Frequent visits to green space linked to lower use of certain ...

Peripheral Neuropathy Natural Treatments

Symptoms from peripheral neuropathy depend on the type of nerves damaged. The three types are motor nerves, sensory nerves, and autonomic nerves.

Motor nerves

Your motor nerves send messages from the brain to the muscles so you can control your movements.

If your motor nerves are affected, you may experience symptoms including:

Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves send messages from other body parts to the brain and trigger your senses. When you experience a cold sensation or touch something sharp, you are using your sensory nerves.

If your peripheral neuropathy affects your sensory nerves, you may experience:

Autonomic nerves

These nerves control involuntary and semi-voluntary functions including blood pressure, heart rate, bladder functions, and sweating.

If your autonomic nerves are affected from peripheral neuropathy, you may experience symptoms including:

Treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on the cause. Some common treatments involve physical therapy, surgery, and injections for increased nerve pressure. Other treatments focus on reducing pain and discomfort with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

There are also a number of natural treatments to help reduce symptoms and peripheral neuropathy.

1. Vitamins

Some cases of peripheral neuropathy are related to vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin B is essential for your nerve health. A deficiency can lead to significant nerve damage.

While you can get vitamin B from your meals, your doctor may also recommend taking a supplement. Stick to the recommended dose to prevent toxicity and worsening symptoms.

Vitamin D can also help prevent nerve pain. Your skin typically produces vitamin D in response to sunlight. A deficiency can cause neuropathy pain. Taking a supplement can help reduce the symptoms of neuropathy.

2. Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, an ingredient in hot peppers that makes them spicy. Capsaicin has been used in topical creams for its pain relief properties. It decreases the intensity of pain signals sent through the body.

Incorporating cayenne pepper in your diet or taking a capsaicin supplement can help to reduce neuropathy pain.

Topical capsaicin ointments can also be used on the body. Although it may initially burn, continued use will gradually reduce neuropathy sensations.

Be sure to discuss this treatment method with your doctor before using it to prevent adverse symptoms.

3. Quit smoking

Smoking affects your blood circulation. The blood vessels narrow and less oxygenated blood can get through. Without proper blood circulation, you may experience increased numbness and pain from your peripheral neuropathy. Eliminating smoking habits can help to improve your symptoms. Let this motivate you to make positive changes.

4. Warm bath

Taking a warm bath can be soothing and can also alleviate pain symptoms from neuropathy. Warm water increases blood circulation throughout the body, decreasing pain symptoms from numbness.

If your sensory nerves are affected from peripheral neuropathy and you're not as sensitive to temperature, be careful not to make your bath water too hot.

5. Exercise

Regular exercise can help to combat pain and improve your overall health. Being active can reduce your blood sugar, which, in turn, can reduce or slow down nerve damage. Exercise also increases blood flow to your arms and legs and reduces stress. These are all factors that help to reduce discomfort and pain.

6. Essential oils

Some essential oils, including chamomile and Roman lavender, help to increase circulation in the body. They also have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that could boost healing.

Dilute essential oils (a few drops) in 1 ounce of a carrier oil such as olive oil. Applying these diluted oils to the affected area can reduce stinging and tingling pains from peripheral neuropathy.

7. Meditation

Meditation techniques can help people struggling with neuropathy symptoms live through their pain. It can help to lower stress, improve your coping skills, and decrease your pain intensity. Taking a mind-body approach is a noninvasive technique that provides you with more control over your condition.

8. Acupuncture

Acupuncture promotes natural healing by stimulating the body's pressure points. This technique triggers the nervous system to release chemicals that can change the pain experience or threshold. Acupuncture helps to provide an energy balance to the body that can affect your emotional well-being.

Prevention works so much better than treatment. Keeping your blood sugars within the normal range will help prevent your neuropathy from worsening. If your neuropathy is related to alcohol intake, stop drinking now to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Natural remedies have some success in alleviating the pain symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. However, be sure to consult with your doctor prior to participating in a new treatment method. If you begin experiencing irregular symptoms from natural remedies, or if your conditions worsen, visit a doctor immediately.

10 Best Tooth Pain Remedies For Toothache

There are a number of at-home remedies for temporary relief of toothache or pain, but talk to your dentist before taking them. "You should also speak with your dentist before using any of the following remedies if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have any medical conditions that might be impacted by herbal ingredients," says Huang.

Clove Oil

Clove oil, an active ingredient in many dental products, is the best at-home remedy for tooth pain, according to Huang. "It is a natural antiseptic that reduces pain and inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties," she says. "It also acts as a temporary pain reliever."

The active ingredient in clove oil can be compared to benzocaine, the numbing ingredient in many dental gels. To use clove oil, she suggests soaking a cotton ball in it and applying directly to the area of the toothache, or rinsing your mouth with it.

Willow Bark

There is some evidence that willow bark can aid in reducing inflammation, which will help with pain relief. "Willow bark contains salicin, which is similar to the main ingredient in aspirin," says Huang. Willow bark tea can be gargled, or a paste of willow bark powder can be applied to the area causing pain.

Cold Compress

A cold compress can help treat some types of oral pain. "If the origin of the toothache is from trauma, cold compress to the area will reduce swelling and inflammation and give you temporary pain relief," says Huang. She suggests applying the cold compress or wrapped bag of ice to the affected area for intervals of 20 minutes, and repeating every few hours.

