While I was visiting my aunt a few years ago, she would constantly complain of excruciating, electric-shock-like pain coupled with intense burning in her lower legs and feet that made both sleeping and performing ordinary daily activities a veritable hell. The agony resulted from nerve damage caused by chemotherapy treatment. In clinical terminology, the condition she was experiencing is called “chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.”

Neuropathy simply denotes a disease or dysfunction of the nervous system. The disease or dysfunction typically arises due toxic exposure (pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides/herbicides, heavy metals, alcohol, antibiotics, synthetic/inorganic dietary supplements, environmental toxins, etc.), inflammation, or infections (among other rarer causes, such as physical injury). The term itself derives from the Greek words “neuron,” meaning “nerve,” and “pathos,” meaning “disorder” or “suffering.” The condition typically manifests through symptoms that range from numbness and tingling to severe stabbing, electrocution-like pain, and profound burning sensation.

Without going into the minutiae of human anatomy, the nervous system is divided into two primary parts: the central nervous system, or CNS (comprises the brain and spinal cord), and the peripheral nervous system (comprises the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord). The most prevalent category of neuropathy pertains to the latter and is known as peripheral neuropathy. In other words, the vast majority of neuropathic disorders involve the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord, particularly those located in the feet, toes, lower legs, hands, and fingers.

Depending on what caused the nerve damage, different terms are used to describe the resulting condition. For example, if the damage was caused by a chemotherapy agent, the condition is called chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. If the damage was caused by chronically elevated blood glucose (blood sugar), it is called diabetic neuropathy. If the damage was caused by alcohol exposure, it is called alcohol-related neuropathy. If the damage was caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (“the shingles virus”), it is called postherpetic neuralgia. If the nerve damage is caused by nutritional deficiency, the condition is called nutritional neuropathy, and so on.

In order to heal from neuropathy, the first step is to identify and address its underlying cause or causes. If the root cause is elevated blood glucose (which damages both nerves and the blood vessels that nourish and oxygenate them), it is imperative to implement interventions designed to balance/normalize the concentration of sugar in the blood. When neuropathy is caused by a specific drug or medication, discontinuation of the drug/medication should be discussed with one’s primary physician.

In situations where the cause of nerve damage is so-called “unknown” (i.e., idiopathic neuropathy, autoimmune neuropathy, Bell’s palsy, etc.), the underlying cause is usually inflammation, which is usually systemic and chronic. In general, whenever there is nerve damage, inflammation is almost always involved and present, whether as the chief culprit or as a physiological response to tissue damage. Therefore, in order to reverse this painful pathology, chronic systemic inflammation must be reduced or alleviated.

The second part in addressing neuropathy is the regeneration of the damaged nerves. Peripheral nerves, like most other tissues of the body, are intrinsically capable of regrowing and repairing themselves. When an internal environment conducive to nerve regeneration is established, this process is significantly accelerated.

Personally, I would begin the process of nerve regeneration by performing the Lymphatic System Detoxification Protocol to initiate the elimination of accumulated waste, toxins, and other impurities from the tissues. After completing the 30-day protocol, I would adopt a 100% fruit-based diet consisting primarily of fresh, organic, water-rich fruits. Fresh fruit is a superior nervous system- regenerating food, particularly wild berries, grapes, and citruses.

Lastly, great herbs for nerve tissue repair include skullcap, wood betony, blue vervain, lemon balm, st. John’s wort, holy basil, calamus, kratom, gotu kola, ginkgo biloba, passionflower, manjistha, cayenne pepper (90,000 SHU or hotter), sage, California poppy, turmeric, flame of the forest, saffron, black seed (Nigella sativa), rosemary, and tarragon and bitter melon (both especially useful in diabetic neuropathy).

Neuropathy, like other adverse health conditions, is a consequence of our departure from Natural Law. However, despite the overwhelming pain and discomfort this affliction brings, healing is possible.

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