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.
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.
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!
Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Posted by Tlkleen (Halifax, Nova Scotia) on 02/10/2013
My husband has a rare disease called Tangiers. It causes neuropathy mainly in his limbs, but has lost feeling all over. He suffers from alot of pain. He is getting ALA treatment from his naturopath. They are starting a new treatment that involves a new natural med that will be administered before the ALA to help the body absorbe it. They say he will notice a difference with in 30 days. Fingers crossed!
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc, Canada) on 02/08/2013
★★★★★
Update on taking ALA for Neuropathy.
I am taking one 100mg. At breakfast and one at supper, and one or two B12 2500mcg before bedtime. The burning in my knees has almost gone and things are settled to near normal. I am not cured but as long as I don't forget to take my ALA twice a day I am fine. If I do forget I am in for a night of torment with burning skin on my upper knees. I have been getting chills these last couple of months after taking Chanca Piedra for stomach issues, but will forge on since summer is near.
Art
Gluten-Free Diet
Posted by Lauri B (Boise, Idaho) on 02/02/2013
What is the cause of your neuropathy? Neuropathy is ususally a symptom of a greater problem. My daughter 6 years ago at the age of 18, experienced a sudden onset of periphrial neuropathy in both feet which quickly over the course of 2 months extended up her legs to her knees. She was in a wheelchair. After 6 months, her hands lost all movement. Within days of onset, her muscles wasted to nothing. (Yes, we were terrified! ) We did everything we could using western medicine, including every test 26 specialists at both OHSU and the Mayo clinic could throw at her. After all was said and done, they had no answers. No diagnosis.
I was a desperate mother who searched the internet for any clue to her mysterious and highly rare illness. I spent 1000s of hours researching every medical website I could find. I typed in her symptoms - and got nothing.
Then I decided to go through her pile of medical records and research every test, every word I didn't know to find exactly what they tested her for. Long story short here..... She had gluten ataxia! We eliminated all gluten from her diet. Within a week her energy levels started returning. We took her to a couple of Naturopath docs, who recommended she also go off of dairy, eggs and soy.
This story has a fantastic ending! She walked without leg braces at graduation, went on to graduate from college, where she continued to heal! She is healthy today! No nerve damage. No remaining paralysis. Full use of hands and feet. She is comletely healthy! She just stays away from toxic gluten and the other allergens.
Gluten Ataxia is becoming a very common ailment. You can have it without digestion issues. It can be "silent" If you have "brain fog", you could have it. It is an extreme reaction to gluten proteins.
check this website for more information http://glutendoctors.blogspot.com
They have up to date information.
Electrolytes
Posted by Diane (Framingham, Ma) on 02/01/2013
★★★★★
Hi Oldriske, The person I told you about tells me he has cured MS, Diabetes, cancer, neuropathy and other big issues with this therapy. Part of his logic is when you go to a hospital they give you saline solution which has water, salt and sugar. He has a point, but... Thanks much for the reply.
Electrolytes
Posted by Oldriska (Prague, Czech Republic) on 02/01/2013
Hi Diane, I'd be a bit suspicious about treating neuropathy with water with salt and sugar. I have neuralgia in my face and have tried many treatments and read a lot on the subject of neuralgias/neuropathies. Sugar is not recommended for nerve pain and salt can increase blood pressure which conseqently can increase pressure on the nerves. I think if it was this easy to treat the condition there wouldn't be all the people suffering with chronic nerve pain. Still, if you give it a go and have good results with it I'd be only happy to hear your feedback and change my opinion! Take care, Oldriska
Electrolytes
Posted by Diane (Framingham, Ma) on 01/31/2013
I have a question for anybody. I have peripheral neuropathy. After trying many, many remedies, I have recently connected with a person that says water salt and sugar cures just about anything. He says he was schooled by Dr. Batmangheli (SP?), who discovered the water cure. This person I spoke to has a site called "Goof proof health.com. " It's something that I am doubful about... But... Thanks
Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Posted by Lily (Kelowna, BC, Canada) on 01/26/2013
★★★★★
I also went gluten free and after 2 weeks am no longer taking the supplements. Ocassionally in the late evenings there is a bit of tingling but it has only been 2 weeks. I am very strict about reading labels etc. And I eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and make myself some awesome smoothies. I have dehydrated lots of apple so I have healthy snacks. It is a very healthy diet. Here in Canada I buy 1 loaf of Udi's glutin free bread each week it is good bread.... In the freezer section and I bake some muffin. Good luck to all & good eating. Let's eat healthy & heal our bodies.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Jeffreyw65 (Lowell, Ma, Usa) on 01/24/2013
★★★★★
Hello, I am loving this site! I listen to am radio from our area where there doctors whom really push holistic medicine it works and it needs more pushing for the really bad sickness like I have been dealing with since I have had cancer. I love what I learn about the different sulliments for ailments. It is good to try them to see if they work for my ailment.
