Nerve damage
I have been prescribed Tegretol for nerve damage in my feet and legs. The condition is always more painful when the weather is cold. Is there an alternative? It must be gluten-free.
The herbal remedy that can not only protect against further nerve damage but may also, according to recent animal studies help regenerate damaged nerve cells is the Chinese herb, ginkgo biloba.
One of the active components is a group of compounds called terpene lactones and of these, one in particular, called bilobalide, has been shown to protect all the cells of the nervous system. Another of these, called ginkgolide, improves circulation to both the large and small blood vessels and can reduce levels of a substance called platelet-activating factor (PAF), high levels of which are associated with nerve damage.
In addition, both groups of compounds have good antioxidant properties and so can protect both the brain and central nervous system, which are particularly susceptible to attack by the free radical molecules that are a normal by-product of metabolism but which need clearing out.
*The standard therapeutic dose of ginkgo in all good quality supplements is 120mg of the standardised extract. Use Lambert's time-release capsules which, as the name suggests, release the active agents over two to three hours. Take one a day. If not available in your local healthstore, mail order from the Nutricentre on 0800-587 2290.