What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that causes weakness, pain, and numbness in your extremities. I usually see it in the feet. When it gets bad the skin begins to turn dark from lack of circulation all the way up the legs.
Your peripheral nerves send messages from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. When those nerves are damaged, often due to poor circulation, these messages are interrupted and affect how your body responds to pain, temperature, and other reflexes.
This change in response is often a result of damage to the peripheral nerves. A few things can cause this damage:
traumatic injury
infection
The effects of peripheral neuropathy can develop suddenly or can spread slowly over time.
Treatment methods vary depending on the cause of the condition. Many natural and traditional methods focus on alleviating pain symptoms.
Peripheral neuropathy symptoms
Symptoms from peripheral neuropathy depend on the type of nerves damaged. The three types are
motor nerves
sensory nerves
autonomic nerves
Motor nerves
Sensory nerves
Sensory nerves send messages from other body parts to the brain and trigger your senses. When you experience a cold sensation or touch something sharp, you are using your sensory nerves.
If your peripheral neuropathy affects your sensory nerves, you may experience:
tingling or numbness
sensitivity to touch
decreased sensation
inability to feel temperature changes or pain with hot and cold
loss of reflexes and coordination
Autonomic nerves
These nerves control involuntary and semi-voluntary functions including blood pressure, heart rate, bladder functions, and sweating. If your autonomic nerves are affected by peripheral neuropathy, you may experience symptoms including:
nausea
vomiting
dizziness while standing or changing position from sitting to standing
excessive sweating
inability to control bowel and bladder functions
irregular heart rate
difficulty swallowing
8 natural treatments for peripheral neuropathy
Treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on the cause. Some common treatments involve physical therapy, surgery, and injections for increased nerve pressure. Other treatments focus on reducing pain and discomfort with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
There are also a number of natural treatments to help reduce symptoms and peripheral neuropathy.
- Vitamins
Some cases of peripheral neuropathy are related to vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin B is essential for your nerve health. A deficiency can lead to significant nerve damage.
While you can get vitamin B from your meals, your doctor may also recommend taking a supplement. 
Stick to the recommended dose to prevent toxicity and worsening symptoms.
Vitamin D 
can also help prevent nerve pain. Your skin typically produces vitamin D in response to sunlight. A deficiency can cause neuropathy pain. Taking a supplement can help reduce the symptoms of neuropathy.
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, an ingredient in hot peppers that makes them spicy. Capsaicin has been used in topical creams for its pain relief properties. It decreases the intensity of pain signals sent through the body. Incorporating cayenne pepper in your diet or taking a capsaicin supplement can help to reduce neuropathy pain.
Topical capsaicin ointments 
can also be used on the body. Although it may initially burn, continued use will gradually reduce neuropathy sensations. Be sure to discuss this treatment method with your doctor before using it to prevent adverse symptoms.
Harder than it sounds right? Smoking affects your blood circulation. The blood vessels narrow and less oxygenated blood can get through. Without proper blood circulation, you may experience increased numbness and pain from your peripheral neuropathy. Eliminating smoking habits can help to improve your symptoms. Let this motivate you to make positive changes.
- Warm bath
Taking a warm bath can be soothing and can also alleviate pain symptoms from neuropathy. Warm water increases blood circulation throughout the body, decreasing pain symptoms from numbness. If your sensory nerves are affected by peripheral neuropathy and you’re not as sensitive to temperature, be careful not to make your bath water too hot.
Regular exercise can help to combat pain and improve your overall health. Being active can reduce your blood sugar, which, in turn, can reduce or slow down nerve damage. Exercise also increases blood flow to your arms and legs and reduces stress. These are all factors that help to reduce discomfort and pain.
- Essential oils
Some essential oils, including chamomile
and Roman lavender 
, help to increase circulation in the body. They also have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that could boost healing.
Dilute essential oils (a few drops) in 1 ounce of a carrier oil such as olive oil.
Applying these diluted oils to the affected area can reduce stinging and tingling pains from peripheral neuropathy.