I just increased my intake of lipoic acid and my feet have been better and the meralgia paresthetica seems to be easing the sharp electrical shock shooting zaps. They are terrible and I am hoping to see if I can get off the pain meds and increase the dietary supplements that I have increased to help me get better. I have different ailments that have made me unable to get around so I will come back on here in 60 days and give a report on my status on my pain so keep looking for my feedback. Thanks Jeff from Lowell, type 2 diabetic with meralgia paesthetica and facet joint arthritus / upper thoraic arthritus philbitus and neuropathy from the pinced nerve is terrible. The color of my legs scares me there, a color that is bad like black and blue, so keep looking for me and wish me well. ok bye all
Gluten-Free Diet
Posted by Lily (Kelowna, British Columbia) on 01/14/2013
★★★★★
Gluten-Free Diet for Neuropathy
Research ideopathic gluten sensitivity. I have had relief from kicking gluten from my diet!! I tried all the other stuff & got some relief BUT this was relief and it happened within days of being diligent about NO GLUTEN.
Dr. Welby's Remedies
Posted by [email protected] (Los Angeles, Ca) on 01/08/2013
★★★★★
I have a number of patients who suffer with peripheral neuropathy that causes some a minor inconvenience, & in others it is restricting their ability to move around freely & causes great pain & distress. I have found the following helpful to some degree to all of the patients... Some a little relief.. & others remarkable improvement. It is my philosophy that "it takes 2 positives to overcome 1 negative".. & therefore recommend that a medicine (natural) be applied on the 'outside' of the body.. over & around the area of pain & a medicine be taken for the 'inside' of the body...
..First to the outside
A herbal extract of LOBELIA should be applied liberally to the area where there is neuropathy.. Its a watery brown liquid.. If its very cold where u are u can heat the lobelia a little in the microwave & apply it warm... Or apply it cool... Heat loose comfortable sox up in the microwave... & apply them over the now moist feet. Once the liquid has dried rub in a liberal amount of WHITE TIGER BALM.. Massage in well... Warm sox or slippers on.. & your feet will purr with thanks.. This process can be repeated as needed. And 3 times a day (if possible) will keep the pain level managable.
INTERNALLY
As one member mentioned TUMERIC ROOT POWDER is a marvelous pain killer... Bar none! Studies have shown it is a more effective pain killer than any of the non prescription meds we avail at the local pharm. I have checked out the large majority of tumeric caps avail commercially & unfortunatley most have additives that will irritate & upset the stomach.. So... I recommend taking a heaped teaspoon of the tumeric with an equal teaspoon of LECITHIN GRANULES.. Before breakfast & lunch.. & tumeric without the lecithin before dinner (the lecithin is a food that stimulates & gives energy... Not something one needs at night. Despite articles online via google search engines TUMERIC 'DOES NOT' CAUSE GASTRIC UPSETS. Its only when 1 of tumerics active components cucuramin is isolated & added to the mix that the stomach is irritated. Its a FOOD not a drug... & 'DOES NOT' cause any side effects.. One uni study gave 8 grams (approx 10 heaped teaspoons) of tumeric powder a day to 24 patients every day for 18months... Not even 1 had any side effects or gastric upsets. Also there is a dazzling array of other health benefits that the tumeric gifts the taker with. These are alll proved through university studies & can easily be accessed via google.
