The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Grape Seed Extract
Posted by Phyllis (Vero Beach, Fl) on 03/01/2016
★★★★★
About a month ago I came down with the flu so I didn't take most of my supplements until I got better including grapeseed extract (not grapefruit seed) While I was off of the supplements I noticed that my legs were very painful because I take Alpha Lipoic Acid for my neuropathy. Anyways, I started taking the Grapeseed extract again only 2 - 100 mg capsules in the morning and right away the pain went away. IF anyone has neuropathy pain you might want to try the grapeseed extract for the pain. Please let me know if it helps.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Steve (Nv) on 05/07/2018
★★★★★
R-Alpha Lipoic acid is one of the best supplements for neuropathy.
Gluten-Free Diet
Posted by Laura (Erie, Co) on 11/07/2012
★★★★★
This is a followup to my previous post, and I am happy to report that a gluten-free diet has allowed my nerve damage to heal!
Long story short, it turns out that I am gluten intolerant. The main symptom was peripheral neuropathy, no IBS or anything like that.
In the last 6 months, my nerve damage has healed, and I have stopped taking the supplements. I also note that some of the supplements contain gluten so I had to adjust that.
I now take no supplements, I am simply very strict gluten free. Even inhaling flour while baking or crumbs in the toaster will cause a reaction with the same foot pain and extreme fatigue of before. I do, however, recover within 24 hrs of any accidental exposure.
To anybody who is or believes they are gluten sensitive, and concerned about being tempted by gluten foods, I promise, if you go gluten-free and start feeling better, you will NOT be tempted by that stuff. You will look at donuts and cakes and see nothing but a pile of poison......
Again, I believe that acetyl-L-carnitine and R-lipoic acid helped with my nerve damage, but be careful about making sure you find gluten-free products.
Turmeric
Posted by T Byrd (Milan, Tennessee) on 10/04/2010
★★★★★
I am a caregiver for my 93 year old mother who has neuropathy. I started giving her turmeric for hip pain (cured it 2 diferent times). I ran out and it was 12 days before I could get anymore. I hadn't noticed before I ran out, but, after it got out of her system, she started complaining about her legs numerous times during the day. It dawned on me that she had not been complaining so much of late. Once I got her back on the turmeric, she stopped having the complaints. She hurts in the morning when she first gets up, then virtually none afterward. I give her 2-500 mg a day. I take 3 a day as it greatly helps my arthritis.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Davey D (Bc) on 11/28/2015
★★★★★
Hi every one at EC.
It's been a good 2 years since I started taking R factor ALA and said it didn't seem to be working that well. Was I ever wrong, It is a fact that the R-ALA does not work that good for me and that the people at the health food store told me that the R- ALA has a left spin on it, HUH.
Since then I found the R+ALA and life would be hell without it. I have been taking 200mg of the R+ALA by Prairie Naturals for about 2 years now and the difference is outstanding. The ingerdients are, Microcrystaline cellulose, Silicone dioxide, magnesium sterate in a vegetable capsule.
As I sit here typing I can feel the effects of my third dose for the evening giving me relief from a very bad attack. The Peripheral Neuropathy when acting up makes my right side mostly feel a lot of pressure in my leg and my feet feel tingly and have pressure on top where my foot feels like it has a tight shackle on it. My knee also feels a hot pressure above the knee cap on both knees but moree on the right side. Many nights I have sat up with a cold towel on my knees for relief from this condition. My doc knows about this and tells me to take it as needed.
I do find that my urine smells like amonia if I take to much.
I have type 2 diabetes and find it to be the problem for this Peripheral Neuropathy, also diagnosed about 2 years ago. I find that Cinnamon helps to control it and I don't take meds for it and avoid sugar at all costs.
Now on my bad days which I find some foods make it worse like today. So I start with 2 v caps of 200mg each right after supper. Then about 8pm I have another 2 caps. The pain starts to ease but then returns. 9pm I take another 2 caps, and then at 9:30pm another 2 caps. So that's a total of 1600mg in about 3.5 hours not to mention my regular 2 caps after lunch. That is on a bad day and for prevention I take it noon and supper at 2 caps per meal.
So in closing I am relieved that R+ALA seems to work well for me.
Coffee
Posted by Margie (Washington) on 11/22/2016
Once I eliminated ALL caffeine from my diet, my hands and feet felt so much better. (numbness and pain went completely away.) I am apparently allergic to caffeine...and I didn't find out until I as 50 years old and a lot of trial and error.
Keep looking, it could just be something in your diet.