Meditation techniques can help people struggling with neuropathy symptoms live through their pain. It can help to lower stress, improve your coping skills, and decrease your pain intensity. Taking a mind-body approach is a noninvasive technique that provides you with more control over your condition.
Acupuncture promotes natural healing by stimulating the body’s pressure points. This technique triggers the nervous system to release chemicals that can change the pain experience or threshold. Acupuncture helps to provide an energy balance to the body that can affect your emotional well-being.
Autonomic nerves
These nerves control involuntary and semi-voluntary functions including blood pressure, heart rate, bladder functions, and sweating. If your autonomic nerves are affected by peripheral neuropathy, you may experience symptoms including:
nausea
vomiting
dizziness while standing or changing position from sitting to standing
excessive sweating
inability to control bowel and bladder functions
irregular heart rate
difficulty swallowing
8 natural treatments for peripheral neuropathy
Treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on the cause. Some common treatments involve physical therapy, surgery, and injections for increased nerve pressure. Other treatments focus on reducing pain and discomfort with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
There are also a number of natural treatments to help reduce symptoms and peripheral neuropathy.
- Vitamins
Some cases of peripheral neuropathy are related to vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin B is essential for your nerve health. A deficiency can lead to significant nerve damage.
While you can get vitamin B from your meals, your doctor may also recommend taking a supplement. Stick to the recommended dose to prevent toxicity and worsening symptoms.
Vitamin D can also help prevent nerve pain. Your skin typically produces vitamin D in response to sunlight. A deficiency can cause neuropathy pain. Taking a supplement can help reduce the symptoms of neuropathy.
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, an ingredient in hot peppers that makes them spicy. Capsaicin has been used in topical creams for its pain relief properties. It decreases the intensity of pain signals sent through the body. Incorporating cayenne pepper in your diet or taking a capsaicin supplement can help to reduce neuropathy pain.
Topical capsaicin ointments can also be used on the body. Although it may initially burn, continued use will gradually reduce neuropathy sensations. Be sure to discuss this treatment method with your doctor before using it to prevent adverse symptoms.
Harder than it sounds right? Smoking affects your blood circulation. The blood vessels narrow and less oxygenated blood can get through. Without proper blood circulation, you may experience increased numbness and pain from your peripheral neuropathy. Eliminating smoking habits can help to improve your symptoms. Let this motivate you to make positive changes.
- Warm bath
Taking a warm bath can be soothing and can also alleviate pain symptoms from neuropathy. Warm water increases blood circulation throughout the body, decreasing pain symptoms from numbness. If your sensory nerves are affected by peripheral neuropathy and you’re not as sensitive to temperature, be careful not to make your bath water too hot.
Regular exercise can help to combat pain and improve your overall health. Being active can reduce your blood sugar, which, in turn, can reduce or slow down nerve damage. Exercise also increases blood flow to your arms and legs and reduces stress. These are all factors that help to reduce discomfort and pain.
- Essential oils
Some essential oils, including chamomile and Roman lavender , help to increase circulation in the body. They also have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that could boost healing.
Dilute essential oils (a few drops) in 1 ounce of a carrier oil such as olive oil.
Applying these diluted oils to the affected area can reduce stinging and tingling pains from peripheral neuropathy.
Meditation techniques can help people struggling with neuropathy symptoms live through their pain. It can help to lower stress, improve your coping skills, and decrease your pain intensity. Taking a mind-body approach is a noninvasive technique that provides you with more control over your condition.
Acupuncture promotes natural healing by stimulating the body’s pressure points. This technique triggers the nervous system to release chemicals that can change the pain experience or threshold. Acupuncture helps to provide an energy balance to the body that can affect your emotional well-being.
Prevention
Prevention works so much better than treatment. Keeping your blood sugars within the normal range 
will help prevent your neuropathy from getting worse. If your neuropathy is related to alcohol intake, stop drinking now 
to prevent the condition from getting worse.
Natural remedies have some success in alleviating the painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. However, be sure to consult with your doctor prior to participating in a new treatment method. If you begin experiencing irregular symptoms from natural remedies, or if your conditions worsen, visit a doctor immediately.
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