2. INSIDE.. POTASSIUM BROTH
This broth recipie has been around since shortly after man figured out how to make a fire & cook food. It is the only recipie I have on my medical websites for patients.. For some 'rigidly natural' patients suffering peripheral neuropathy this is the 'only' medicine they would take. Amazingly, they had marked improvement when they drank 3 or 4 coffee mugs full of the liquid daily. You can find it by googling "dr jensens potassium broth. It even taste pretty good. And drunk on a daily basis it will alkalize the body & relieve any painful &/or inflammed areas of the body And shorten the length of any colds or flu episodes that are darkening ones days.
3. SUBLINGUAL B12
Again, I have checked out numbers of commercailly available b12 tablets. Being SUBLINGUAL is essential! Otherwise 90% of the tab. Is destroyed in the stomach. I recommend 2 tabs with breakfast & lunch (4 total) for 7 days.. Then 1 tab x twice daily with breakfast & lunch.. Remember to chew them up.. Don't just throw & swallow. And yep! Its another stimulator... Gives a boost of energy & a bigger appetite.. Don't take after lunch it will affect your sleep. Someone mentioned taking only the methyl form of b12. He's correct in that it is more fully available for use by the body, however, it is very expensive. And, my experience is that the much cheaper & more widely used cyano form of b12 absorbs quite nicely as a sublingual & the liver will convert it across into the methyl form as needed. I did read tonight that I may not mention brand names.. However if anyone is interested u are welcome to email me & I will be happy to give u the brand I recommend. With an open mind, nature DOES heal given the opportunity.
Iodine
Posted by Kilgore (Jackson, Ms) on 12/10/2012
Yes work up to 20 drops. In my experience, the protocol can be done indefinitely, but if you experience detox symptoms, you can take breaks from the iodine and use the salt loading protocol to clear out toxins.
Iodine
Posted by Kay (In The Valley, Ca) on 12/08/2012
Is that 20 drops of 5% every day? How long can you safely do this? Thanks, Kay
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 12/02/2012
★★★★★
3 months now since I started ALA & ALCAR and I have been working full time - just around 60 hours per week in the log book. I am quite surprised at how well I am doing. At the end of the first week I was exhausted, partially due to icy roads on days 4 & 5, and thought I would need to take a break midweek for a few weeks but kept at it and didn't need to. I still have a bit of pain, tingling and numbness but it is still receding. I expect that it will take many months to completely recover if I ever do. I am maintaining my supplement regimen but have reduced the Lyrica by 50% a week ago, resulting in an increase in the pain level, and have also reduced the amount of Diamicron MR that I am taking by 50% as well due to the blood sugar getting too low, a good indication that the curcumin and Diamicron MR are actually healing the pancreas as I am healing the neuropathy. Maybe the two are complementary. I saw another acquaintance today that I hadn't seen since June and he didn't recognize me due to my hair colour returning. Onwards and upwards.
General Feedback
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 11/22/2012 2048 posts
Karen: I have used two different m soles but wore them out and couldn't tell you the brand, sorry. Try to find a magnetic kit w/ various sizes, soles, and such as you would likely profit from wearing a belt over the liver, as I have. If you happen to have any extra refrigerator magnets laying around the house you could cut and fit for the soles. The side that sticks to metal is the side you want to contact the body with.
Also, I will second Mmsg's Epsom Salt bath recommendation as I have good results with. MSM is also good for detox and oxygen boosting; I get good energy boost with MSM. ALA is good for detox, Liver health, and neuropathy.
General Feedback
Posted by Karen (Tampa, Fl) on 11/21/2012
Timh, What name brand of magnetic foot soles? There are many types on the web... I take saunas and many antioxidents... I can't sit too long as cramping in my calves and leg biceps is a HUGE problem... Can't think straight at times...
ultra violet blood irradation with 2 1/2 cc's of H2O2 at the end took me out of cirrohosis in 6 months... I had 10 treatments and was cleared of cirrosis after 5... It cost me $1700. 00.. Each treatment takes about an hour... They remove your blood and put it thru a untra violet light machine and then re-infuse it again inot you thru the machine... So the blood gets exposed to the ultra violet light twice... At the end they put in the H2O2... Also, while I was doing this, they had a Far Infra Red pad placed over my liver the whole time...