Burdock Root
Posted by Mama To Many (Middle Tennessee USA) on 08/06/2013
★★★★★
Bernice, There are lots of different things people on Earth Clinic have tried... I would personally start with the turmeric and burdock root. They could be taken together. Also, the apple cider vinegar is good for many things, and I notice people use it for neuropathy. Burdock Root helped me with neuropathy a number of years ago. It took a couple of weeks of consistent use to see a difference. I didn't know about turmeric back then or would have used it, too.
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/neuropathy4.html#TURMERIC
Also, peppermint and St. John's Wort are good for the nervous system. You could make a quart of this tea and drink it daily. But I would give it a good month try before deciding it doesn't work. You could put 4 tea bags (2 of each type) into a quart jar and pour boiling water over it. Let steep for 15 minutes. Strain. Sweeten. Drink hot or cold through the day.
Lots of water is important to help the body flush itself of toxins. I would also try Epsom Salt Baths twice a week. (2 cups of the salt per bath.)
I hope you find some relief soon! Please let us know what helps you.
~Mama to Many~
B Complex and B12
Posted by Renee (Bergen Co., Nj) on 08/02/2013
★★★★★
A friend of mine had peripheral neuropathy due to chemo treatment. I recommended B-vitamins, but knowing the seriousness of this, I was not willing to take chances. I advised her to buy a very good food-based B-Complex and an additional B-12. She had a very quick recovery (symptoms diminished in one day and resolved within a week or so, with no recurrence throughout chemo). Her neuropathies had just started a week or two before, so I'm sure that helped her heal quickly. The B-complex & B-12 supplements she took were Vitamin Code/Garden of Life. This is a raw, whole food formula with live probiotics and enzymes. Find it at any healthfood store in the US. She took it according to the package directions. The amounts are much less than typical supplements & it's a little pricey, but there is absolutely no doubt that this one was well-absorbed and effective for my friend. Her recovery was nothing short of amazing.
Having had plenty of back problems myself, I learned to be mindful of how mental stress causes me to tense up in my back and hips. Just being aware of this has helped me mentally combat the stress and relax my back. Easier said than done, I know, but I wish you all the best.
Burdock Root
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 03/18/2013
★★★★★
Several years ago I was having numbness/pain in my hands and feet, especially upon waking. It was very uncomfortable. I went to my doctor who said it was neuropathy. He offered pain meds and that was it. I did some research and found out that Burdock Root can help with that. I took three 00 capsules (that I made myself out of Burdock Root Powder I bought in bulk) three times a day. (5' 5'' and 125 lbs. ) Within a couple of weeks it was healed. You are supposed to take Burdock Root for at least three months when you take it. (I probably took it for at least 6 months. ) It is a blood purifier. It is a very safe herb - it is use for food in some cultures. This problem has never returned. I should add that I keep a pretty healthy diet, avoid MSG and artificial sweeteners and ingredients, drink lots of water, etc. If this were to happen again I would add 2 T. of Blackstrap Molasses a day as it is so high in nutrients and good for so many things.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Connie (Slc, Utah, Usa) on 03/03/2013
Hi Karen; Unfortunately, the B12 serum test has done more damage than good to people's health.
Firstly, the typical range for normal is wrong. (way too low) Secondly, the serum measurement does not indicate at all the amount of B12 located in the spinal fluid, where it is necessary to be effective for nerves. Once someone begins supplementation, it is best to keep the serum levels above 1000 or much more. In fact, the serum levels will no longer indicate how the patient feels. Symptoms become the most important means of detecting one's healing.
I'm seeing this occurrance repeatedly, doctors are stopping B12 treatment for the very people who need it the most. This is medical mismanagement. It is very sad for me to have to see this happen to people. But it is a big money maker for Big Pharma. They will be able to sell alot more pain meds to suffering folks.
Burdock Root
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 02/21/2013
★★★★★
I had very painful neuropathy a few years ago. My doctor offered me pain meds and that was all he could offer. I read about Burdock Root being helpful for it. I took 3 capsules 3x a day. It can take a while for it to work but for me I was improving a lot in a week or two. It is recommended that you take Burdock for 3 months to maximize the effect. I took it for at least 6 months. This was several years ago and the problem did not return.
Burdock Root cleanses the blood. It is a vegetable, it is not dangerous to take this.
Burdock Root
Posted by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 06/25/2024
Dear Phyllis,
I cannot say for sure if it would help the tingling and weakness. If weakness is caused by reduced activity, then it might help in combination with physical therapy.
Burdock Root is an inexpensive herb. It is a blood purifier. It is very safe - in some cultures the root of the burdock plant is used as a food source.
