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Helping to reduce numbness |
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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.
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