Ayurvedic Advice For Neuropathy

Several people have asked if there are any alternative treatments for neuropathy that come from Eastern medicine. Apart from acupuncture (which is discussed in other posts - see list on the right), there are also Ayurvedic views on the subject.
Today's post from generalhealthcarenews.blogspot.com(see link below) talks about these and offers some interesting advice. I can't pretend to recognise many of the Ayurvedic techniques but I assume people who are already familiar with this branch of medicine will. The article urges consultation with your doctor and as that is a basic premise of this blog, it's advice worth following, whatever the treatment you decide to try. People who have tried many things to help their neuropathic problems will also know the value of keeping an open mind.

Alternative treatments for peripheral neuropathy

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

When the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged they result in a set of symptoms called Neuropathy, since such nerves are referred to as peripheral nerves the condition is also known as peripheral neuropathy.

Patients present themselves with classical symptoms like tingling sensation in the feet and hands, there are times when frank injury occurs and the patient does not feel the pain.

People who are risks for these could have any one of the conditions or behaviour patterns. Like diabetics with poor sugar controls, people with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, people who have received organ transplants, alcoholics, and people with Vitamin B6 deficiency are also high risks.

There are also conditions of occupational disease like carpal tunnel syndrome in computer workers, or people using clutches or growth compressing the nerve.Hypothyroidism or decreased efficiency of the thyroid is another common cause for neuropathy.

Neuropathies are treated by relieving pain in non-depressed patients. Sometimes anticonvulsants are used too in peripheralneuropathy treatments. As they function blocking the calcium channels. In extreme cases opiods have been given but by and large they are avoided as they can cause addiction.

Though alternate therapies have worked wonders, they should be adopted only after discussion with the physician.

Cannabinoids or a class of chemicals found in marijuana, Botulium Toxin better known as Botox, dietary supplements like alpha lipoic and benfotaimine, chiropractic massages, yoga, meditation, congnitive therapy and accupunture all play a role.All forms of therapy focus on treating or eliminating the root cause and managing the presenting symptom.

The Ayurvedic Vaidya would treat neuropathy in general as vatadosha or the imbalance of wind energy. In the case of nutritional induced neuropathy dietary counselling is done, while alcoholism is treated by a procedure called Vamana Karma or expelling the toxins through the mouth. The exact material and methodology depends on the patients, this is then followed up with oral medications like Vistindhuk vati and other medhya drugs.

When the neuropathy is hypothyroidism induced, then medicines like Chandraprabha vati, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Arogya-Vardhini, Chandraprabha-Vati, Maha-Manjishthadi Qwath, Kachnaar-Guggulu, Brahmi-Guggulu, Triphala-Guggulu and Medohar-Guggulu are prescribed, along with panchakarma treatments like virechana, niruha and anuvasan basti, and nasyam

Yoga on the other hand would deal with alleviating the pain.

Trauma or pressure on the nerves could be due to a cast, use of a crutch, or repetitive movements, it could also be due to a tumour sitting on a nerve. Asanas like sarva anga asana, halasana, suryanamaskara, suptayajrasana are prescribed to overcome alcoholism. Yoga uses inversions to alleviate pain. Senior Iyengar yoga teachers have researched to show that finger and toe exercises help to alleviate neuropathy in the feet. This is performed by threading the fingers between the toes while sitting cross legged, the fingers and toes are spread and stretched to increase circulation and range of motions of the toes. Adhomukha svanasana, Pawanamuktasana are the other asanas adviced.

Vitamin B6 has often been used to treat the occupation triggered carpal tunnel syndrome. Though the exact benefit of this is not known.

Acupuncture and Magnet therapy are also quite popular.

Chiropractic therapies use massages and oils to increase circulation to the affected areas.

Nutritional deficiencies causing neuropathy might occur independently or as an off shoot of diabetes or alcoholism. Here the nutritional substitute is given. The diet chart includes milk, rice, barley, Bengal gram, moong dal and cucumber in adequate quantities. Coconut oil is suggested as the medium of cooking to improve metabolism.

No matter what the treatment, opted for it should be done in consent with the attending physician and followed through meticulously.

http://generalhealthcarenews.blogspot.nl/2012/07/alternative-treatments-for-peripheral.html