So, I would say it is worth a try. It takes time to work, so give it a good three months before deciding it isn't helping. Hopefully in that time you would notice improvement, though.
~Mama to Many~
Burdock Root
Posted by Peter (Los Angeles, California) on 07/06/2024
★★★★★
THIS WORKED. I developed very painful neuropathy in my hands & feet last October 2023 which concerned me greatly. I took a host of supplements popular for neuropathy including Alpha Lipoic Acid, Benfotiamine, Lion's Mane, Lecithin, and MSM sulfur to name a few. They certainly did help blunt the pain and reduce the numbness but after several months I felt that my progress had plateaued. I found this review here on Earth Clinic and decided to add Burdock Root to my regimen. This did the trick. After several months I noticed a big difference in the pain and numbness. The added Burdock Root has made me pain free about 95 percent of the time. I've been taking it for about 2 months and will continue for at least 6 months. No side effects; just better living and renewed hope that I will completely reverse this neuropathy in the near future. I am already nearly there. I would wholeheartedly recommend this at a dose of 3 capsules 3 times a day for a total of 9 capsules daily. Earth Clinic comes through again!
Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Posted by Zanytranscriber (Port Townsend, Wa, Usa) on 05/27/2012
My husband is taking 250 mg of the alpha lipoic acid once a day and the same for the acetyl L-carnitine 500 mg, once a day. If he is having more "sparkles", he will take another of the ALA 250 mg.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Wanda (Spring, Texas) on 03/22/2022 40 posts
★★★★★
Replying to Posted by Kay (Tampa, Fl.) on 05/12/2013:
Art, I saw your 4/5/13 post where you said you take both Chanca Piedra (500 mg/day) and R-ALA (which you take 500 mgs every meal and it is keeping it under control. I have horrendous neuropathy and have tried everything. I have it in my feet calves, arms and it is moving up my thigh. I get very little sleep as I have terrible hot knife stabbings all night long everywhere. My liver enzymes are over 100 each and have been for years. I have tried the Berkson remedy and took 1000 mgs milk thistle for 10 months and nothing changed. Also do you have an opinion on the clinical test trial called GS 7977? Thank you and God Bless.
Hi Kay,
I too suffered neuropathy mostly in my feet to the point I almost couldn't walk. I cut out all carbs, as much fat as I could, and started juicing 1.5 celery heads a day in the AM on an empty stomach, I started eating tons of apples, bananas, grapes, and any other fruit I could get my hands on. I fresh squeeze oranges to make at least 16 Oz of juice and some days 32 Oz of OJ, however I didn't drink OJ every day, but at least three times a week.
I basically cut almost all meat out of my diet except maybe a small piece of chicken for dinner. I started eating sweet potatoes and just regular potatoes with NO BUTTER/NO SOUR CREAM with only a tiny pinch of pink salt. I'm taking an adrenal support supplement every night before bed called HPA AXIS, Mega Hydrate 2 X daily, juice apples, cucumber and barley grass powder along with Spirulina daily also. I started taking full spectrum CBD OIL 500 mg once daily and finally after two months, the symptoms are subsiding. I honestly think my diet was killing me. I have been prediabetic and was always afraid to eat too much fruit.
The trick is to eat lots of fruit and cut out the meat and the fat. Eat lots of veggies especially green veggies and cruciferous. I'm sure it will help you, but be patient because it probably took you a while to get into that condition. Good luck to you.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Karen (Tampa, Fl) on 02/28/2013
★☆☆☆☆
Can anyone tell me the difference between R-alpha lipoic acid and plain alpha lipoic acid? I've been taking alpha lipoic acid for neuropathy 600 mgs/day with no results. Someone says they have resolved their neuropathy with R-lipoic acid. Call me confused..Thx.
Sea Salt in Water
Posted by Karen (Tampa, Fl) on 02/21/2013
★★★★★
I have had the same thing for 2 years. I started taking sea salt and water for 2 days and my neuropathy has subsided considerably. My guess is that in a month I will be free from all this pain. Go to watercure2.org and follow the instructions. It's free and easy... 1/2 you body weight in ounces of water and 1/4 sea salt for every quart of water. You BUILD to the amount necessary. It works!
Burdock Root
Posted by Peter (Los Angeles, CA) on 06/21/2024
★★★★★
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Burdock Root. I had been taking a host of other supplements for neuropathy which definitely helped with painful neuropathy in hands and feet but after a while I seemed to plateau with regard to healing the nerve damage. Once I added Burdock Root to my regimen, which I have been taking for 2 months since late April 2024, my healing increased and now I am virtually pain free which I was afraid I would never be. I plan to continue taking Burdock Root for a few more months at a minimum to assess its efficacy. I take 3 capsules, 3 times a day for a total of 9 as you did. I have experienced no ill side effects and I know the Burdock Root definitely helped resolve my problem with neuropathy more fully. I almost feel completely normal again without the agonizing pain in my hands and feet.