General Feedback
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 11/21/2012 2048 posts
Karen: if you successfully reversed Cirrhosis, please post your methods as this could help others. I am fallowing some of the studies Professor Derik Mann is doing w/ noticeable results, unfortunately it's all undocumented and undiagnosed; but seems obvious to me and further verified by your symptoms of Neuropathy as I have many of the same but with less severity.
It seems appropriate to do some heavy metal detoxing as well as possible zenobiotics. Ionic Foot Spa, Detox Foot Pads, Steam or Sauna, increase antioxidants and Glutathione. Wear Magnetic foot soles. The very first few minutes of wearing magnetic foot soles elicited the shocking or voltage-like sensation from my feet to my liver. Clay and Mineral foot or whole-body baths will also help.
General Feedback
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 11/21/2012
Karen, maybe start with Epsom Salts baths. Can't hurt and can quite possibly help.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/20/2012
★★★★☆
Just an update for everyone. I had to switch back to Lyrica from Cymbalta due to a negative reaction. After reading the the information from the top link from Tim in Eu I considered the information about ALA being used to remove free radicals from ALCAR therapy and came to the conclusion that they might be better taken together to get the best effect and so have tried it. I have had no issues from doing so and have gone back to my original dosage to find that I have less pain now at the lower dosage. Almost all the numbness is gone now and I only have pain in my toes. It is aggravated by the job I am doing but is still improving and it is at a level that I can tolerate so I will keep at it for now. It almost seems like too much ALA & ALCAR can cause a higher level of the frozen/burning/pins and needles type of pain in the same way that pressure/activity can aggravate the sensory nerves with this condition. I have found a 5 mg sublingual B12 in the AOR brand and just started using two per day with promising results.
General Feedback
Posted by Karen (Tampa, Fl.) on 11/20/2012
I have peripheral neuropathy and have tried everything on this site and more to no avail... My assumption is it's from cirrhosis that I had in 7/2011 which I got rid of with several therapies...
My neuropathy is horrendous and for the last 2 months I constantly have twitches and muscle jerks which are quite maddening... The muscle jerks keep me awake most of the night... That and the CONSTANT hot needles, electric shocks INFLAMED feet are making life very, very painful... If anyone could offer any suggestions I would be grateful, mostly on the muscle jerks as I feel the only way to get rid of my neuropathy is to get rid my my hepatitis C... I'm quite a mess... About 14 months ago I was running and working out... No more... Have trouble getting up stairs...
I even tried lions mane which came highly recommended and only gave me a splitting headache... Thank you for reading...
Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Posted by Alana (Aurora, Co) on 11/19/2012
Hi Laura - thanks for the great info. I'm so glad your neuropathy has resolved and congrats on finding the cause! I had a sudden onset of neuropathy in my legs in 2005, which has since spread to my hands. Doctors believe the cause is either autoimmune or a spinal cord cyst. I'm interested to try your approach, but also fearful of giving up beloved gluten, dairy, etcetera and having it not work. So, my question is, how long were you doing the gf thing before you noticed a difference? Even though I've tested negative for gluten sensitivity, I've gone off of it for periods up to 2 weeks without any difference. Thanks in advance for any info!
