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Peripheral Neuropathy: The Causes Are Key

Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition where a part of the body, usually hands or feet, are tingling, burning or painful. It can range in intensity from annoying and just feeling like you’re wearing a glove or sock, when you aren’t, to very painful and effecting many aspects of your life.

There are 3 types of neuropathy: Sensory, Motor, and Autonomic. In addition to the hands and feet (toes and fingers), it can involve not just the Central Nervous System, but the Integumentary System (skin and nails), the Musculoskeletal System, the Gastrointestinal System (primarily the colon and liver), the Renal System (kidneys and bladder) – but also kidney failure can cause neuropathy, Hematologic System (anemia or pancytopenia), and/or the Cardiovascular System.

This condition can be limited to one area, or involve different areas or different systems, depending on the cause. The causes are key if you want to eliminate this problem.

There are a few known causes, but there may also be others. First is nutritional imbalances. Vitamin B12 deficiency has had the most research. It can either be a dietary limitation issue or an absorption issue. B12 deficiency can also be due to excess alcohol or sugar consumption. B6 is also key, but in many cases of neuropathy, it is an excess of B6 usually due to synthetic supplement intake. Niacin and B1/Thiamine deficiencies are triggers as well. Vitamin E deficiency or excess can contribute (deficiency can be from lack of healthy fats in the diet or malabsorption issues; excess is usually due to synthetic Vitamin E supplementation). Copper excess or deficiency which is often secondary to an excess of zinc supplementation.

The second cause can be “Toxic Neuropathies”. Several medication categories can contribute to neuropathies. Chemo therapy is one of the biggest. There are quite a few that have side effects of neuropathy.

Alcohol is also considered a cause of toxic neuropathies due to the detrimental effect on the Central Nervous System and the contribution to Vitamin B deficiency. Byproducts in the body that accumulate because of renal failure, heavy metals (especially lead, arsenic and mercury common in the water or industrial products), organophosphates (found in insecticides) can all be toxic causes.

Infectious causes include consumption of “toxic seafood” (after they consumed a toxic form of plankton), and ticks. Not only can ticks cause Lyme Disease, but 3 species also contain a neuro-toxin that can lead to neuropathy. Diabetes is one of the most common causes of neuropathy and managing that can be crucial in circumventing or treating diabetic neuropathy.

If you are suffering from neuropathy, the first thing you need to do is see a practitioner that will dig deep to find the underlying cause of your neuropathy. Then, using acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional recommendation and supplements targeted specifically to you and your condition, you can expect to see good results. The sooner you begin treatments the better. You want to catch this disease before permanent nerve damage has been done. There is hope.

©2022 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.

Picture of Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience. Dr. Carling is a “Health Detective,” she looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Dr. Carling considers herself a “professional student” – she has attended more than 600 post-secondary education courses related to health and healing. Dr. Carling gives lectures here in the U.S. and internationally and has been noted as the “Doctor’s Doctor”. When other healthcare practitioners hit a roadblock when treating their patients nutritionally, Dr. Carling is who they call. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic.

Medical/Health Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article or podcast should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this article or podcast. Readers/listeners should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the author, but readers/listeners who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

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