Herbal Neuropathy Cures

The term "neuropathy" refers to diseases or injuries to the nerves or nerve cells. The symptoms of neuropathy depend on the particular nerves that are damaged. They often include numbness, tickling or pricking sensations, muscle weakness and pain. A healthy diet, exercise and avoidance of alcohol may be helpful for patients with neuropathy. Certain herbs may also be beneficial, but there is no evidence that they offer a cure. Consult a qualified health care provider for more information about herbs that can help neuropathy symptoms.

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, two fatty acids that are essential to healthy nerve function. According to a review in the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine," evening primrose oil may be useful in the treatment of neuropathy. Authors Kathleen M. Halat and Cathi E. Dennehy describe several clinical trials in which patients with neuropathy demonstrated improvements in nerve function measurements after treatment with evening primrose oil. Patients required 6 to 12 months on evening primrose oil before its benefits became evident. Evening primrose is a flowering herb native to North America. The oil that used in herbal preparations is extracted from its seeds. Evening primrose oil may interfere with anticoagulant and anti-platelet medications. Use it only under the direction of a qualified health care provider.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is one of the few herbal products that is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter analgesic. Capsaicin is the substance that gives chili peppers their distinctive sensation of heat. Halat and Dennehy wrote that capsaicin directly affects the sensory fibers involved in neuropathy. They describe several clinical trials in which topical capsaicin was used in patients with neuropathy. Patients reported significantly less pain after 8 weeks of treatment. Additionally, capsaicin relieved neuropathy pain as effectively as a tricyclic antidepressant. Consult a qualified health care practitioner before adding capsaicin to your regimen.

Skullcap

Medical herbalist Katolen Yardley writes that skullcap, a traditional nerve tonic, may help relieve the muscle weakness, nerve damage and numbness of neuropathy. Found in the moist thickets, woods and fields of North America, skullcap was used by the Cherokee and Iroquois people to normalize menstruation, aid the kidneys and prevent smallpox. Skullcap later gained a reputation among Europeans for use in psychological disorders, insomnia and neuropathic pain. According to an article in the "Journal of the American Herbalist Guild," researchers believe that the active ingredients in skullcap are bioflavonoids, potent antioxidants that prevent cells from being damaged by harmful free radicals. Do not substitute the use of skullcap or any other herb for treatment by a qualified health care professional.