Numbness in hands and feet – Ayurvedic Remedies, Quick Tips
Numbness means lack of touch sensation. Numbness in hands and feet is quite a common symptom. But in a few, this problem may occur very frequently and persist for a long period of time, causing problems. Technical Ayurvedic term for this condition is ‘Supti vata’ in Ayurveda. Supti means sleep.
Table of Contents
Causes
Causes for Numbness in hands and feet –
Exposure to cold objects
Severe cold weather
Excessive intake of cold and dry eatables.
Fatigue
Injury to the nearer vital points and nerves (sira marma Abhighata) – neck injury may cause numbness along your arm or hand, while a low back injury can cause numbness in the leg or feet.
Lumbar disk prolapse can cause numbness in legs. Similarly cervical spondylosis can cause numbness in hands.
Constant pressure over hands and feet – by sitting in the same position for a long period of time.
Pressure on peripheral nerves from enlarged blood vessels, tumors, scar tissue.
Animal / insect bite
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Neurological disorders such as spinal tumor, stroke, peripheral nerve compression, brain tumor, etc.
Blood vessel related conditions like aneurism (swollen / dilated artery), Transient ischemic attack (TIA – sudden but temporary loss of blood supply to a particular organ), Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).
Complications
Complications of numbness:
If the complaint persists for long time, it may spread to nearer body parts or all over the body. In a diabetic patient, it may predispose the patient to non healing wounds. Varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (Gambheera Vatarakta), peripheral neuritis etc are also few complications.
Tridosha involvement
Involvement of Tridosha in causing numbness:
The sensation of touch is caused by normal Vata Dosha and skin is also the place for Pitta. Hence, Vata and Pitta are imbalanced when there is numbness.
Treatment
Tips to prevent numbness
Try to move the organ, like, take a walk, if you have leg numbness.
Keep the affected organ warm.
Do gentle pressure massage over the body to improve blood circulation.
Do not sit or sleep in one single position for a long period of time.
Numbness in legs during pregnancy, is more commonly due to pressure of the womb on the back. Try changing the sleep posture and sitting posture quite often.
Single herbs
Single herbs useful in treating frequent numbness:
1. Guduchi- giloy– Tinospora cordifolia – improves blood circulation, useful in blood related Vata and Pitta conditions
2. Amalaki-amla-Emblica officinalis – rich in anti oxidants, improves blood circulation
3. Haritaki-Chebulic myrobalan- Terminalia chebula
4. Bala – Sida cordifolia – improves nerve functions, calms nerve irritation
5. Punarnava – Boerhaavia diffusa – thins blood, useful if the cause is clot or vasculitis.
6. Draksha- Raisins – Vitis vinifera – soothing, useful if the cause is injury.
7. Prishniparni -Uraria picta – good anti inflammatory herb.
8. Jeevanti – Leptadena reticulata – useful in nerve injuries
9. Rasna – Alpinia galanga / Pluchea lanceolata – useful in nerve injuries,
10. Devadaru – Cedrus deodara etc – useful in vascular conditions.
Ayurvedic medicines
Ayurvedic medicines useful in numbness treatment:
1. Mahanarayana taila – useful in carpal tunnel syndrome, back injuries etc.
2. Pinda taila – useful when Pitta is associated.
3. Sahacharadi taila
4. Narayana taila
5. Mahamasha taila – widely used in neurological conditions
6. Ekangaveera rasa – useful in neurological disorders
7. Sameerapannaga rasa
8. Navajeevana rasa
9. Yogaraja guggulu
10. Mahayogaraja guggulu
11. Balarishta– most of the above are used in nerve related disorders.
Diet and habits
Etiological factors are to be avoided.
Warm water, red rice, wheat, drumstick, aloe vera juice, date fruits, cumin seeds and raisins are well indicated in this condition.
