These are just some of the adjectives used to describe peripheral neuropathy, also known as nerve pain. Other symptoms are more distressing and can include weakness, falls, lack of bladder control, or paralysis.
With so many natural remedies for nerve pain available, it’s an excellent place to start if you’re looking for gentle, long-term healing.
DIY Nerve Pain Relief
More people than ever are realizing the wisdom of the ages and turning to natural remedies to heal their tired, damaged bodies. And it’s no wonder; medical costs are skyrocketing, and many allopathic options only treat the symptoms of an ailment, as opposed to curing it.
What choices do we have when seeking natural nerve pain relief?
- Eat Wisely
What we eat, quite literally, becomes part of who and what we are. Our diet affects, not only our external appearance, but our moods, thoughts, and internal workings.
Our choice of food can create or eliminate nerve pain.
For example, diabetes is one of the leading causes of metabolic neuropathy caused by elevated blood sugar. In this instance, the disruption of chemical processes within the body manifests in tingling and numbness, sensory, and motor symptoms.
The main contributing factors to diabetes are excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes is fed by processed meats, sugary beverages, trans fats, and processed carbohydrates.
In contrast, berries, seasonal fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, and nuts possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Increasing your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flax seeds, mackerel and salmon has also been proven to act against inflammation. These natural foods are recognized and processed efficiently.
- Lifestyle Choices
Our modern lifestyles have forced us into a rut of too little sleep, too much time hunched in front of a screen, and a constant low level of simmering anxiety.
Poor posture leads to nerve damage over time. Insufficient and poor-quality sleep reduces our body’s ability to regenerate damaged nerves. Constant stress leaves us tense and vulnerable to ailments.
Seeking to restore balance in our lives means that we need to eat well, sleep more, and exercise gently. Mindfulness in the form of meditation, family time, or relaxation techniques gives us more capacity to manage symptoms or pain.
Consider changing your habits to support your overall health; give up smoking, lower alcohol consumption, relax.
- Seek Treatment
Depending on the nerve pain you are experiencing, you may enjoy a deep tissue massage. This will relax the muscles and work to relieve tension in the affected area.
Physical therapy is another natural way to gently and safely stretch the body to alleviate pain.
Acupuncture has been a preferred pain treatment for centuries. It stimulates the body’s natural painkillers while the increased blood flow restores damaged nerves.
- Natural Medicines
Various essential oils used in aromatherapy have a gentle pain-relieving effect alongside anti-inflammatory properties. For example, Chamomile is used to great effect with neuralgia and rheumatic pain. While Geranium has been clinically proven as an effective analgesic.
Lavender oil is well-known for pain-relief, better sleep, and easing anxiety – all of which are necessary when dealing with nerve pain.
Capsaicin is a compound derived from cayenne pepper. It can be taken orally or used topically to reduce pain in people suffering from nerve damage.
More recently, CBD oils have been used for relief from pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The choice between full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD oil is a personal one. For those who want to maximize the full benefits of the cannabis plant, full-spectrum CBD is the best choice. (Despite the potential ‘high’ that you may feel with it.)
- Exercise
Making time for gentle, appropriate exercise is vital for our overall wellness. Start with cycling, swimming, or other low-impact exercises. These have the dual effect of reducing weight while promoting blood flow and nerve regeneration.
Aerobic exercises encourage us to breathe deeply and get our hearts racing which boosts the body’s endorphins. These are our natural pain killers and feel-good hormones.
Other disciplines such as yoga work the muscles to increase flexibility and balance and improve circulation.
Start With Natural Remedies for Nerve Pain
Left untreated, early symptoms of nerve disorders may escalate to the point where we lose the function of a body part, or worse.
Whether due to accident, illness, lifestyle, or trauma, nerve pain can be treated naturally.
Exploring natural remedies for nerve pain gives our body the chance to heal itself. We don’t need to worry about the costs and unpleasant side-effects common to most prescription medications.
Stay with us for more practical wellness, health, and lifestyle information.
