Nerves & senses

Acupuncture for Neuropathy

Everyone knows the feeling of a foot or arm that has "gone to sleep" after sitting still for a while. After moving, it passes. With neuropathy, however, tingling, numbness or pain in the hands and feet remains, whatever you do. Acupuncture and laser acupuncture can be used to support the body, with attention to the symptoms and what maintains them.

What is neuropathy?

With neuropathy, the nerves in the arms and legs no longer work properly: the "wiring" is damaged, often mainly at the ends. As a result, signals are passed on less well or spontaneous pain signals arise. When nerves are affected in several places in the body, this is called polyneuropathy.

The symptoms depend on which nerves are involved. With sensory nerves, this includes numbness, the feeling of walking on cotton wool or "cushions", tingling, pins and needles, burning pain and balance problems. Feet may feel cold while they are actually warm. Sometimes an ordinary stimulus already hurts, such as a sheet on the feet or warm shower water. With motor nerves, cramps, muscle weakness and thinning muscles may occur.

Neuropathy can have many causes, such as diabetes, excessive alcohol use, vitamin deficiency, certain medications, infections such as Lyme disease or shingles, autoimmune diseases and hereditary factors. In some people, no clear cause is found.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Neuropathy from a TCM perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, neuropathy is approached mainly by looking at the meridians that run through the affected area. That is why the exact location of the symptoms is established first. The circumstances also give clues about the nature of the disturbance: does warmth help or worsen the symptoms, do they increase at rest or with movement? Treatment is chosen on that basis.

Cold in the meridians

Han Ning Jing Mai

When warmth helps and cold worsens the symptoms, TCM describes a predominance of Yin or Cold. This is associated with cold, numb or painful hands and feet and symptoms that increase at rest.

Damp-Heat

Shi Re

When warmth actually worsens the symptoms and coolness brings relief, TCM describes a predominance of Yang or Heat. This is associated with burning feet, a heavy feeling in the legs and symptoms that increase with movement or in bed.

Qi and Blood deficiency

Qi Xue Liang Xu

When the extremities are insufficiently nourished within TCM, this is associated with a numb or weak feeling, reduced strength, fatigue and cold hands and feet.

How can acupuncture and laser acupuncture help with neuropathy?

Treatment starts by establishing exactly where the symptoms are located and which factors influence them. This determines which meridians are involved and which points are selected.

01Targeted acupuncture: very fine needles are used on points along the affected meridians, both close to the affected area and elsewhere on the body.
02Local laser treatment: hands, feet, fingers and toes can be treated directly with therapeutic laser light. Needle-free, and therefore suitable for sensitive or vulnerable skin, such as with diabetes.
03Adapted to warmth, cold, rest and movement: whether the treatment is more warming or rather cooling in nature depends on how your symptoms respond to these factors.
04Underlying factors: attention is also given to what may influence the symptoms, such as fatigue, stress, blood sugar regulation in diabetes and alcohol use.

Prefer no needles?

Every treatment can also be carried out completely needle-free with laser acupuncture, in which the same points are treated with therapeutic laser light. Ear acupuncture is always carried out with the laser. Acupressure, which also uses no needles, can be used as well.

Safety and medical alignment:It is important that the cause of your neuropathy has been examined by a doctor. Contact your GP immediately with rapidly increasing weakness or loss of sensation in the arms or legs. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily for wounds and remain under the care of your GP or diabetes team. Acupuncture is a complement to conventional care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between neuropathy and polyneuropathy?

Neuropathy is the general term for a condition of the nerves in the arms or legs. With polyneuropathy, nerves are affected in several places in the body, usually on both sides and mainly in the hands and feet.

Can acupuncture help with neuropathy?

Acupuncture can be used as support for symptoms of neuropathy, such as pain, tingling and numbness. Treatment is tailored to the location of the symptoms and the factors that influence them. The degree of change people experience varies per person.

Has acupuncture for neuropathy been researched?

Yes, some research has been done, mainly on nerve symptoms that developed as a side effect of medication, such as after chemotherapy. In several studies, people experienced less pain, tingling and numbness after a series of treatments, and sometimes better fine motor skills, balance and sleep. At the same time, symptoms remain unchanged or return later in some people. Results therefore vary per person.

What do people notice from the treatments?

People describe, among other things, that the sharpest edges are taken off their symptoms, and that they feel more relaxed and sleep better. The treatment itself is also often experienced as calming: lying still for a while, without having to fight the sensations in the hands or feet.

Why am I asked whether warmth or cold affects my symptoms?

Within Chinese medicine, the response to warmth, cold, rest and movement gives clues about the nature of the disturbance. If warmth helps, treatment differs from when warmth actually worsens the symptoms.

Can laser acupuncture be used for neuropathy?

Yes. With neuropathy, laser light can be applied both to acupuncture points and locally to the hands, feet, fingers and toes. Because the skin is not pierced, this is especially comfortable for hypersensitive skin or vulnerable feet.

Can acupuncture be used for diabetic neuropathy?

Yes, as a complement to conventional diabetes care. With diabetes, extra care is taken around the feet. Laser acupuncture is a needle-free option here. Good blood sugar control remains the foundation.

How many treatments are needed?

This varies per person and depends on the cause, how long the symptoms have existed and how far the nerves are affected. After the first treatments, we review together how you respond and what a suitable follow-up would be.

Shingles

Burning, stabbing pain or skin hypersensitivity during or after shingles.

Sciatica & herniated disc

Radiating pain from the lower back or buttock into the leg, often with tingling or numbness.

RSI & carpal tunnel syndrome

Pain, tingling, or weakness in the neck, arm, wrist, or hand from repetitive strain.

Personal Treatment Plan

Suffering from tingling or numbness in your hands or feet?

During a first appointment, we look closely at where your symptoms are and what influences them, and which form of acupuncture suits you best.

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