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Do you ever wonder why
you experience those pins and needles tingling on your foot when you squat
in Indian position for quite a while? Bad circulation, you answer. That is
the very reason why it pays to stand up right away to stomp it out and gets
the blood moving again.
Truth is, it does not have much to do with the flow. The numbness occurs
when a nerve, not the vessel, is compressed. That is also the very same
thing that happens in different parts of the body, especially when someone
has carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
There are several treatments of carpal tunnel syndrome, which may
or may not include surgery. Here we will look into the some carpal tunnel
herbs and vitamins that can soothe those repetitive stress injuries.
Carpal tunnel herbs and
vitamins: B6
Vitamin B6 seems to help relieve the symptoms of CTS, says Jill Stansbury,
N.D., assistant professor of botanical medicine and chair of the botanical
medicine department at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in
Portland, Oregon.
Vitamin B6 seems to work best on mild to moderate cases of CTS, says Thomas
Kruzel, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon. To end the
tingling, take 50 milligrams of B6 each day, he suggests, and give it time
to work. It usually takes 12 weeks to get the full benefit.
Carpal tunnel herbs and vitamins: St. John’s Wort
Widely known for its ability to treat depression, St. John’s Wort also helps
nerves recover when they are damaged, inflamed or strained, says Dr.
Stansbury. Thousands of years before doctors coined the term carpal tunnel
syndrome, the relaxing herb was used to heal nerve pain and tingling, she
says.
Its sedative effect helps to reduce pain, while its anti-inflammatory
activity can help shrink swollen tendons. Don’t expect the kind of quick
pain relief that comes from popping a pharmaceutical like aspirin or
ibuprofen, though. St. John’s Wort typically takes a few weeks to start
working.
Carpal tunnel herbs and vitamins: Pineapple
For relief with fewer side effects, you have the option of trying some
supplements that can be very effective. One of these is bromelain, an enzyme
found in pineapple that is nature’s anti-inflammatory medicine. This hungry
enzyme can take a bite out of pain and swelling and help you heal faster,
says Dr. Kruzel.
When the tingling pain of CTS strikes, take two 500-milligram tablets or
capsules of bromelain between meals two or three times a day, says Dr.
Kruzel. Bromelain is measured in milk-clotting units (mcu) or
gelatin-dissolving units (gdu).
Carpal tunnel herbs and
vitamins: Flaxseed Oil
You can also soothe the inflamed nerve and tissues with flaxseed oil, a
supplement rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, says Ellen Potthoff, D.C.,
N.D., a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor in Pleasant Hill, California.
Any type of inflammation responds well to essential fatty acids because no
matter where it hurts, they interrupt the process of inflammation early.
You should feel better in two to four weeks if you start taking one
tablespoon of flaxseed oil every day, says Dr. Potthoff. Taste is one way to
tell if you’re getting good-quality flaxseed oil. "It should have a really
nice, nutty flavor and a dark amber color," she says.
Carpal tunnel herbs and vitamins: Turmeric
Turmeric is a herb that contains a powerful anti-inflammatory chemical
called curcumin. The herb has traditionally been used in India’s Ayurvedic
medicine to treat pain and inflammation.
The effect of turmeric has been compared to that of cortisone, the
pharmaceutical sometimes used to treat CTS symptoms. Although turmeric’s
pain-fighting power is not as strong as cortisone’s, the herb is a lot
easier on your system, says Dr. Kruzel.
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