Saltwater Rinse

Rinsing your mouth with salt water can also help with a toothache. "Saltwater will naturally reduce inflammation and improve wound healing," says Huang.

Indeed, a 2016 study in PlosOne found that short-term rinsing with a saltwater solution promotes cell migration, an important process during wound healing . Huang suggests mixing 1 tablespoon of salt with 1/2 cup of warm water. Swish the solution in your mouth for around 30 seconds as often as needed throughout the day.

Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse

A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water may also help with tooth-related pain and inflammation. "This is an alternative option to the saltwater rinse," says Huang. Mix a solution of equal parts over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide and water. Swish it around in your mouth for one minute, but don't swallow it.

Peppermint Tea Bag or Oil

There is scientific evidence that peppermint can help relieve various types of pain. One in vitro study in the European Journal of Dentistry found that peppermint was one of three oils that worked as an effective intracanal antiseptic solution against oral pathogens—meaning it can effectively prevent the growth of bacteria .

If you have a toothache, Huang suggests applying a cold peppermint tea bag. "Chill it [by putting a steeped tea bag in the freezer for a few minutes] and apply it in the area causing pain," she says. Alternatively, add a few drops of peppermint oil to a cotton ball and apply that directly against the affected tooth.

Thyme

The herb thyme "is a powerful antibacterial and antioxidant," says Huang. A 2016 study in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that in essential oil form, thyme has "powerful antibacterial and antifungal" properties . "Put some thyme oil on a cotton ball and apply it directly to the area to help with pain relief," says Huang. A few drops of the thyme oil can also be added to a glass of water and used as a mouthwash.

Garlic

There is some evidence that garlic can also help relieve pain. "Fresh garlic cloves contain allicin, which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties," says Huang. Crush or chew the garlic clove in order to receive the necessary benefits of the allicin. "Garlic powder will not have the same remedial properties," she adds.

Topical Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter pain relief gels, creams, liquids and swabs can also temporarily relieve pain. "These treatments typically contain several active ingredients, typically including benzocaine, which will numb the area temporarily," says Huang.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

"Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin or naproxen work well with dental pain because they reduce inflammation," says Huang.

Recent data has shown the combination of Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) is as effective as prescription opioids for tooth pain . Experts note that with the rise in opioid addiction, it's nice to have an effective over-the-counter alternative. Be sure to talk to your dentist first about recommended dosage.

You May Also Be Interested In Bestselling Dental Pain Relief Products Available On Amazon

Gardening Got You Sore? Here Are 5 Natural, Pantry-Staple Painkillers

During the spring, lawns and gardens wake up from their winter slumber and begin to grow again. While this is great news for the beauty of our yards, it also means more yardwork. Whether or not you love working on your lawn and garden, you probably know it requires a lot of physical labor — raking, mowing, digging, weeding, and more. And with physical labor comes physical pain. But you don't always need to reach for your medicine cabinet; natural springtime pain relief might be no further than your kitchen pantry. Check out these easy, cheap, natural ways to cure your springtime pains, without needing to leave your kitchen.

Quiet Creaky Knees

Use olive oil. It's not just you — at least a third of American adults have an achy knee (or two!) holding us back from the warm-weather activities we love. The kitchen remedy that may offer some relief? Olive oil. Research published in Dermatology Research and Practice suggests that topical application of olive oil may be a a safe and effective treatment for certain pain and injuries. The experts explain that the plant compounds in olive oil have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that can assist in healing. Gently massage ¼ teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) into sore joints as needed.

Relax Muscles

Sniff this pantry staple. If a busy spring day leaves you with tight, stiff muscles, breathing in the blissful aroma of vanilla (by sniffing the extract, stirring a few drops into milk, or biting into a vanilla-scented treat) may offer relief. Results from an animal study published in Nutrition Today says the flavoring's aromatic compounds (vanillin and vanillic acid) may raise the body's pain threshold, soothe sensitive pain nerves, and tamp down tissue inflammation. Plus, vanilla's scent may prompt the brain to release dopamine, a hormone that alleviates muscle tension, suggests an animal study published in Psychiatry Research.

End Achy Shoulders

Next time shoulder pain strikes after yardwork, skip the painkillers and try a warm rice compress. A randomized controlled trial published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that heat, when applied just after soreness-causing activity, increases blood flow and tissue flexibility, reducing pain. To get the perks: Fill ⅔ of a sock with uncooked rice, tie or sew shut, then microwave on high for 2 minutes; apply to sore spots for 15-20 minutes.

Story continues

Ease Wrist Soreness

If raking, gardening, or other spring chores make your ankles ache, reach for ice. Findings published in the Journal of Athletic Training say that "contrast soaking" (submerging joints into alternating hot and cold water) improves blood and oxygen flow to joint tissue, which may assist in healing and pain reduction. Want to try it? Just slip your feet into a bowl of ice water for 2-3 minutes, then into lukewarm water for 2-3 minutes. Repeat for about 15 minutes, ending on the cold soak to further reduce swelling.

Heal a Headache

Thudding headache threatening to ruin your day? Reach for rosemary. Results of an animal study published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences find the herb's camphor and alpha-pinene boost the body's ability to fight pain, and therefore, may be effective as a pain management tool. For relief, pour a few cups of boiled water over one tablespoon dried rosemary, lean over the bowl with a towel over your head, and breathe in the steam.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First For Women.

---