Most of you know I’m a Naturopathic Doctor as well as a Massage Therapist. It’s tough keeping these two worlds separate from each other when so many massage clients come to see me for nerve pain. The reality of our world today is that it’s much easier, faster, and cheaper to deal with the onset of pain with a pain relief massage than it is to spend the time and money to work on rebalancing the body systems so signaling mechanisms work appropriately and inflammation subsides. When these two things happen (amongst others), the pain no longer rears its ugly head.

Pain relief It is what I specialize in as a Massage Therapist, but answering questions about how to holistically address nerve pain in a massage setting is quite the challenge. Like anything else when it comes to issues of the human body, not everything can be discussed in one article, one session, or with one supplement. God created us in His image so the body is both full of complexity and simplicity at the same time. We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made. 😊

How does this information help you, or someone you love, take on nerve pain? From an ND perspective, here’s my list of things to know. It is compiled with the diabetic in mind. I really hope you find it useful.

B Vitamins and Diabetic Neuropathy

1. It has been clearly shown that thiamine plays a definitive role in addressing all of the “opathies” including diabetic neuropathy. What is thiamine? It is Vitamin B1.
2. Another B vitamin, B12, has also been shown to reduce pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
3. It may be surprising to discover that metformin, the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drug, actually induces a vitamin B12 deficiency. In addition, the combination of vitamin B12 and lipoic acid has been shown to alleviate painful diabetic conditions.
4. A deficiency of folic acid, another B vitamin, has been linked with diabetic neuropathy.
5. The combination of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin), has been shown to improve symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Sciatic Pain

There are a few over-looked measures when it comes to addressing sciatica naturally.

1. First, sleep on a harder surface; a really hard surface (like the floor). While this may sound off-the-wall (and perhaps impossible), the hard surface is said to reduce the burning pain of sciatica. If you try this and it works for you, then you may really want to consider purchasing a much firmer mattress.
2. If you carry your wallet in your back pants pocket, thin it out. This has a name and it is called “credit card wallet sciatica.”
3. Most people know that common pain relievers such as Tylenol and ibuprofen may cause issues. Quercetin is a natural pain reliever that does not produce the side effects that may be experienced with ibuprofen (gastric upset and ulcers) or acetaminophen (liver toxicity), or ibuprofen (dizziness, vomiting, nausea).
4. Vitamin B12 has been demonstrated to alleviate low back pain due to sciatic nerve compression.

Wrap-Up

The B vitamins appear to play an important role in how the body deals with both sciatica and diabetic neuropathy pain. There are also natural pain relievers available that can help, too.

I would love to see you feel better, naturally, by using God’s provision and the things He created for us. After all, nobody knows His creation better than He does. If you’re interested in learning how to use God’s provision to help rebalance the body, take a look at Third Covenant. I hope to see you there.

God Bless!
Cathy