Burdock Root
Posted by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 06/22/2024
This is wonderful news. Thank you for reporting back with your experience. I am thrilled that you are feeling so much better.
~Mama to Many~
Iodine
Posted by Kilgore (Jackson, Ms) on 12/06/2012
★★★★★
Try iodine for the neuropathy. It completely restored nerve function in my foot in two months. I used ALA for a year with improvement but no complete resolution. 20 drops of the 5% solution in coffee or milk.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/04/2012
★★★★★
I have one mercury filling left and have been on ALA & ALCAR for two months now with no side effects. There is a cautionary that I saw in several places to not lay down for at least half an hour after taking ALA and I saw another one cautioning not to take it for a time period after mercury amalgam removal but haven't seen any saying to avoid it with mercury fillings in place. I saw my doctor today and really surprised him when I told him that I am off the pain killers and he saw the lack of gray in my hair. We discussed the heavy metal issue, chelation and mercury causing gray hair and he told me that heavy metals are naturally chelated out into your hair as a natural mechanism to protect the rest of your body and that is the reason that they test the hair to determine the amount of heavy metals in your body. They also test your urine to see how much is being removed at any given time. He also voiced the opinion that because of my first occupation as a steel fabricator/welder that I may have already been toxic with heavy metals resulting in the long term severe reaction to the chemotherapy and I would tend to agree with him. Has anyone else having neuropathy problems got premature gray hair from possible industrial exposure to heavy metals? If so, is the ALA helping the neuropathy and/or returning colour to your hair? By the way, I have improved enough that my motor and sensory nerves are almost completely functional now and I am going to work this coming week. Anyone wishing to contact me directly can do so at "gustafsonal(AT)hotmail. Com". Al
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Saskatchewan, Canada) on 09/22/2013
★★★★★
It is time for an update on my neuropathy. It is just over a year since I started ALA and it has totally changed my situation. The nerves are healed to the point that I have virtually no numbness left. I still have a substantial amount of pain due to the super sensitive nature of recently healed nerves. When I wake up in the morning now I am almost pain free but by the end of the day my feet feel like they are on fire. The intensity of the pain is dependent on how much walking/standing that I do with it being worse with more walking. To give you an idea of how sensitive my sensory nerves are, I can feel every chamber of my heart contract and can also feel muscles in my thighs moving past each other. I expect the nerves to eventually toughen up and for the associated pain to be alleviated. Large doses of vitamin B12 seem to help the most and I just started taking yucca yesterday to alleviate the inflammation that results from walking. It is too soon to know if the yucca is helping but I am expecting that it will. I have most of my motor function back. All that is not back is some in my toes. TRY EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT HELP. Grasp at the straws. One or more may help. Several have helped me. Al
Low Estrogen Induced Neuropathy Remedies
Posted by Sue (Phoenix, Az) on 09/03/2011
★★★★★
Estrogen can morph into neurotransmitters. So on some level you could say it is a neurotransmitter. As hormone levels drop neuropathy can occur. Neuropathy in women can start within a decade of approaching menopause. There are quite a few studies out on estriol and Parkinsons as well.
If you know a senior lady who suddenly developed some neurological condition who is trying to find some answers, a good question to ask is "Did you recently stop taking estrogen?" I know of several women who developed neuropathy after 30 years of estrogen therapy- just stopping. There are some natural safer ways to increase estrogen, I understand.
What helped me was a very small daily dose of natural thyroid (not the synthetic). I tested fine but my body temp was always around 96.8. Subclinical thyroid conditions do exist and if there is neuropahy it is worth researching as well. I did not know it would do this. I was just tired of wearing a winter coat at work and shivering in the desert.
If iron is low neuropathy can occur. My experience is that the homeopathic Carc Carb 6x or blackstrap molasses (huge section in this site) was real helpful. I used to go to a Dr. In Pa who demand that you take blackstrap molasses every day. If you did not he could tell.
Anyway it is worth doing a search on the following: "Estrogen Neuropathy" "Menopause Neuropathy" "Anemia Neuropathy" "Hypothyroidism Neuropathy" "Estriol Parkinsons" Estrogen Neurotransmitter"
Another thing that can help is searching "Dosha Test" If the body type is Vata neuropathy can occur. There are ways to make corrections to diet and sleeping schedule that can bring relief.
