Natural Remedies for Neuropathy: Holistic & Nutritional

Can anyone tell me the difference between R-alpha lipoic acid and plain alpha lipoic acid? I've been taking alpha lipoic acid for neuropathy 600 mgs/day with no results. Someone says they have resolved their neuropathy with R-lipoic acid. Call me confused..Thx.

Neuropathy:

FYI Stabilized R-ALA will likely be more effective than R-Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Hello, I am loving this site! I listen to am radio from our area where there doctors whom really push holistic medicine it works and it needs more pushing for the really bad sickness like I have been dealing with since I have had cancer. I love what I learn about the different sulliments for ailments. It is good to try them to see if they work for my ailment.

I just increased my intake of lipoic acid and my feet have been better and the meralgia paresthetica seems to be easing the sharp electrical shock shooting zaps. They are terrible and I am hoping to see if I can get off the pain meds and increase the dietary supplements that I have increased to help me get better. I have different ailments that have made me unable to get around so I will come back on here in 60 days and give a report on my status on my pain so keep looking for my feedback. Thanks Jeff from Lowell, type 2 diabetic with meralgia paesthetica and facet joint arthritus / upper thoraic arthritus philbitus and neuropathy from the pinced nerve is terrible. The color of my legs scares me there, a color that is bad like black and blue, so keep looking for me and wish me well. ok bye all

Gluten-Free Diet for Neuropathy

Research ideopathic gluten sensitivity. I have had relief from kicking gluten from my diet!! I tried all the other stuff & got some relief BUT this was relief and it happened within days of being diligent about NO GLUTEN.

Lugel's Iodine is the best and most potent...be mindful it requires very little!

I have one mercury filling left and have been on ALA & ALCAR for two months now with no side effects. There is a cautionary that I saw in several places to not lay down for at least half an hour after taking ALA and I saw another one cautioning not to take it for a time period after mercury amalgam removal but haven't seen any saying to avoid it with mercury fillings in place. I saw my doctor today and really surprised him when I told him that I am off the pain killers and he saw the lack of gray in my hair. We discussed the heavy metal issue, chelation and mercury causing gray hair and he told me that heavy metals are naturally chelated out into your hair as a natural mechanism to protect the rest of your body and that is the reason that they test the hair to determine the amount of heavy metals in your body. They also test your urine to see how much is being removed at any given time. He also voiced the opinion that because of my first occupation as a steel fabricator/welder that I may have already been toxic with heavy metals resulting in the long term severe reaction to the chemotherapy and I would tend to agree with him. Has anyone else having neuropathy problems got premature gray hair from possible industrial exposure to heavy metals? If so, is the ALA helping the neuropathy and/or returning colour to your hair? By the way, I have improved enough that my motor and sensory nerves are almost completely functional now and I am going to work this coming week. Anyone wishing to contact me directly can do so at "gustafsonal(AT)hotmail. Com". Al

Hi Al, Great to hear of your improvements. With regards to your wondering if the ALA was sending your hair back to its original colour I would think that maybe it is. I have included the following article which describes the relationship between ALA and ALCAR when used together. Bascially says that ALCAR can cause oxidative stress which is why it is usually teamed with ALA to counteract any negative impact on cells. I think it is basically the Good guy of the duo and may very well be what has caused your hair to go back to its original colour.

http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/alpha-lipoic-acid-and-acetyl-l-carnitine-can-they-improve-sports-performance-8

With regards to your wondering if it was welding that caused your hair to turn grey in your early years, all I can say to that is that I have an uncle and he has been welding for many years. He is now in his late seventies and last year he had to undergo an operation for a hole at the back of this eye - at least I think that's what it was, which he says he is nearly sure was caused by welding - this goes to show you how much welding he done over a lifetime, however he didn't actually turn grey until he was in his late forties/early fifties. But who knows maybe it's a case of horses for courses.

I have also included a link with regard to a forum on nerve regeneration which may/may not be of use to you, the first guy seems to be using supplements similar to that you use for nerve regeneration.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/neuropathy/75917-anyone-experienced-nerve-regeneration.html

All I can say Al is that it is truly great to hear of your good news. I can't say that there seems to be much info out there results-wise for people in relation to ala/alcar and neuropathy so you seem to be a pioneer to some extent. Wishing you the best going back to work and hoping that you will keep us updated. Regards.

