How to Treat Minor Neuralgia Pain with Natural Remedies

How to Treat Minor Neuralgia Pain with Natural Remedies
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Neuralgia

Neuralgia is pain along the course of a nerve. It can occur at any age, but is most common in elderly people. Often the cause is unknown but some causes include diabetes, infections (such as Lyme disease, shingles and syphilis), trauma, tumors and certain drugs. The most common type is trigeminal neuralgia, which affects parts of the face. The best treatment is to reverse or control the cause. If the cause can not be found, it is possible for the pain to disappear with time.

Natural Remedies

Compresses

Apply a hot, wet compress (without burning yourself) over the affected area for four minutes then apply a cold, wet compress for one minute. Repeat this a few times to help relieve pain.

Add 6 drops of lavender essential oil to 2 cups of hot water. Soak a cotton cloth in the water and wring out excess water before applying over the affected area. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Lavender is well known for pain relief and relaxation. Other helpful essential oils include marjoram, rosemary, chamomile and eucalyptus.

Capsaicin

According to one study, capsaicin (a component of red pepper) provided relief in individuals with trigeminal neuralgia with an unknown cause. A topical application of capsaicin was used three times a day for several days. In the one year follow up, six of the twelve participants had complete relief of pain, four had partial relief and two had no relief. Four of the ten participants who responded to the therapy had relapses of pain in 95-149 days. Following the second therapy, there were no relapses for the remainder of the year.

German Chamomile

German chamomile has a soothing effect on the nerves which can help treat minor neuralgia pain. To prepare a cup of tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried flowers, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to three cups a day.

Other herbal teas that may help include passion flower and vervain. To prepare a cup of tea using one of these herbs, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried herb, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to three cups a day.

Acupuncture

This technique of Oriental medicine has been used for over 5,000 years. It involves inserting fine needles into the body at specific points to relieve pain. It is a safe procedure with virtually no side effects. According to one study involving 12 participants with trigeminal neuralgia, all seven females and four of the five males responded favorably to the treatment. Five of the participants were able to stop taking their medications following complete remission.

Other

Other ways on how to treat minor neuralgia pain include self hypnosis and meditation.

References

Pub Med: Neuralgia - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002380

Anesthesia & Analgesia: Analgesic Effect of Capsaicin in Idiopathic Trigemina Neuralgia - https://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/content/74/3/375.abstract

Natural News: Relieve Trigeminal Neuralgia with Acupuncture - https://www.naturalnews.com/026126_acupuncture_Chi_medicine.html

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