Nattokinase for Neuropathy?
 

I have been taking Nattokinase from the health food store for a few months now. It does seem to help Has anyone else had any experience with this. It is a natural product that doesn't seem as invasive as Neurotin.

Isn't that a natural blood thinner product?

Nattokinase
 

Yes, it is a natural blood thinner. One of the problems with Neuropathy is the lack of blood flow which impairs the function of the nerves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nattokinase

If this is working for you, as a blood thinner...I'd make sure you have testing for MGUS... Thick blood is a sign of potential cancers of the blood system. I think it should be diagnosed and watched.

Blood thinning runs some risks. We've seen in studies recently that one small baby aspirin 81mg can cause small brain bleeds in those taking it for cardiac protection. Up to 70% of people studied showed this alarming side effect.

If you suspect you have "poor" circulation", it might be a good idea to look at this method:
http://www.drignarro.com/

Also agents that reduce endothelial inflammation, which is small inflammatory changes in blood vessels' linings, may help. Bioavailable curcumin has a study showing benefit for this.
Also reducing homocysteine if elevated helps too.

There are only a few forms of curcumin that are readily absorbed. So choosing carefully, improves response.

Simply restoring magnesium to the body, if you are not eating magnesium rich foods, will improve blood flow as well.

Drugs that constrict blood vessels, can lead to poor circulation.
Cymbalta and Effexor are in that category, along with caffeine, and other stimulants. Hypothyroidism leads to cold extremities as well.

Nattokinase
 

I forgot to mention that when I was watching Dr Oz a couple of days ago, he was listing important things we should do that Asians do. The number one thing was to take Nattokinase for heart health. I did research it before I started taking it.

Here is some interesting medical reading:

http://hearthawk.blogspot.com/2010/0...revisited.html

According to this, it really is not terrific as a blood thinner. Very little evidence.

But if it works for you, that is good for you. Whether it will work for others remains to be seen, I guess.

I tend to go with the flow, with antioxidants, and curcumin. That is what works for me.

Nattokinase
 

Thank you for your information. I am still trying to figure out for sure that this will help me. I now have some that has Vit C 80 mg Vit E 30 IU and 5mg of pycnogenol. My blood pressure is better so maybe it is helping. I know these things take time. I do not take any other blood thinners so think I should be ok.

My major concern is safety here. Since reading those monographs that nattokinase may not be absorbed well, and may not affect blood clotting that much...the risk is less.

After all 81mg of aspirin was enough to cause micro bleeds in peoples' brains! Who would have thought that (until it was discovered by CAT/MRI scans)?

The 5mg of pycnogenols is basically useless. 50- 100mg a day is about the average dose for antioxidant effects (sometimes higher).

The Vit E may be there for antioxidant protection of the product, and the Vit C also...both are low doses.

Keep in mind that magnesium is very good for improving circulation. (esp if you are low in this nutrient from the diet)
Here is my magnesium thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

Nattokinase
 

I am taking 500mg of magnesium. I also take 1200 mg of Calcium Citrate with D3 and also walk twice daily in the sun. Is that enough?

I hope it is not magnesium oxide!! That is useless and not absorbed.

Magnesium oxide remains the most common one out there because it is cheap. Doctors still prescribe it, and studies clearly show it is extremely poorly absorbed. From 500mg you might get 10mg into your blood stream.

Citrate and the delayed acting chlorides are better. I also use a powder sometimes called Ionic Fizz...it is very quick acting and quite nice.
It dissolves rapidly in warm water. I am quite sensitive to the laxative actions of magnesium, so I do the delayed type SlowMag.
I get the generic for it, at Costco, for about $5 for 60. (it is behind the counter at the pharmacy, and they will order it for you-- Mag64.
I just saw brand name SlowMag at WalMart last weekend on the shelf for 9.99 for 60. SlowMag was designed for use by physicians for cardiac patients and others, but it has always been over the counter.

I have a Vit D thread here also, and on it is new recommendations from a cardiologist who put on his blog, that people taking high dose D3 should cut back on calcium supplements (he does not recommend more than 600mg a day and only that for people with osteoporosis, etc)
He believes the Vit D greatly improves calcium absorption, and hence too much calcium may lead to hypercalcemia. (which then leads to arterial plaque and calcium deposits in the kidneys and other tissues).

If your D3 is only mixed in that calcium citrate, that is not considered high dose. High dose D3 is 2000IU and up a day.