I have been using the yucca for just over a week and am seeing amazing results. While the nerves in my feet are super sensitive, which results in swelling and high levels of pain, I am now seeing a substantial reduction in the swelling and pain with the yucca.

For those of you who are wondering what I am using, I am now taking:

ALA-200 mg/day, grape seed extract-200mg/day, B12 sublingual-30, 000mcg/day, benfotiamine, B3, folic acid, curcumin, chromium, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, fenugreek, acetyl-l-carnitine, l-lysine, vitamin C, vitamin D and yucca.

I may have missed some and don't know the dosages of all of them as I am not at home right now. If anyone has any specific questions please contact me directly at gustafsonal (at) hotmail (dot) com. Thank you and don't give up.

ALA will make your heart race if you have overactive thyroid problems and/or are on thyroid medication(s). You should maybe get your thyroid gland checked out and that might even fix your neuropathy. Most ALA labels caution about using it with thyroid medications.

3 months now since I started ALA & ALCAR and I have been working full time - just around 60 hours per week in the log book. I am quite surprised at how well I am doing. At the end of the first week I was exhausted, partially due to icy roads on days 4 & 5, and thought I would need to take a break midweek for a few weeks but kept at it and didn't need to. I still have a bit of pain, tingling and numbness but it is still receding. I expect that it will take many months to completely recover if I ever do. I am maintaining my supplement regimen but have reduced the Lyrica by 50% a week ago, resulting in an increase in the pain level, and have also reduced the amount of Diamicron MR that I am taking by 50% as well due to the blood sugar getting too low, a good indication that the curcumin and Diamicron MR are actually healing the pancreas as I am healing the neuropathy. Maybe the two are complementary. I saw another acquaintance today that I hadn't seen since June and he didn't recognize me due to my hair colour returning. Onwards and upwards.

My husband has a rare disease called Tangiers. It causes neuropathy mainly in his limbs, but has lost feeling all over. He suffers from alot of pain. He is getting ALA treatment from his naturopath. They are starting a new treatment that involves a new natural med that will be administered before the ALA to help the body absorbe it. They say he will notice a difference with in 30 days. Fingers crossed!

Thanks. Red light therapy maybe a lesser known but effective treatment, without having to take another pill. Ordered a unit today. Will be doing this daily and will come back in 30 days to report my spouses response to this.

I added an ADRENAL Gland support and with the gluten free I now have dropped the supplements except for B-12 injection and take fish oil -2 tbsp. A day and I have almost total relief. Thanks to everyone who has posted. I hope everyone finds relief like I have.

After a bad two-week long spell of sharp, needle-like pain in my feet I looked at this site for advice. At my next doctors appointment a few days later, I checked with him for his opinion, and based on that added ALA to my treatment (which was metanx pills he gave me last year). Within 24 hours of taking one 600 mg tablet of ALA the pains were down by at least 50% intensity, and now a week later they are almost completely gone. A few days ago, I also added a B complex, and plan on adding a B12 lozenge too.

My doctor - a foot doctor who specializes in neuropathy - had no problem with these 'additions', in fact he is the one who suggested B12 in a lozenge form, not a tablet. I'm now a strong believer in taking ALA B vitamins for those pains in my feet!

BTW: Bought my 600mg ALA tabs at GNC - they've got an amazing vanilla flavor and are a pleasure to take! I take 3 per day and a Bcomplex once a day.

I also swear by Turmeric for Neuropathy, but my understanding is it needs to be heated and taken in conjunction with black pepper for activation. If I have fresh Turmeric I simmer it for approx 10 minutes but if it is powdered making a tea with boiling water is another way to go, I add ginger, black pepper and agave to sweeten and it is a very pleasant drink. I have this drink daily and the pain relief properties are amazing.

I also took the same Bs as Shrikant (the fat soluble B 12 & Metacobalin) and my neuropathy in both feet that I had for a few years got better THE NEXT 24 hours I could tell - a difference for the better. I am now still on the fat soluble Bs and it has been 1 1/2 years now. The tingling, the extreme sensitivity, the sudden jerking jolts of what felt like electric shocks within my feet are all gone.

Only thing is lately, I have noticed a tightness appearing and I cannot bend back my toes towards me comfortably. Don't know why...

