Sacred Vessel | A Functional Medicine & Acupuncture Clinic | Fort Collins, CO
  • Home
  • The Team
  • Services
    • Functional Medicine
    • Maternity Functional Medicine
    • Acupuncture
    • Women's Health
    • Pregnancy and Childbirth
    • Acupuncture Pain Management & Injury
    • Birth Doula
  • Books/Downloads
    • Books
    • Downloads
  • SCHEDULE CONSULT
  • Articles
  • Contact Me

Educate. Thrive.

Your resource for health and wellness information

Peripheral Neuropathy

10/17/2014

0 Comments

 
Peripheral Neuropathy can be caused by many different underlying injuries and diseases causing damage to the nerves of the body. It is characterized by numbness, tingling, burning, or sensitivities of the extremities. With correct treatment some symptoms can be reduced over time. As long as the nerves are not permanently damaged.

Underlying Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. It can also be caused by; 
  • autoimmune factors that cause inflammation in nerves
  • injury to nerves, such as carpal tunnel syndrome 
  • inherited traits that increase susceptibility to nerve disease
  • lifestyle factors, such as smoking or alcohol use
  • viral and bacterial infections
  • other diseases can be attributed, such as hypothyroidism

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy vary depending on which nerves are affected, as well as the duration and the severity of the damage. 

More often, peripheral neuropathy starts in the longer nerves, affecting those of the fingers and toes first.
  • Gradual onset of numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes
  • Sensations of burning in the extremities
  • Electric, sharp stabbing pains
  • Extreme sensitivity to heat, cold, sunlight, or touch

Chinese Medicine for Peripheral Neuropathy

There are a variety of techniques in Traditional Chinese Medicine that can be used to treat Peripheral Neuropathy depending on the presentation and underlying cause.
There are several vitamin deficiencies associated with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. By modifying the diet to include foods that are rich in these vitamins and by including high quality vitamin supplements, symptoms can very often be reversed.

Diet and Nutrition for Peripheral Neuropathy

Acupuncture for Peripheral Neuropathy

In a 2007 research study 192 patients were monitored for a year. Of those 47 were classified as having Peripheral Neuropathy with undefined etiology. Those patients were then divided into  2 groups. A) provided with Acupuncture treatments based on the Heidelburg Model. B) Provided the best western medical care, but no specific treatment method. Of those in Group A, 76% improved based on the NCS measurements, 14% showed no change, and 10% said they had aggravated symptoms. Of those in Group B, ONLY 15% showed improvement, 27% had no change and 58% had aggravation of symptoms.

Those in the Western treatment group were MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AGGRAVATION OF SYMPTOMS, while those in the Acupuncture group were MORE LIKELY TO HAVE IMPROVEMENT OF SYMPTOMS.

Very often we will combine electro stimulation with the Acupuncture treatments. 
  • Electroacupuncture works to eliminate sensory and affective inflammatory pain
  • Electroacupuncture decreases inflammatory and neuropathic pain. 
  • Electroacupuncture blocks pain by activating chemicals including Opioids, cytokines, serotonin, and nor epinephrin

Moxibustion for Peripheral Neuropathy

Moxibustion is used to warm the needles and acupuncture points. When using Moxibustion to treat peripheral neuropathy, we typically use the warm needle type (there are several ways Moxibustion can be used). In this method, small balls of moxa are place on top of the needles and lit. The burning moxa then warms the needle to its tip (deeply placed into the body). 
There is currently a study being conducted on the use of Warm Moxa Acupuncture for treating Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy