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc, Canada) on 11/16/2012
I had some blueberry cheese cake and now that I did I can recall any cheese cake will cause an episode with my knees being agrivated. Only off the splenda for two days and sleeping better. art
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/15/2012
Art from Vancouver, is it just non meat protein or is it all protein that bothers you? I changed my diet many years ago after reading the book "Eat Right For Your Type" as I have B Negative blood and that fixed a lot of problems. Some foods that I didn't care for were listed as ones that I should not eat as well as the opposite. Maybe you should check it out.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc., Vancouver) on 11/14/2012
Yes Al, I can tell you one of the foods that I was consuming that is causing the neuropathy was the artificial sweetener splenda. I just googled that today and WOW that stuff is poison and I didn't know. Any peanuts would also cause the knee pain and it seemed like greek yougert, ice cream peanut buttercup flavor and other protien based foods were doing it as well. By bedtime my legs were well heated up. I have cut back on all of this. The splenda is in the garbage as of today and I have switched to stevia in my coffee. I also discovered that the B12 should be taken on an empty stomach which I wasn't doing. I can now take the time released B12 without getting very itchy red spots on my legs. I chew one 1000mcg late at night washing it down with water. Just took one now and had two 2500mcg sublingual early today. The night time is when this really becomes a problem while trying to sleep. I don't want to jinx it but last night was the first night in a long time I got a good sleep, touch wood.
My knees seem to be cooling as I type this at 12:24 am.
Take care. art.
Avoid Splenda
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc., Canada) on 11/14/2012
★★★★★
Splenda as I just discovered can cause neuropathy and blood sugar spikes. This is probably the reason why I have come down with neuropathy over the past ten years. It snuck up on me and as I think back this is when I started using splenda because my doctor told me I was excreting sugar in my urine. He told me I was borderline diabetic. I felt the need to post here about this poison splenda and if you just google the name you will find out. I never thought to check it out and only found out about it from watching DR. OZ.
Take care, art
Turmeric
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/12/2012
I have been using curcumin which is an extract of turmeric. I used one that states that it is a standardized extract. The active ingredient in turmeric that helps is much more concentrated in the curcumin and can directly reduce pain as well as helping pancreatic health.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/11/2012
Tom from Eu, those are very interesting links, especially the first one. As far as the second one it seems that the site is not being maintained any more and I could not post to it. My neuropathy started with numbness and loss of motor nerves, then tingling and loss of sensory nerves followed by the onset of pain which peaked about a year or so after starting the chemo. What is strange is that my fingers healed as my feet and legs got worse. By the time I started on ALA the pain and numbness had receded to just my feet but I still had motor and sensory nerve issues in my legs. I was experiencing reduced pain with grape seed extract, I believe because of its antioxidant activity, and so am still taking that. Now that the nerves are functioning better I am to the point, with my feet, where I saw my fingers at in relation to pain a few months before they became just highly sensitive. My fingers are still quite sensitive but not to the point of being painful. I expect that within a month or two my toes and the soles of my feet will be at that stage. I believe that the nerves have actually regenerated and that the sensitivity I am experiencing is from the unconditioned state of the regenerated sensory nerves similar to that experienced after a cut or burn heals.
I went back to work driving a truck hauling containers to and from the rail. It involves a lot of climbing in and out of the truck and a lot of walking as well as about 3000 km of driving per week with 12 - 14 hour days and the only thing that really bothered me was wearing steel toed shoes at one rail yard.
I have also been switched from Lyrica to Cymbalta due to the vision blurring aspect of Lyrica. I am still seeing no improvement in the tinnitus. I have increased the dosage of ALA to 500mg twice a day in an attempt to speed the healing/chelating process. I have no idea if it is helping as I have nothing to compare it to. I do notice a substantial difference in pain now when I take the ALCAR unlike when I first started using it.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/11/2012
Art from Vancouver, could you tell us what foods are aggravating your neuropathy? It could help us to avoid them too and maybe even get a better understanding of what is causing the problem. Thanks, Al
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.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc, Canada) on 11/05/2012
I am making a correction to my post about the strength of B12 I am taking. It is 2500mcg subligual each caplet but I sure do wish I could find some in the mg dosage. I would also like to state that certain foods can cause a reaction to my neuropathy to where I am taking the B12 like candy, but for the most part ALA has really helped. art.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Tom (Eu) on 11/04/2012
Hi Al, Great to hear of your improvements. With regards to your wondering if the ALA was sending your hair back to its original colour I would think that maybe it is. I have included the following article which describes the relationship between ALA and ALCAR when used together. Bascially says that ALCAR can cause oxidative stress which is why it is usually teamed with ALA to counteract any negative impact on cells. I think it is basically the Good guy of the duo and may very well be what has caused your hair to go back to its original colour.