Hi Ms (from Honolulu), If it feels like that they might cramp if you move them any further then I would suggest magnesium. Works for me if my toes feel like or do cramp. Even if it is not cramp it would be worth trying some mag.

My partner also suffered with PN due to his diabetes, he was already taking ACV and CO, this seemed to help his blood sugars , but not the pain.

However literally after the first dose of MSM he got instant relief, he continues to take it but rather on an if and when need basis. Also we read that LECITHIN can help, which he also takes, daily, due to a relative short shelf life. He is so much better.!!! Oh I hope this helps , any one that suffers this puts up with so much.:(.

Hi Monique - You may want to increase your Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamine - take sublingual tablets) and ensure you take a Vitamin B Complex as well. I've read that Vitamin B12 protects the sheathing surrounding nerve cells and can promote regeneration and growth of nerve cells.

Also, be tested for Vitamin D deficiency (mercola.com or Vitamin D Council have lots of info on this). If you do an Internet search for "vitamin D deficiency neuropathy" you'll find lots of information suggesting you get your Vitamin D levels up. Good luck!

I belive my neuropathy is caused by a course of Leqavuin 2 years ago. It started with a numb big toe and spread out. I've taken b-12 patches, Alpha Lipoic, Lecithin, MSM, acupuncture, Bach remedies, NAC, but what feels like a cure:

This week

5 pieces of Turmeric juiced into my morning carrot juice, along with 2 packets of Liposomal glutathione.

I actually credit the Turmeric more than the gluathione, but the two in combination are alleviating all my numbness and prickling for the last 7 days.

People who have burning feet - do you realise that it can be caused by too much caffeine? Caffeine prevents the absorption of vitamin B, so that even if you are eating well and having vitamin B supplements, that vitamin B is not being absorbed. The reason why some sufferers are not getting any better when they take various remedies may be because they are drinking eight cups of strong tea or coffee a day! Give it up and see the difference it makes.

Hi, I have a pinched nerve also in my lower back and I have not been diagnosed with neuropathy, I do have symptoms like neuropathy. I did research on EC and other sites regarding alc and alpha lipoic acid is helping me also. I take 400mg a day.

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Neuropathy

I have a pinched nerve in my back which causes peripheral neuropathy. I have been using ALA for almost 2 weeks now and my symptoms have improved I take 300 mg (time released tablets) twice per day.

I have severe neuropathy and my head shakes. I went to a health food store and got alpha lipoic acid amd have been on it for eight days and it has been wonderful. I no longer have pain and my head doesn't shake. I feel like anew person.I hope this can help someone else. It's nice to go out and not be stared at.

For Neuropathy Pain:

Take 250mg pantothenic acid a day.

For neuropathy and Inflammation:

Use 1/4 gram coconut oil and 1/2 gram honey bee wax. Melt wax add other ingredient after wax has melted. It will become cream it's very good for nerve. and muscle pain and also on cracked skin. You can add essential oil for aroma.

Bill, I was put on Atenolol in 2003 because my father had heart issues at my age-- big mistake on my part... I wound up with a resting pulse of 160 got horrendous cold extremities followed by a radio frequency cather ablation operation (4 1/2 hours)...They fixed my heart but I kept the terrible cold extremities which I never had before...Then in 2012 I had a respiratory infection and had TWO cycles of Cipro...then 6 months later I got stage 4 chirossis (I also have hep-c)...and my peripheral neuropathy came on terrible within a week of when I was diagnosed with stage 4 chirrosis...Would you hazzard a guess what the original cause of my neuropathy was so I may be able to address it...I have tried everything out there..Could the antibiotcs cause the neuropathy or maybe the Atenolol? Or the hep-c? Just looking for an educated guess as my doctors have no clue...thank you...again and again..

You may want to look into how these meds deplete necessary nutrients. A quick search turned up CoQ10 depletion from the atenolol and global B vitamin depletion as well as zinc from the Cipro.

CoQ10 depletion has been associated with statins and the very bad side effects many people suffer from them. You may want to see if any of the CoQ10 deficiency symptoms line up with yours, especially the ones that began after the atenolol. If not, cold extremities are a classic sign of iodine deficiency/hypothyroid.

