Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Definition

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the nerve in the middle of the wrist which produces the feeling of pins and needles, tingling, and general discomfort.

Symptoms

Weak wrists, prickling feelings in the first three fingertips, thumb, and palm are very typical. Pain, and burning or tingling sensations can also occur across the entire hand and wrist. Carpal tunnel can occur in one or both wrists, and in some cases significantly reduces strength and the ability to hold objects.

Cause

Carpal tunnel is common in women thirty-five and older. Conditions that can create inflammation or fluid shifts contribute to stress on the wrist and carpal tunnel. These conditions include, pregnancy, reduced thyroid functions, occupations that require forceful or repetitive arm movements, supplement B6 deficiencies (monoamine oxidase inhibitor anti-depressant drugs can create a deficiency in vitamin B6 and should be ignored if possible), nerve disorders, compression of the nerve of the sixth cervical vertebra due to a misalignment of the neck, muscle spasms, osteo-arthritis, and tumors can all cause the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and therefore should be ruled out or properly tackled before lasting improvement can be achieved. Carpal tunnel syndrome may also be secondary to other wrist conditions, such as sprains.

Carpal tunnel is often a misdiagnosis of thoracic compression syndrome, in which pressure on the lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae results in dysfunction of the tissue associated with the brachial nerves. If this is the case, then treatment should focus on managing thoracic compression first.

Many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome can also be traced to interference in the arm, shoulders, or neck, and are often brought on by vaccination scars.

Natural Cures

Note: The appropriate treatment of carpal tunnel varies, depending on its trigger. Following treatment, symptoms might improve in a single week or even take many months. Often carpal tunnel can be successfully handled without surgical treatment, although occasionally surgery is essential.

Aromatherapy: Marjoram, lavender, or eucalyptus essential oils applied directly to the tender areas can help reduce symptoms.

Diet: Eat a whole-foods diet and limit your protein intake. Reduce foods that contains yellow dyes, and avoid stress that can deplete the body`s supply of B6 such as the excessive consumption of sugars, caffeine, and processed grains. Meals to focus on include whole grains, seeds, nuts, soybeans, clean salmon, brewer`s yeast, molasses, liver, wheat and wheat germ, and cod.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy® to alleviate tension.

Herbs: Anti-inflammatory herbs successfully support the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. An easy approach entails combining equal parts of meadowsweet and willow bark tinctures and taking one tsp. of this blend three times each day. Other useful herbs include aloe vera, butcher`s broom, corn-silk, devil`s claw, cayenne pepper (capsicum), ginkgo, gravel root, marshmallow, skullcap, turmeric (curcumin), wintergreen oil, yarrow, and yucca.

Homeopathy: Aconite, Arsen alb., Ignatia, Nat mur., Chamomilla, and Colchicum are useful naturopathic remedies. Be aware, however, that homeopathic treatment tend to be lengthy however they are usually successful.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, vapor baths, bathhouses, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for dealing with a wide range of problems and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physiotherapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. All of us suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care practitioner before attempting these methods to make sure they are appropriate for you.

*Purified water is important for any hydrotherapy treatment. Treatments for purifying bath water include clear instructions and recommendations.

Lifestyle: Avoid repetitive wrist movement.

Nutritional Supplementation: Those with carpal tunnel syndrome usually have a large deficiency of vitamin B6, or possess lifestyle factors that hinder B6 metabolic process such as tension, or consuming yellow dyes and tartrazine derivatives. A deficiency of supplement B6, also known as pyridoxine, can also cause a pyridoxine-receptive neuropathy (lack of feeling disorder). Treatment with B6 may relieve the symptoms in many cases, getting rid of the need for surgical treatment. Daily dosages range from 25-300 mg, depending on a person`s biochemistry. Caution: Pyridoxine supplements may produce a nerve disorder (sensory neuropathy) in dosages as low as three hundred mg, if taken daily for long stretches. However, most of the cases associated with vitamin B6 toxicity happen to be reported with dosages of 2-5 grams per day.

Other helpful nutrients to heal and reduce carpal tunnel include, vitamin B complex, the mineral magnesium, essential fatty acids, folate, bromelain, coenzyme q10 supplement, kelp, manganese, protease molecule formula, pycnogenol, and zinc. Thyroid hormone can also be helpful in cases of carpal tunnel related to low thyroid function.

Alternative Expert Care

If your symptoms continue despite following the remedies listed above, seek the assistance of a qualified health professional. These professional therapies have been shown to be useful for treating and reducing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Applied Kinesiology, Biofeedback Training, Bodywork (especially Feldenkrais, Hellerwork), Chiropractic care, Craniosacral Treatment, Energy Treatments (TENS unit), Guided Imagery, Light Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Neural Therapy (particularly if caused by disturbance fields as well as vaccination scars), Orthomolecular Medicine, Osteopathy, Oxygen Therapy (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy), Prolotherapy, Rolfing (Rolfing is very effective with regard to carpal tunnel syndrome), as well as Qigong. (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Treatments.)