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/alpha-lipoic-acid-and-acetyl-l-carnitine-can-they-improve-sports-performance-8
With regards to your wondering if it was welding that caused your hair to turn grey in your early years, all I can say to that is that I have an uncle and he has been welding for many years. He is now in his late seventies and last year he had to undergo an operation for a hole at the back of this eye - at least I think that's what it was, which he says he is nearly sure was caused by welding - this goes to show you how much welding he done over a lifetime, however he didn't actually turn grey until he was in his late forties/early fifties. But who knows maybe it's a case of horses for courses.
I have also included a link with regard to a forum on nerve regeneration which may/may not be of use to you, the first guy seems to be using supplements similar to that you use for nerve regeneration.
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/neuropathy/75917-anyone-experienced-nerve-regeneration.html
All I can say Al is that it is truly great to hear of your good news. I can't say that there seems to be much info out there results-wise for people in relation to ala/alcar and neuropathy so you seem to be a pioneer to some extent. Wishing you the best going back to work and hoping that you will keep us updated. Regards.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/04/2012
ALA will make your heart race if you have overactive thyroid problems and/or are on thyroid medication(s). You should maybe get your thyroid gland checked out and that might even fix your neuropathy. Most ALA labels caution about using it with thyroid medications.
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 Aim1 (West Chester, Pa) on 11/03/2012
Can you double check the amount of b12 you are taking? You have it as mg, but I think (hope) you mean mcg. Big difference.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Art (Vancouver Bc, Canada) on 11/02/2012
Dear Al from Sask, I want to thank you for your posts. I have neuropathy to where my toes, fingers and the bottom of my feet are very sensitive. I also have a burning sensation at the top of my knee caps that travels up about six inches. That burning pain drove me to the doctor where he wanted to give me a script for gabapentin but I refused. I found out about B12 under the tounge and the burning in my knees calmed down. I was up to 12 x 2500mg sublingual a day for relief. I then discovered Spirulina at 18 teaspoon a day and that seemed to help me reduce the B12 to a couple a day. Then I started to get dizzy spells so I stoped the spirulina and then I was increasing the B12 again. I then discovered your posts about ALA. I got some and what a difference, My feet are no longer sensitive and it doesn't hurt to clip my toe nails any longer.
I have been on the ALA for about 1 month now and I find I am sleeping better. Now I have to cut back on the ALA at 100mg a capsule taken with food. It did cause me gastric pain at 5 caps a day and my prostate felt like it was being sandwiched between my rectum and my bladder. I got relief right away when I cut back. Now I am taking 2 caps a day at 100mg each. I am down to one to 3 B12 at 2500mg sublingual every night and my burning sensation is gone. I know its not cured but at least I can sleep now and that alone is a miracle.
I can't thank earth clinic enough for this.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 11/02/2012
Mick, I have been using the NOW brand of ALA at 250 mg 2x per day and started off with ALCAR 500 mg x2 twice a day & benfotiamine 80 mg once a day as I had to order them and that is what they got in for me. I have since found acetyl-l-carnitine labeled as L-Carnitine in two different brands on the shelf. I buy my supplements at local health food stores/organic markets. One caution about ALA is that you should read the label and only get what says to take with food or after meals. If it says to take without food it usually has an additive to increase absorption that can cause side effects. Look to see what they are and research them. I also take zinc and B12, along with curcumin for the pancreas, milk thistle for the liver, D3(5000iu/day) for general health, grape seed extract for pain relief, grapefruit seed extract for a topical fungus infection, glucosamine and condroitin sulfate with MSM for arthritis(almost gone) and a steadily reducing amount of gliclazide MR to stimulate my pancreas to produce insulin(pancreas was damaged by chemo and gabapentin but is healing well now).
