Nerve damage is something that affects millions of people worldwide and it can be completely debilitating. There are different types of nerve damage, but no matter the type, it is not an easy thing to deal with. The two main types of nerve damage are peripheral or spinal cord / brain related. Peripheral nerve damage refers to more than 100 different types of peripheral neuropathy where the nerves have been damaged. Spinal cord or brain related nerve damage is the other major type and it is also the more severe of the two. With spinal cord or brain related nerve damage, there may be a complete inability to move or function properly without assistance.
Nerve damage can be caused by a number of reasons and the symptoms may vary. Commonly people who have nerve damage suffer from pain, paralysis, excessive sensitivity, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, neuropathy, numbness, tingling and even bladder or bowel problems. The symptoms can be gradual in onset or they can also be very acute, coming on quickly.
Most people who suffer from nerve damage are usually put on prescription medications, sent for physical therapy or even have to undergo surgery to attain some sense of normalcy for their affliction. Unfortunately, there are always side effects or complications to consider with these options.
However, East Asian Medicine (EAM) does offer an alternative for those who suffer from nerve damage. EAM utilizes many modalities to treat the patient, but the most commonly known is acupuncture / acupressure.
Acupuncture has been the subject of multiple studies on nerve regeneration. And it has been shown to be very effective in repairing and regenerating damaged nerves. People suffering from peripheral neuropathy frequently report that they get immediate symptom relief when undergoing acupuncture treatments. And the studies confirm that these patients also have improved nerve conduction over the course of the acupuncture treatments.
Another modality of EAM, electroacupuncture, uses electricity to stimulate the acupuncture needles, which intensifies the affect. Electroacupuncture has been extremely useful in treating nerve damage of the brain and spinal cord. Studies using rats have shown that electroacupuncture treatments can actually restore partial function to paralyzed limbs in the injured rats. This indicates that this form of acupuncture is actually regenerating damaged nerves.
The most interesting aspect of how acupuncture repairs nerves is that the needles do not have to be inserted at the site of the damage. Because acupuncture stimulates the brain neurotransmitters, no matter where the needles are placed, practitioners can frequently treat nerve damage using only distal points. Imaging has shown that a needle placed in the foot can stimulate the brain and spinal cord, which makes acupuncture a great alternative to something like surgery.
Acupuncture treatments build upon one another. Therefore, it may take a series of treatments for the patient to notice significant changes. And there is also no guarantee that acupuncture will work. But then again, there is no guarantee with prescription medications or surgery either. However, adding regular acupuncture treatments can make a difference in the symptoms experienced and also help with a patient’s comfort level. With time, the treatments may have a lasting effect and the nerve damage may no longer be an issue.