Our peripheral nerves deliver information to the brain and spinal cord. However, damage to these nerves can result in different painful and other uncommon sensations like numbness, painful tingling, discomfort, hot and cold sensations, and restless leg syndrome. This damage in the signaling of the brain and spinal cord is called peripheral neuropathy in medical terms.
Peripheral neuropathy often affects your hands and feed, this is why you may experience symptoms starting from these body parts. That said, as peripheral nerves are spread throughout the body, there may be symptoms in other areas and in multiple locations at the same time.
Living with peripheral neuropathy can be very challenging, hence, it is always recommended to consult a medical professional and follow your prescribed treatment for peripheral neuropathy. In some cases, adopting a few naturals’ ways or practices can treat or improve your condition.
Natural ways to Treat Peripheral Neuropathy
Following are a few natural ways to treat peripheral neuropathy, reduce the severity of its symptoms, and prevent further nerve damage, from the comfort of your home.
Exercise
Including some form of exercise into your routine will help tone your muscles and this can reduce a few symptoms of neuropathy.
That said, generally exercise is great for preventing several health issues that can cause neuropathy. For example, diabetes is known to cause peripheral neuropathy. Engaging in physical activities and exercise allows the body to better manage blood sugar levels, this might reduce the risk of diabetes and complications that come with being diabetic.
Besides, exercise also takes off some pressure on peripheral blood vessels, which can benefit people who are at risk of neuropathy. Hence, it is a good idea to include some exercise in your everyday life, for long-term benefits.
Dietary changes
As diabetes is one of the leading causes of peripheral neuropathy, some dietary and lifestyle changes can make big difference in your condition.
Making dietary changes that help you maintain a lower blood sugar levels can tone down some symptoms of neuropathy or even potentially prevent it.
A meal plan that’s rich in fiber and low in carbohydrates can prevent random blood sugar spikes. Besides, you might also want to avoid the following food items:
- sweets
- white bread products like kinds of pasta
- processed snacks
Some other dietary changes that may benefit you with peripheral neuropathy, including:
- eating high fiber foods, like certain vegetables, nuts, and fruits
- eating antioxidant-rich food items, like walnuts, blueberries, fatty fish, and flaxseed oil
- limiting your daily consumption of sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams
- limiting the consumption of saturated and trans fats
- eliminating or reducing your alcohol intake
Making these dietary changes can make your lifestyle healthier and also help with peripheral neuropathy.
Quitting smoking
Smoking puts you at a higher risk for peripheral neuropathy because it damages and narrows the peripheral blood vessels.
That said, smoking can also worsen the symptoms of nerve damage, even if the primary cause of the neuropathy is some other condition or lifestyle factor.
Hence, quitting smoking can be very beneficial in slowing down the symptoms of neuropathy and it also improves your blood flow, which leads to healthier blood vessels. That’s why quitting smoking is a great natural way to not only improve your overall health and well-being but to also ease the severity of your neuropathy condition or its symptoms.
Vitamins intake
There is a wide number of supplements available that may help with the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. They support nerve health and reduce the symptoms of neuropathy.
According to the Foundation of Peripheral Neuropathy, the following are few vitamins and dietary supplements for better health of your nerve system. B-complex vitamins
- Vitamin E
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC)
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Magnesium and calcium
- N-acetylcysteine
- Glutamine
However, make sure to consult a medical professional and consume any of these supplements only under the supervision of a qualified physician. Besides, your doctor may also prescribe you other vitamins and supplements based on your body’s needs and lifestyle.
Adopt relaxation techniques
Adopting some relaxation techniques in your everyday life can be helpful for you in better managing pain and other random sensations that you are suffering from because of neuropathy. Practicing meditation, deep breathing, and progressive relaxation on regular basis can give you some relief from pain.
Some other relaxation techniques that you can adopt to ease symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include yoga, chi, Tai, and blend stretching. They can be great for relieving stress, improving your posture, and soothing some of the painful effects of neuropathy. The ideal relaxation technique may vary from person to person, it is important to find what works the best for you and your particular medical condition.
Going for alternative medicine
If you are suffering from peripheral neuropathy you can try the natural ways to ease the symptoms, consult a doctor for a treatment plan, or try alternative medicines. Some alternative medicine options for peripheral include chiropractic techniques, acupuncture, and energy-based modalities like Reiki. However, make sure you consult a professional before trying any treatment to ensure it works for your particular case.
Even if these alternative medicine options may or may not help with the treatment of your condition but they might ease the effect of its symptoms. Pairing these medications with more natural treatments like exercise may also be beneficial for you.
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Conclusion
Peripheral neuropathy can be a very painful and challenging condition. However, besides your treatment for peripheral neuropathy, you can also adopt the above-mentioned, natural ways to ease the effects of the condition. By adopting practices like exercising, making healthier dietary and lifestyle changes, and quitting smoking you can experience improvement in your condition.
That said, these practices can help not only reduce pain but also improve your blood circulation, reduce inflammation, avoid taking unnecessary medications, increase your physical ability and improve the quality of sleep you get. Hence, overall, these personal changes will help you live a more fulfilling and mindful life about your well-being.
