthy nutritious diet, exercising, taking warm baths, and acupuncture are some of the ways you can adopt to help improve peripheral neuropathy. Before trying out some home remedies, you should consult your doctor, especially if you will solely rely on the remedy as to a new treatment plan. In case of any problems from applying some of the home remedies or experience a worsening of symptoms, visit a doctor immediately.

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Also Read:

• Can Peripheral Neuropathy Go Away On Its Own?
• Life Expectancy Of Someone With Peripheral Neuropathy