Neuritis
Neuralgia
Definition
Neuritis is the inflammation of a nerve or nerves, usually associated with a degenerative process with neuralgia of the affected area. Neuralgia is severe sharp pain along the course of a nerve.
Causes
Mechanical factors, compression, contusion, trauma. Infections: localized involving direct infection of nerves or may accompany diseases such as leprosy, tetanus, tuberculosis, malaria, or measles. Toxins: poisoning by heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury), alcohol, or carbon tetrachloride. Metabolic factors: thiamin deficiency, gastrointestinal dysfunction, diabetes, or toxemia of pregnancy. Vascular: peripheral vascular disease. Also gout, diabetes, leukemia, or ingestion of methyl alcohol. Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve in the eye, causing gradual or sudden blurred vision. In severe cases, temporary blindness may occur for a few days. The eye may be painful. Exposure to dampness and cold with resultant infection, dental decay, lack of proper diet, eye strain, and infections around the nose are possible causes.
Neuralgia may be caused by pressure on the nerve trunks, faulty nerve nutrition, toxins, or neuritis. Usually no causes can be detected.
Symptoms
Pain and loss of sensation in the affected nerve area; swelling, redness, and in severe cases, convulsions.
Neuralgia in the part of body affected; may or may not have muscular atrophy of part supplied by the nerve involved, paralysis, or lack of reflexes. Minor cases of neuralgia are localized and the cause may be temporary or long lasting, but have no detectable causes. Often goes away without treatment, especially if the neuralgia was caused by trauma, stress, overwork, etc.
Treatment
Bedrest. Motion exercises. Remove causative factors if they are known. Promote dietary therapy for metabolic disorders. Avoid application of temperature extremes to the affected areas. Daily skin care and massage. Hot and cold compresses to painful area may be effective. Cold treatments should be kept short.
Nutrients
Lecithin, taken as directed with meals, is important to nerve protection and repair.
Multivitamin and mineral complex with high vitamin A, taken as directed on the label, corrects nutritional deficiency, common in neuritis. Neuritis is often the first sign of this deficiency.
Thiamin, 100 mg. twice daily, helps alleviate the thiamin deficiency that is common in neuritis.
Vitamin B complex, 100 mg. daily, deficiency is common. (injections are the best).
Calcium chelate, 2,000 mg daily, is important in nerve impulse conduction.
Magnesium chloride, 400-1,000 mg per day, is important in nerve impulse conduction.
Protein (free form amino acids), taken as directed on the label, is necessary in nerve repair and function.
Proteolytic enzymes, taken 3 times a day on an empty stomach, are potent anti-inflammatory agents.
Brewer's Yeast, taken as directed on the label, contains all essential nutrients and protein.
Vitamin C plus bioflavonoids, 3,000-6,000 mg. daily in divided doses, has antiviral and anti-inflammatory potential.
Zinc, 50-80 mg. per day, is important in immune function.
Herbs
TB
- Balsam fir
- Barberry
- Bearberry (uva ursi)
- Beech leaves
- Betony, wood
- Birch, black or sweet
- Bitter root
- Bitter sweet
- Black snakeroot
- Blessed thistle
- Blood root
- Boneset
- Bull nettle
- Capsicum
- Catnip
- Celandine
- Chamomile, flowers
- Cheese plant, German
- Clover, red
- Cohosh, black
- Cohosh, blue
- Couch grass
- Cowslip
- Crowfoot
- Dandelion
- Eucalyptus
- Evening primrose
- Fennel seed
- Fern, sweet, twigs
- Flag, blue
- Galangal
- Ginger, Jamaica
- Ginseng
- Grape, Rocky Mountain
- Gravel root
- Hops
- Horseradish, grated
- Hound's tongue
- Indian hemp, black
- Jasmine, yellow
- Juniper berries
- Lady's slipper
- Laurel, mountain
- Lemon
- Lettuce, wild
- Linden
- Marshmallow root
- Mayapple root
- Motherwort
- Mullein
- Nerve root
- Nettle
- Origanum
- Passionflower
- Peppermint
- Plantian
- Poke root
- Poplar bark
- Prickly ash bark
- Queen of the meadow
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- St. John's wort
- Sanicle
- Skullcap
- Solomon's seal
- Star root
- Sumach berries
- Sweet flag
- Tamarack
- Thistle leaves
- Thyme
- Twin leaf
- Valerian
- Vervain
- Violet
- Water pepper
- Willow, white, bark
- Wintergreen, leaves
- Witch hazel
- Yam, wild
Recommendations
Increase fluid intake and avoid stimulants such as coffee, caffeine, carbonated beverages, and cigarettes.
A diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains is desirable.
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