Resources and Research: Acupuncture and Peripheral Neuropathy

  1. Mayo Clinic Peripheral Neuropathy Information
  2. Acupuncture Treatment Improves Nerve Conduction in Peripheral Neuropathy
  3. Therapeutic Strategies for Cancer Treatment Related Neuropathies
  4. Mechanisms of Acupuncture-Electroacupuncture on Persistent Pain
  5. Role of Acupuncture in the Management of Diabetic Neuropathy: A Pilot RCT
  6. Clinical Observation on Mild-Warm Moxibustion for Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy
  7. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Painful Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy: a long term study
  8. Acupuncture Reduces Neuropathy Associated with Bortezomib
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Acetylcholine
    Acrylamides
    Acupuncture
    Addiction
    Adrenal
    Allergies And Asthma
    Amniotic Fluid
    Androstenedione
    Anthocyanines
    Anti Inflammatory
    Antioxidants
    Anxiety & Depression
    Autoimmune
    Avocado Oil
    Bananas
    BCAA
    Berries
    Beta Carotene
    Birth Control
    Bone Broth
    Boron
    Breakfast
    Bromelain
    B Vitamins
    Calcium
    Cancer
    Candida
    Carbohydrates
    Cardiovascular
    Celiac
    Chemotherapy
    Cholesterol
    Choline
    Chromium
    Chronic Pain
    Cinnamon
    CLA
    Coconut Oil
    CoEnzyme Q10
    Conception Nutrition
    Copper
    Cortisol
    Curcumin
    Dairy
    Dates
    DHEA
    Dopamine
    Drug-Nutrients
    EFA's
    Eggs
    Electrolytes
    Endometriosis
    Environmental Exposure
    Estrogen
    Evening Primrose
    Fatigue
    Fats
    Fermented Soy
    Fertility
    Fiber
    Fish
    Food Allergies
    Fructose
    FSH
    GABA
    Genetics
    Gestational Diabetes
    GI Inflammation
    Ginger
    Glucose
    Glycemic Index
    Glycemic Load
    GnRH
    Grains
    Grassfed Butter
    Group B Strep
    Gynecology
    Healthy Diet
    Herbs
    Honey
    Hormones
    Hyaluronic Acid
    Hydration
    Hypertension
    Immune Health
    Inflammation
    Insulin Resistance
    Iodine
    Iron
    Joint Health
    Labor And Delivery
    Leafy Greens
    Legumes
    LH
    Linoleic Acid
    Liver
    Lunchbox
    Macronutrients
    Magnesium
    Manganese
    Maternity Nutrition
    Melatonin
    Melons
    Mental Health
    Microbiome
    Micronutrients
    Migraine
    Minerals
    Miscarriage
    Molybdenum
    Monounsaturated Fats
    Morning Sickness
    Natural Opioids
    Neurotransmitters
    Nutrition
    Nuts And Seeds
    Obesity
    Omega 3
    Omega 6
    Organ Meat
    Oxalic Acid
    Oxidative Stress
    Oxytocin
    PCOS
    Pediatrics
    Pesticides
    Phosphorus
    Polyunsaturated Fats
    Postpartum Hemorrhaging
    Potassium
    Potatoes
    Preconception
    Preeclampsia
    Pregnancy
    Pregnenolone
    Prenatal Nutrition
    Preservatives
    Preterm Labor
    Probiotics
    Progesterone
    Prostaglandins
    Protein
    Quercitin
    Saturated Fats
    Selenium
    SIBO
    Sleep & Insomnia
    Sodium
    Stress
    Sugar
    Supplements
    Testosterone
    Thyroid
    Type 2 Diabetes
    Vitamin A
    Vitamin C
    Vitamin D
    Vitamin E
    Vitamin K
    Vitamins
    Women's Health
    Xenoestrogens
    Zinc

    Archives

    September 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    August 2021
    May 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013

    RSS Feed

2001 S. Shields St, Bldg H-101
​Fort Collins, CO 80526
​info@sacredvesselacupuncture.com
(970) 631-8119

Join the list!

* indicates required

​Copyright © 2021 Sacred Vessel Acupuncture & Functional Medicine, All rights reserved
Photos used under Creative Commons from kthread, Smabs Sputzer, cottonseedoil, fourpointgo, hill.josh, Lizard10979, marniejoyce, mrgreen09, nosha, Pai Shih, juniatha, I woz ere, seelensturm, Kaua'i Dreams, Rumalowa, quinn.anya, ruurmo, net_efekt
  • Home
  • The Team
  • Services
    • Functional Medicine
    • Maternity Functional Medicine
    • Acupuncture
    • Women's Health
    • Pregnancy and Childbirth
    • Acupuncture Pain Management & Injury
    • Birth Doula
  • Books/Downloads
    • Books
    • Downloads
  • SCHEDULE CONSULT
  • Articles
  • Contact Me