Summary
see also: Nerve
damage.
Note: Some note that oils used with the massage technique for Neuropathy
are also effective for swollen ankles
from other causes.
Neuropathy, or peripheral neuropathy is damage to the
peripheral nervous system. This system of nerves in
the skin, muscles, and internal organs of the body transmit
information to the central nervous system that includes the
spinal cord and brain. Damage to the peripheral nerves can come from trauma,
infection, nutrition, toxins, or a disease such as diabetes.
The peripheral nervous system includes:
· Sensory nerves that receive feelings such as heat, pain or
touch
· Motor nerves that control how your muscles move
· Autonomic nerves that control such automatic functions as
blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder function
With a wide variety of causes and a number of different
nerve types there are a number of different forms of
peripheral neuropathy. For instance carpel tunnel
syndrome is one type of this disease. Another more
common form is peripheral polyneuropathy which usually
affects the feet and legs. Common symptoms are
numbness or loss of sensation, tingling or burning, pain, or
loss of muscle control.
If the autonomic nerves are affected this causes
problems with involuntary functions leading to symptoms such
as abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced ability
to perspire, constipation, bladder dysfunction (e.g.,
incontinence), and sexual dysfunction.
Oils, blends & products
recommended:
Oils & Blends:
AromaTouch, Balance, basil, coriander, cypress,
grapefruit, lavender, marjoram, peppermint,
wintergreen
Essential oils based
products:
Also consider:
eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass
Suggested protocols:
Essential oils may be used to help with uncomfortable
symptoms as well as help strengthen the body's own systems
to repair or correct damaged nerve tissue. For feet
and leg problems Dr. David Hill in a lecture suggested the
following as helps:
This process is basically creating “angiogenesis”, which
is the stimulation and creation of new vascular tissue. It
will take several weeks, and maybe even months, depending on
the length and depth of the starving tissues affected. You
are basically ‘creating’ the need for blood flow to the
area’s affected. It is most effective on patients with
diabetic neuropathy, but others can find relief from this
process. He said three things are important in this process:
Exercise (or stimulation for circulation), heat, and
massage.
Using fractionated
coconut oil to spread, apply a couple of drops of
doTERRA Aroma Touch CPTG essential oil to calf area .Other
oils that were recommended are: marjoram, cypress,
peppermint, wintergreen, basil, grapefruit, lavender.
Anything that has circulatory properties can be used. (Each
patient may be different) The entire process should only
take about 10 minutes each leg.
As you start, you may notice how ‘hard’ the calf muscle
is. That is also a sign of neuropathy. Prop the leg up on
the edge of your knee. Start at the top of calf, in the
‘hollow’ part of the leg (see diagram).
Massage in small circular motions down the calf towards
the foot. Repeat several times on both sides of calf. (you
may also use a small hand held massager) You may feel hard
crystals, like bumps in area. Try to work those out. It may
be painful for patient at first.
Now, flex the foot, and apply oils to bottom of foot.
Then massage the areas of the foot show on the
diagram below. Follow the arrows on the diagram. You may also feel crystals in these areas as well,
massage them out. You will
be massaging towards the toes. This routine creates the ‘need’ for
blood to flow to these areas.
The top area is at the base of the toes (metatarsal arch). When you flex the foot, you will see a
natural “T”
in the area that is where the arrows are.
After massaging these areas (about 10 minutes) apply
a warm compress to the area (such as a rice or cracked
corn bag) and leave it on for about 10 minutes on each
leg.
Do same application on opposite leg and foot area. The
key to success in this application is CONSISTENCY!
He also recommended they take the
Life Long Wellness
supplements to stabilize the body, as well as placing basil
on the bottom of the feet in the morning. Coriander could
also be taken internally to help with blood sugar levels.
Those who have severe blood sugar issues should monitor
those levels. As with anything, a proper diet, and at least
20-30 minutes of exercise every day is necessary to help
body to heal.
thanks to Brooke for the
above notes!
