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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).
It's a good news that there have evolved several treatments of
carpal tunnel syndrome both in surgical as well as therapeutic or
conventional manner. Most often, medical practitioners advise you to try
the conventional manner. You will find many carpal tunnel herbs and
vitamins that can soothe and give you relief of 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 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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