The worsening of your viral infection (hepatitis) after the Cipro is interesting in light of the fact that your B vitamins may have been depleted because I do wonder how much the b's help us with viral defense, especially of herpes viruses, which travel on nerves.

Anyhoo, CoQ10 is easy to get as a supplement and you can get b vitamins through brewers yeast and liver or as supplements as well.

Hi Diane...Both the Atenolol and the Cipro can cause neuropathies. Their many side effects are listed here and here on drugs.com and these lists are huge. Please notice that Atenolol can also cause cold hands and feet as well as racing heart. Cipro contains fluorine, a poison for the body, and fluorine depletes the thyroid of iodine -- which can also cause loss of energy, cold extremities, brain fog or pins and needles and a host of other problems.

Atenolol is a beta blocker that is supposed to slow down the heart beat but in many instances does exactly the opposite. Beta blockers just treat the symptoms, they do not cure the core reasons for heart problems.

I also have nothing good to say about Cipro, which is a fluoroquinolone antiobiotic that also also contains fluorine as well. Everyone knows my low opinion of anti-biotics, but taking an anti-biotic that contains fluorine as well will have even worse effects upon the body -- and to me this is completely crazy. I must also add that Cipro and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics have also been linked to severe liver and renal toxicity -- see this link. At a guess, I would say that that this liver and renal toxicity may well be at least be partially linked to the high fluorine content of this drug.

To get rid of the fluorine and to help with the cold extremities in your body I would take a liquid kelp extract on a daily basis. The thyroid controls the temperature and metabolic rate of the body, so if you improve the thyroid then you improve its ability to properly control body temperature at the extremities. Removing the fluorine will take a while because fluorine is normally absorbed and stored in the bones and teeth as well as in the glandular regions of the body.

Because of all the above reasons, I cannot exactly say with any certainty what has caused your neuropathy because, as well as Hep C itself being a cause, because there are too many other possible drug related side-effects that could also have caused it.

And the next time your doctor gives you any pills to take -- go straight to drugs.com and look up their side-effects and THEN decide whether you want to take the pills or not.

Hi Bill, Thank you again for your wonderful feedback. I indeed do now check before I take any drugs...

How much liquid kelp extract should I use or could I use Lugols iodine as a substitute? Or will the extra minerals in kelp help more than Lugols?

Three times I was prescribed drugs that would have put me in anaphylectic shock. I didn't recognize the name because the dr's used generic names which fooled me. My pharmacist caught it twice and I caught it once...AND the dr's have my records for things I am allergic to.

I'm wondering if Borax might help me as well? My shooting pains are throughout my entire body, even my eyes get needle stabs in the middle of the night. It started with cold extremities and now I have electric shocks, stabbing needle pains and terrible cramps in my legs and everywhere else...Right now I cannot move my toes as they cramp terribly and are turning black. 24/7 pain...I DO indeed thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would not know where else to turn to as my dr's said there's nothing else they can do.Much, much blessings.

Hi, Wow I am so sorry you have these side effects and all................... How did you get off the drugs if you did?

I too never read what I was taking nor questioned the doctor.... but now I read everything and question all and research... but if I do ask a doctor they just seem to say what they know and think is best but it appears it's trial and error and practicing medicine..and they rarely listen to their patients..

HI Bill, Thanks for the feedback with regard to borax and neuropathy...I would also like to know how one takes borax? I've read to take 1/8th teaspoon or 1/4 teaspoon. I've also read that you should take a break from it after 5 days and also after 3 days. I also read that you can take it for 3 weeks and then stop a week. Would like you opinion on this...Thank you much

Hi Diane...Normally, for women, you would take 1/8 tspn of borax in a liter of water and drink this liter of borax water throughout the day. You should take this remedy for 5 days and then have a rest from the protocol for at least 2 days in a cycle like that. For men, the dose should be 1/4 tspn borax in a liter of water.

If you wish to take a week's break from the borax protocol then that's also OK but when I used borax water for my own candida problems I took it on a 5 days on, 2 days off basis for 9 months without a break or a problem.

The peer reviewed studies found on pubmed.org clearly indicate benfotiamine's superiority over regular thiamine (B-1) for treatment of neuropathy. They also indicate a dose of 300 mg twice per day (total of 600mg) was more effective than half of that dose.