Also attributed to Dr. Hill is this
more simplified procedure for “neuropathy of the feet”:
· rub 2-4 drops Balance
into the feet
· rub 2-4 drops
each of basil, cypress, and marjoram into one foot
· finish with 2-4 drops
peppermint then cover with hot
moist towel and perhaps a dry towel to keep the heat in for
the longest time.
· repeat
on other foot.
Experiences and Testimonials of others
Deborah - Does
anyone know a solution for neuropathy? My mom has it
just beginning in her feet, but her husband had this (quite
severe) and she is scared of the road ahead of her.
(This is such a debilitating illness and so hard to treat.
The pins and needles feeling I understand is enough to drive
you crazy.)
Pat - I have found this blend to be
affective in some case for neuropathy: 2/4 drops each
of Balance, Cypress, Basil, Marjoram and Peppermint.
After applying to the affected area cover the same with a
hot moist towel and then a dry towel, leave on until it
cools, apply at least once a day (can be more often) and
repeat as necessary.
This is a neuropathy blend that I have used for diabetics
and non-diabetics. They have experienced great results. The
LLW pack helps also, and I have been told that the Aroma
Touch Technique is also very helpful for this condition.
Rob - I helped my own neuropathy after a
hemorrhagic stroke and damage to nerves in my right leg and
foot. Consider aggressive, consistent, daily
massage to peripherals using; Balance, Cypress, lemongrass,
thyme, marjoram, helichrysum and AromaTouch. Also for
Neuropathy I would get on the Lifetime Wellness pack right
away. I would also diffuse Serenity at night to ease
what is usually a stressed nervous system. Eat
healthy, whole and raw foods... it is a change that must be
made now.
Finally, I would consider using daily massage
applications to the feet and lower legs using geranium,
peppermint and lavender. Also consider Balance blend
augmented with helichrysum or clove. Be consistent
morning and night or more. Change up oils or blends every so
often.
Christina - My dad suffers from this and
swears by Deep Blue and lots of it! He is very sensitive to
touch so could never use the towel method; he just gently
applies generous amounts for pain relief, swelling and
circulation.
Nancy - I attribute Dr Hill with this
procedure for “neuropathy of the feet”.
· It starts with 2-4 drops Balance, rub into feet (then I
usually cross right hand to left foot and left hand to right
foot and hold until I feel a 'connection')
· Next, on one foot, add the next three oils, either
separately or combined: 2-4 drops Cypress,2-4 drops Basil,
2-4 drops Marjoram
· Finish with 2-4 drops Peppermint
· Finally cover with hot
moist towel and perhaps a dry towel to keep the heat in for
the longest time.
Repeat on other foot. The time varies on relief, and some
day’s response is better than others, but keep using it and
you should notice a difference.
Chelsea - A woman
had a recent surgery that created a complication called
"dead foot". It was apparently a potential side effect that
she was warned about but it was actualized for her. Her foot
has no feeling left and she can't walk on it. They have
braced it as much as they can to help give her support but
apparently the prognosis it that people who do intensive
therapy might get their feeling back after about 1 year. Not
so promising I think. My thoughts are limited but I thought
that if circulation was an issue cypress and/or aromatouch
topically would serve. However, would you put it from the
knee down? What if there is actual nerve damage?
Julie Ann - I had a different situation
but in actuality similar. A gentleman came to one of
my seminars...had a situation where his feet, legs were
going to be amputated.... he had not had feeling in them for
13 years and although they were not black the doctors had
suggested taking them off....I was flabbergasted to say the
least. We started to apply the AromaTouch oils
one at a time ...then I had him walk in place after each
one. With Balance alone he said that he had
tingling in his feet. When we got to Melaleuca he had
tingling up his legs, with the remainder of oils he had
feeling in his legs up past his knees. Now I
would tell you to do the same. The AromaTouch is
the most amazing system for helping the body restore health
and healing to itself that I personally have observed in all
the years I have been doing this kind of work.
You can't go wrong with the AromaTouch!
Ready, Set, Grow
