Helping to reduce numbness
Question : MY mum feels numbness in her left hand which she
finds uncomfortable and disturbing. I'm worried that this may be
a symptom of bad blood circulation or some other health problem.
What is your advice?
Answer : NUMBNESS is caused by altered sensory nerve functions.
It can occur anywhere in the body, but is often felt in the
hands, feet, arms or legs. It usually involves both the loss in
the ability to move a particular area and sensations. These
sensations, which occur without any associated stimulus, are
called paresthesias. Other types of paresthesias include
feelings of cold, warmth, burning, itching and skin crawling.
Your mum may need to check with a doctor to find out the
underlying causes of her numbness which can be due to a lack of
blood supply to the affected area, a vitamin B12 deficiency,
diabetes, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, central nervous system
disturbances and nerve injury.
Vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium and other nutrients may improve
nerve function. The B vitamins are one of the most important
nutrients for nerve health maintenance. They help increase the
ability to repair body damage or injury. Calcium is beneficial
in alleviating muscle cramps, pain and numbness in neck,
shoulders, arms and legs. Magnesium also helps in reducing
numbness and tingling symptoms.
Ginkgo has long been used to stimulate blood circulation and
alleviate numbness. Self-massaging with an essential oil may be
beneficial too. Stretching and exercising may improve the blood
circulation. She should avoid doing a repetitive task for too
long.