NeuroTalk Support Groups - ~~SUPPLEMENTS~~~ for Peripheral Neuropathy:

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- PN Tips, Resources, Supplements & Other Treatments (https://www.neurotalk.org/pn-tips-resources-supplements-and-other-treatments/)

- - ~~SUPPLEMENTS~~~ for Peripheral Neuropathy: (https://www.neurotalk.org/pn-tips-resources-supplements-and-other-treatments/121683-supplements-peripheral-neuropathy.html)

Laxatives and Old Lace

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD (Post 1176875)

People still use prune juice. But I have seen it fail for many. The virgin olive oil doesn't work for everyone either, but it sure works for me. I can't use olive oil in cooking! :confused:

The people here on our other forums who use opioids in high doses have a paste they use sometimes, made from dates, raisins and prunes.

For a while I collected old pharmaceutical remedies, vintage age. 1900's and before. I am going to do watercolors incorporating remedies so I needed some reference material.

By far while searching Ebay, I discovered just how common laxative remedies were in the 1800's and early 1900's. Just about every "cold" product had a laxative in it. From my experience it seems like almost all remedies in the past, had a laxative added to them. Back then they were called purgatives.
Historically doctors mostly bled patients or used purgatives for just about everything.

When I don't buy an offer, I save its photo digitally and here is one that illustrates my point:
Black Crow Pills:

That's interestingly funny, as whether it's sauteing or frying I always use virgin olive oil (unless it's a quick cook stir-fry at full heat which requires peanut oil so the hook and ladder trucks don't surround the house from the billowing smoke) and have never had the slightest loosening reaction. For a light meal for myself it's not too seldom for me to prepare a decent sized bowl of pasta, douse it liberally with virgin olive oil, and cover completely with ground herbs--again, no reaction.(unless, of course, I add prunes.)

Regarding the old catch-all "cold" (you might just as well call them "whatever") remedies, in most that I've found, not only is a purgative and/or an emetic added, but don't forget the ever-present companion: Paregoric, combined with the odd evolved folk cures many of which were local tweakings of lore come to our shores from age old African cultures due to the slave trade. It seems that before the widespread acceptance of Microbiology, the philosophy of medicine generally was: treat the symptomatic discomfort, and purge the body either from one end, the other, or sic your leeches and bleed the patient half to death. In the mid-1960s, back when folks still read, I'd frequent old bookstores in the East Village, Manhattan where the shelves were filled with such relatively ancient medical "textbooks"for around 25 cents per. I was in my teens and guess I figured they'd always be around. Wrong once more.

Sugar in Natual Laxatives

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervous (Post 1176888)

I've been using an insoluble fiber product for constipation. I can post the name here or by PM. Like with most laxatives (for me), it worked effectively in the beginning. Now, it takes a little more time and a lot more water.

Prunes and prune juice, dates and figs can be good, but one worries about the sugar.

I hear ya. My guess about the quality and severity of reaction may vary as to whether the sugar was added, or simply the naturally occurring Fructose, which last I heard was a recommended sweetener even for Diabetics.

I forgot to mention Triphala for constipation. I take one every day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by txgal51 (Post 657945)

Hi, I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy following an EMG the end of March 2010. All my blood work was normal except for a B12 of 190. (I had to insist that my neurologist even run a B12 test on me--he said he didn't think I could have a low B12 since I maintain a good diet.) My neurologist told me that 190 was not low, and I would not benefit from treatment with B12 injections. My husband and I insisted that a value of 190 was low and the neurologist begrudingly gave us a prescription for B12 injections. My husband fortunately was able to give me the injections at home. I started B12 injections as well as oral supplements on April 7. I also started acupuncture the same week. The burning in my legs was horrific. I screamed all night and cried all day. I had pain in my thighs as well. I could not sleep and was prescribed Ambien. I was able to sleep with the Ambien but also got very depressed while on the Ambien and quit eating, thus losing over 10 lbs in short order. I was then prescribed Paxil. I was spiraling down very fast and not wanting to live if I had to have this pain all my life and take all kinds of drugs to control the pain. However, by week five on the injections, supplements, and acupuncture my body finally began to rally. The burning and pain in my legs stopped and now the numbness in my feet and hands is almost completely gone. I was fortunate to have a wonderful support group of family and friends who prayed for me daily and I know that God has answered all our prayers.

I tell everyone I meet now to have their B12 checked. I am 58 years old and in good health. I have been treated for hypothyroidism for over 30 years and I now know there is a link between thyroid disease and malabsorption of B12. I also used Pepcid fairly regularly and had a high intake of caffeine every day, all of which prevent the absorption of B12. I have taken alcohol, sugar, and caffeine out of my diet.

