Treatment for peripheral nerve damage can vary based on the underlying condition. Remedies like soaking in a warm bath and getting regular exercise may provide some relief.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that causes weakness, pain, and numbness in your extremities (typically the hands and feet).

Your peripheral nerves send messages from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. When those nerves are damaged, these messages are interrupted and affect how your body responds to pain, temperature, and other reflexes.

It’s often a result of damage to the peripheral nerves. A few things can cause this damage:

The effects of peripheral neuropathy can develop suddenly or spread slowly over time.

Treatment methods vary depending on the cause of the condition. Many natural and traditional methods focus on alleviating pain symptoms.

Some cases of peripheral neuropathy are related to mineral or vitamin deficiencies. It, therefore, stands to reason that, in some cases, supplementing one or more of these minerals or vitamins might help you manage or reduce some symptoms.

The most common deficiencies associated with peripheral neuropathy are:

All of these vitamins and minerals play an important role in nerve health. There is also research to suggest that having either too little or too much calcium and magnesium may also be associated with peripheral neuropathy.

However, always speak with your doctor first to see if you need testing to determine whether a deficiency is a factor in your condition and whether you need to supplement.

A number of herbs have anti-inflammatory qualities that might contribute to pain relief for some cases of peripheral neuropathy, according to research . This includes:

  • cayenne pepper ( Capsicum annuum )
  • tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
  • turmeric (Curcuma longa)
  • black cumin (Nigella sativa)
  • holy basil (Ocimum sanctum)
  • rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
  • sage (Salvia officinalis)
  • cannabis (Cannabis sativa)

Cannabis disclaimer

The terms “weed” and “maijuana” have historically racist roots and connotations. For this reason, we use the scientific term “cannabis” where possible.

Cannabis is a Schedule I drug. Currently, thirty-eight states offer comprehensive medical cannabis programs, while some other states allow its use for specific medical purposes under certain conditions (see website for complete list).

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Some of these herbs are more commonly found than others, and they may exist as ingredients in various herbal medicines, such as ointments, for example.

That said, it’s also wise to speak with your doctor before trying any herbal remedy to ensure that it would be effective for you and doesn’t interact with any other medications or health conditions you may have.

Essential oils

Another form in which some herbs might be helpful for neuropathy is through essential oils. Some of these may help increase circulation in the body. They also have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that could boost healing.

More research is needed to determine which oils are definitively helpful with neuropathy symptoms and to what extent. That said, some essential oils that might offer some benefits include:

Always dilute essential oils (a few drops) in 1 ounce (oz) of carrier oil, such as olive oil. Applying these diluted oils to the affected area can reduce stinging and tingling pains from peripheral neuropathy.

Essential oils disclaimer

Research suggests there may be health benefits to using essential oils. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not monitor these for purity and quality.

You should always discuss new products with a healthcare professional and thoroughly research the brand before using them.

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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.

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.

In particular, there is research suggesting that taking a warm saltwater bath may be particularly beneficial.

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.

Meditation techniques may help people living with neuropathy symptoms. 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.

This may help reduce neuropathy-related pain, though more research is needed to determine its full effectiveness in this space.

Symptoms from peripheral neuropathy depend on the type of nerves damaged. The three types are motor nerves, sensory nerves, and autonomic nerves.

Motor nerves

Your motor nerves send messages from the brain to the muscles so you can control your movements.

If your motor nerves are affected, you may experience symptoms including:

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:

Autonomic nerves

These nerves control involuntary and semi-voluntary functions, including blood pressure, heart rate, bladder function, and sweating.

If your autonomic nerves are affected by peripheral neuropathy, you may experience symptoms including:

What can be mistaken for peripheral neuropathy?

Some conditions that can mimic peripheral neuropathy are radiculopathy, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

What is the best thing to do for peripheral neuropathy?

The 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.

What makes neuropathy worse?

Factors that may make peripheral neuropathy symptoms worse include smoking, alcohol misuse, exposure to toxins, vitamin deficiency, or hormonal imbalance.

Prevention works so much better than treatment. Keeping your blood sugars within the normal range will help prevent your neuropathy from worsening. 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 pain 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.