Normally they call something a syndrome when they aren’t sure what causes it, or how to go about treating it. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has been around long enough that you would think they would have dropped the syndrome, but they haven’t. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is known by the pain, tingling and numbness of the wrist hand and fingers. It is caused by swelling and inflammation of the tendons in the wrist. There is a lot of evidence that this swelling and inflammation is caused by repetitive motion, but there is new evidence that nutritional deficiencies play a part as well.

 

Almost universally the first recommendation is to temporarily immobilize the wrist. The purpose behind this is to stop whatever the motion is that is aggravating the tendons. This makes a lot of sense in that if you were causing pain by hitting your big toe with a hammer you would first stop hitting the big toe with the hammer. The next thing we need to do is to look at why that motion is suddenly irritating those tendons. Many people feel that if you do the same thing over and over again for years and it suddenly starts bothering you that you have simply gotten to your tolerance level for that activity. This just doesn’t ring true for me. There is an old saying that insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. My gut feeling is that something else has changed, and this is why a movement that has never bothered you is now causing problems. What kinds of changes could do that? Do you have added stress? Studies have shown that stress causes you to need more of certain nutrients, especially the B vitamins. There has been some real success in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Vitamin B6. The Enriching Gifts Complete Vitamins Plus has large amounts of all the B vitamins, including B6. Another nutrient that has been shown to be helpful in dealing with the pain and inflammation is enzymes. Most studies are done with Bromelain, I think because it is easy to obtain and regulate. The Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes contains Bromelain, along with other essential enzymes needed for good digestion and good health. These enzymes have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation when taken between meals. Aloe is a nutrient that is known for relieving pain and inflammation as well. Enriching Gifts Aloe Ace-Max is a concentrated form of aloe in a capsule. One capsule of Enriching Gifts Aloe Ace-Max is like drinking 32 ounces of a good aloe juice. Turmeric is a spice that is used in many Ayurvedic medicines. It is easier on your system than over the counter NSAIDS and is similar in action to enzymes. Other herbs that have been shown to be helpful are St. John’s Wort and grapeseed extract. Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Antioxidants are also helpful. The Enriching Gifts Metabolic Complete is a great source of antioxidants and contains grapeseed. Doctor’s sometimes recommend diuretics for reducing swelling. This is a temporary solution that can cause some long term problems to the bowel, heart and blood pressure. Physical therapy can sometimes be very helpful. This can range from alternating hot and cold on the wrists to special exercises for the wrist. One such exercise is to stand with your arms outstretched in front of you and gently flex your wrists up and down, followed by rotating your wrists. This can be done for a total of five minutes and be done once an hour. If you wear a wrist brace take it off while you do the exercises. This is felt to reduce the pressure on the nerves for a period of time. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is easier to deal with if it is caught early. You can use a combination of physical and nutritional means to reduce the pain and inflammation. You also need to look at ways to modify your repetitive motions that may be aggravating the tendons. If I were dealing with this problem I would definitely look at all three avenues of relief, and not focus on one alone. Our bodies are amazing organisms. Given the right nutrition and taking away the cause of the injury may be all yours needs to heal itself of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Sources:

Nature’s Medicines by Gale Maleskey and the Editors of Prevention Health Books, copyright 1999 by Rodale Inc.

The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White MD and Steven Foster, copyright 2000 by Rodale Press

Blended Medicine Combining Mainstream and Alternative Therapies by Michael Castleman copyrighted 2000 by Michael Castleman.