Please do not let your doctor tell you that B12 is not a factor. Have your B12checked. I had to plead with my neurologist to even check mine and then plead with him to treat me with B12 injections. If you are below 500 demand to be treated. Now two months after being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy I feel that I am about 90% recovered. Don't let them tell you your PN is idiopathic. Keep reading and doing research, be a strong advocate for your own health. If I had not done all this detective work myself regarding B12 I would be bed bound by now, on Lyrica, Paxil, and Ambien every day because my doctor said I was pretty much doomed and encouraged me to take all these medications.

The supplement I have been using is Nerve Support Formula which I purchased on Amazon because shipping is free. This treats neuropathy, no matter what is causing it. You have to take it consistently at fairly high doses for at least two months to get benefit. Their consultants are available all day to talk to you and help you individually. I think the combination of B12 oral supplements, injections, and acupuncture has pretty much healed me and I want to share my story with everyone. I am happy to communicate with anyone on this topic. There is help out there.

Where did you get the injections once you had a prescription in hand? Also, how frequently did you inject.

Thanks,

Cliffman :hug:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliffman (Post 1177797)

Where did you get the injections once you had a prescription in hand? Also, how frequently did you inject.

Thanks,

Cliffman :hug:

There have been no credible test results known to me that even suggest that injections of Methylcobalamin (Methyl B-12) produce more effective results than a suitable oral regimen. Yarrow Formulas puts out a chewable, taken once a day on an empty stomach, in the dosage of 5000 mcg. Don't let that # scare you away, as the body is disposed to tolerate greater levels than lower, not to mention the logistical convenience of oral over the steps necessarily involved with injections.

I supplement this daily with another Yarrow complex named B-Right, maybe due to my "old school" belief that larger doses of a single B, prove ultimately more effective when taken in concert with a good B complex. Both are available through Amazon.com or other online venues that fellow members would be more than happy to suggest.

Wishing continued turn-around good luck.

If you are set on injectable methylcobalamin... you have to get that at a compounding pharmacy if you want them loaded into syringes. Once loaded, into syringes it requires refrigeration and the typical shelf life is 30 days.

The typical injectable B12 is cyano form and not the activated one. 10-30% have the MTHFR mutation and cannot methylate cyano and folic acid (in supplements) properly.

The newest studies show that oral will work, as well with less invasiveness, better results if using the methyl form and taking it on an empty stomach.

If you are somehow set on injectable, good luck to you. Most posters here complain about the injectable type of cyano.
Stop all supplements about a week before any retesting.
Whatever is causing your lower numbers, is not likely going to
evaporate. Most people require supplements for life, therefore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge (Post 1177847)

Hi Sarge,

The only evidence I have read about was in the book "could it be VitB12"? They claim the shots are needed if one has neuropathy issues. That said, I have no idea if it's really true.

Cliffman :)

Sarge, the company you are describing is JARROW (not Yarrow).
It is one of the first who offered oral methylcobalamin and at one time was only available on iherb.com

Today we have other suppliers which are at Puritan's Pride, Costco and Walgreens and perhaps other local places. In the old days, over a decade ago we were only able to get it online.

I tested out the Puritan's myself, and at 5mg a day reached a blood level of 1999 (the top of the calibration range).

And as I mentioned before, if the MTHFR mutation is present, then one needs the methylfolate also.

We are rather fortunate that in some ways repairing B12 levels is fairly simple, now, and inexpensive. Information changes, new studies come out, and like most medical things, are not cast in stone. Still doctors may cling to their old therapeutic manuals, which were printed before 2003. The AAFP link I provide gives new medical information targeting doctors, in 2003 and still people cling to the "old ways".

I personally think once a month shots are artificial. We evolved getting our B12
orally from food. When that fails (due to low acid in the stomach or damaged intrinsic factor), then high dose oral is the next best thing IMO. A study I provided earlier shows that 1000mcg oral yields about 13mcg absorbed into the blood.(the remainder is excreted in the stool. This is about 2.5 times the RDA. Injectables only last in the blood for 72 hours, and the excess is excreted, since only minute micrograms can be handled at a time by the systems in the tissues. The same study showed 145mcg in the blood following an injection of 1000mcg. So people getting injections do not all get lasting benefits that way. If you read the whole B12 thread you will find those people who didn't do well on injectable ALONE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge (Post 1177847)

The book "Could it be B12" came out originally in 2005.
There is a second ed. in 2011, but I don't see mention of updated material, just a reprinting. It is possible the newer edition has newer information.

This youtube I believe is from the book you have, but I am not positive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvEizypoyO0

It is not complete however, and does not get into MTHFR mutations or much of the methylB12 information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD (Post 1177876)

mrsD, thanks much for the correction, as well as the additional venues for purchase. It appears my heart was in the right place, while my head was in some other location--especially since the proper name spelling is plainly and prominently on a written list not 8 inches from my left elbow while at my keyboard. Apologies to all for the careless misinformation and now obvious omissions--can't get away with blaming this one on my PN.