Acupuncture And The Relation To Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy is a painful disease that affects your nerves; those that suffer from it will know it can be almost unbearable. Simple tasks such as walking, especially on complex and cold surfaces, can feel like stepping on ground-up glass. There are four main types of peripheral Neuropathy, these are: 

Sensory Neuropathy – This is damage to the nerves that carry messages of touch, temperature, pain and other sensations to the brain.

Motor Neuropathy – this is damage to the nerves that control movement. 

Autonomic Neuropathy – This is damage to the nerves that control involuntary bodily processes – digestion, bladder functioning and control of blood pressure. 

Mononeuropathy – This is damage to a single nerve outside of the central nervous system. 

Peripheral Neuropathy is the result of various things, from a traumatic injury to exposure to toxins. Often, symptoms will vary from person to person; it all depends on what nerves are affected. Some experience a gradual numbness and tingling in their feet and hands, and others may experience sharp pains and sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness and incontinence. 

Acupuncture for Peripheral Neuropathy

According to Chinese tradition, acupuncture helps balance the flow of energy or qi within your body – this new energy balance is said to stimulate the body’s healing abilities. Peripheral Neuropathy occurs when there is a blockage of energy and blood flow in the body; if these do not flow freely, our cells and tissues do not receive the nourishment that they require. 

The needles used throughout the acupuncture process are inserted into your body’s pressure points to stimulate the nervous system. This releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers, in the muscles, spine and brain. This technique changes your body’s response to pain. Furthermore, acupuncture stimulates blood flow to restore nerve damage; hence many neuropathy sufferers turn to it to relieve their chronic pain. 

Although research is still being carried out as to whether acupuncture is effective in treating or relieving Neuropathy, there have been several successful studies, and acupuncture has proven to have fewer side effects than traditional medicine. 

Additional treatment methods. 

Many people with peripheral Neuropathy will improve over time with an effective treatment method; unfortunately, this is not the case for everyone. There are many home remedies to treat symptoms of Neuropathy. 

• Regular exercise – this allows an increase in blood flow, which in turn improves nerve damage and reduces neuropathic pain. 
• Limiting your alcohol intake – this also assists with improvement in nerve damage. 
• Bathing – warm water stimulates the body and increases blood circulation; as a result, pain symptoms will decrease. 

There are plenty of medications that may help manage symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy. However, they will not stall the course of the disease, and some have some pretty horrific side effects. It is advised that sufferers of Peripheral Neuropathy give acupuncture a try. The only disadvantage is that it may take several sessions before improvement is noticeable.