It is now two months since I started on ALA & ALCAR which was 31 months after I started chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and 30 months from when the numbness, pain and tingling started and I am going back to work full time next week which is a lot less than the five years I was anticipating with the former rate of improvement. I am not completely healed but the pain and numbness is at a tolerable level and such that I do not feel that it will be a safety issue. I now walk almost completely normally and can feel with my feet again and no longer look like a drunk when I walk. Al
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Mick (Europe) on 10/30/2012
Hi Al, Great to hear of your improvements. I am wondering if you are still needing to take the Lyrica. Also wondering if you found any interference/interaction with the medication when you first started supplementing. Can you state which brand of Ala/AlC you use or even where you get them. Once again great to hear of your news. Mick
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 10/25/2012
Connie, it is actually working so good that I am actively looking for a job. I currently have two offers, both to start in November and at the rate of improvement I am seeing that should work out about right. I might even go back driving long haul and get to see a little more of the US. I have only seen a little bit of it in about 900,000 miles of driving down there. I kind of miss it as my last load that I hauled came out of Texas and that was over three years ago.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Connie (Slc, Ut) on 10/23/2012
Hi Al; This is great news! From what little I understand about inorganic chemistry, I understand that too much of one trace metal can collect and displace others. ( trouble-neuropathy )
I've read that a side effect of cisplatin is oxidative stress with glutathione depletion.
So, I can understand how the ALA can help on these levels, as it both chelates metals, and helps to increase glutathione, a most powerful antioxidant.
I'm glad you are healing!
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 10/23/2012
Corinne, I now believe that the chill I feel when I quit taking Lyrica is a result of nerves that are still healing. I think that it was platinum from the cisplatin in chemotherapy that was causing the intense pain in my feet and that is being reduced by the chelation effect of the ALA. I think that in time I will be able to get rid of the chilled feeling/lower level of pain by continuing with the same supplement and good diet regimen that I am now using.
Micro Current Therapy
Posted by Xxx (Yyy, Zzz) on 10/23/2012
★☆☆☆☆
Here's a heads up for you the reader...
I heard about "Frequency Specific Micro Current "therapy from my chiropractor... I looked into it and called about 10 therapists around the country... 8 told me that they could cure peripheral neuropathy in ONE treatment... I had 14 treatments lasting 2 hours (28 hours).. IT CHANGED NOTHING!
I also had 14 treatments 2 hours each (28 hours) for hepatitis-c and had my enzymes checked at the end and they went UP! By just a few point however... Maybe it will work for you...however!
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 10/22/2012
Well, it is now fifty days that I have been on ALA & ALCAR plus benfotiamine, zinc and B vitamins. The only thing not improving is the tinnitus but the peripheral neuropahy is reduced by over 90% from where it was. I am starting to claim back a normal life and am working on getting back into good physical condition by catching up on projects that were left to die because of the pain and lack of mobility. It actually feels good to get sore muscles and become exhausted once in a while.
I will add another positive note here. I have been going gray since I was 29 and now at 53 the gray hair is disappearing (80% of gray gone from what was about 70% gray) due to the natural color returning. It is actually coming darker in my beard than it ever was before and about the same shade of brown in the rest of my hair as it was before. Is this combination of supplements the fabled "fountain of youth"? Is anyone else noticing a change in hair color?
B12
Posted by Connie (Slc, Utah, Usa) on 10/09/2012
★★★★★
Hi Al; I found that the only substance that helps my neuropathy is B12... Alot of it, every day. ( I'm now taking 10 mgs. of sublingual methylcobalamin daily.)
Also, I'm very sensitive to acidic supplements, including ALA and ALCAR, Unfortunately.
When nerves are healing, there can be increased pain for a time, so it can be difficult to determine whether healing or regression is occurring.
Since tinnitus and pain/coldness is returning, my guess is that this is a regression.
I believe that my case could be caused by some genetic defect, some problem with B12 transport throughout my body. I'm having to rely on passive diffusion to distribute it. I've found this condtion to be rather common, not so rare.
Some months ago, I posted about zinc also being helpful for neuropathy. I have also found that when I've tried higher amounts of it, it actually can interfere with B12. ( zinc can displace cobalt, and vice versa). Too much zinc can displace copper and cause neuropathy, copper deficiency type.)
I understand how painful and frustrating this can be, I hope you can find what works best for you.
