Peripheral neuropathy: Challenges and remedies

Dr. Kitt Chojnicki-Hill
Guest Columnist
news@lbknews.com

We will soon be heading into a specifically challenging time of year for people who suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Walking on cold tile floors can make it nearly impossible to get the feet warm, resulting in horrendous agony from the feet. While peripheral neuropathy is a year-round problem, cold turns up the level of pain dial.  If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, you know the resulting pain and numbness can be almost unbearable. Are you ready to take charge of your pain, lower the tingling, burning, buzzing, and even walking on glass feelings? Acupuncture can help!

Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, has a different approach to wellness from the Western paradigm. Peripheral neuropathy is damaged nerves in the hands and or feet, or the peripheral nervous system. In TCM, the symptoms related to peripheral neuropathy can be associated with several diagnoses: Qi Stagnation, Blood Deficiency, Blood Stasis, and several Kidney Deficiency syndromes. The goal of an Acupuncture Physician is to restore the body to a harmonious state.

An example is a patient with neuropathy who is diagnosed with Qi Stagnation with Blood stasis in the lower legs with underlying blood deficiency; the treatment principle would be to Break Blood Stasis, Move Qi, Invigorate Blood, and Supplement Blood to relieve pain. The treatment could include Acupuncture, Injection therapy, BEMER therapy, Infrared light therapy, Fire Cupping, Massage, Auricular Therapy, Supplements, Nutrition therapy, and Herbal therapy. The Physician will discuss the various modalities with the patient and establish a treatment protocol.

Looking at the TCM treatment and translating it to Western “speak,” the treatment protocol restores circulation to nourish the various tissues to relieve pain. In particular to stimulate and restore the nerve endings.

 Here is a web address to find an Acupuncture Physician near you: https://www.nccaom.org/find-a-practitioner-directory/