Numbness starts as simple and non complicative symptoms; but if neglected, continue as complications. If it is due to head injury, begins very suddenly but lasts for a unusually long period of time, associated with dizziness, confusion, difficulty in talking, then you need to contact your doctor immediately. It is always better to consult the physicians in both these conditions to rule out any underlying pathology and get proper treatment, based on causative factors.
Article by Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu) Ph.D (Ayu) and Dr Hebbar.
25 comments
Vishwanath
Sir,
Sometimes I am also experiencing slight numbness in hands when I wake in the morning.Am taking ecosprin150mg,clopilet in the morning & storvas 20 at night for cholestrol .Can u suggest some ayurvedic medicine.
Thnks.
Vishwanath
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
You can try aloe vera juice – 15 ml once or twice a day.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
Thanks
Dr Malini Bhat
Sir, The therapies like Abyanga swedam, Nasyam, Pathrapotala swedam, Choornapinda swedam, Pizhichil, Shirodhara, Kadeevasthy, Greevavasthy, Navarakizhi, Vasti etc. are done as per the need and condition. These therapies are concentrated towards relieving the inflammatory changes, releasing the spasms and nerve compressions in the affected area, strengthening the supportive tissues holding the spine, nourishing the joints through improving the circulation.
sindhu v n
Disc bulge in L5 can be cured? I did kativasthi, pizhichil, njavara kizhi, matravasthi… still i feel little pain along with leg pain..
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
Hi, oral medicines will also be required along with kati Vasti treatment. If the problem is only disc bulge, only Kati vasti and Matra basti are sufficient for the treatment.
Maneck
What are these therapies kati vasti and Matra basti are they massages or medication?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
Kati basti – read here – https://www.easyayurveda.com/2015/12/05/kati-basti-treatment-for-low-back-pain/
Matra Basti = oil enema.
Zhekato
Thank you so much for ur replay sir regarding my fatty lever kumaryasava medcine as i have gastric… u said 5ml… sould i stick to that or as written on the bottle 15 to 30 ml with equal amount of water. Thank you so much for ur concern sir
Kshemendra
Sir last 30 days iam facing my left leg & hand to much of numbness iam diabetic patient from last 4 months iam takeing Diapride-1 mg tablet 3 times a day please let me what is the solution for the problem
pugalendi d
Is there any common affected age range for this numbness…
When eating potato and plantain it multiples 1000 times ..
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
Usually it is seen in elderly people.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
Please try with homeopathy medicines.
Prabhakar Jha
Sir I underwent Discotomy 6months back…..as I started feeling tingling & numbness in my right leg as well as feet…..but till now also I am feeling tingling & numbness on my feet although it was totally resolved on other portion of leg but it is still there on my feet….please give me some resolution to get rid of this…..my age is 26….
Thank You Sir
sunita
I am a Artrities patient, started this desease 8 year back. now started back pain also since one year back . till now. what should I do. many Ayurveda medicines are taking for Artrities.I am waitng for your suggession. thanks.
Jagdish
I have tingling and numbness in my left foot for sometime. I am not diabetic. Please inform right medicine for my problem.
sreekanthreddy
sir im facing foot and hand numbness problem every minute numbness problem, already blood test report b12 60 results, pls suggestion me relif of numbness
Randy
I have numb toes in right foot only for 1 year.. went to doctor and she said its nothing. I checked my glucose level and it is normal.. Ive taken all the B vits. any comments would be helpful thank you
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
Hi, it may not be due to teeth removal.
Sneha Sudhir Kini
Doctor I am diabetic with sugar levels above 200. I have brought it down since last two weeks. However I had gotten fracture in my foot in may for which I was plastered. After that during to my mother hospitalized I was in icu due to which from July end I got numbness on my feet. As on date the effects is good with little better feeling. But I want to take ayurvedic treatment for both diabetes and numbness
suraj kumar
my father has numbness in both legs and hands, he can’t grip a spoon, and unable to stand without any support, what is treatment for, all other things are ok there is no sugar/bp and any other kind of deficiencty.
Tapan
Hello, my mom was feeling numbness in her right foot. We have done blood sugar level test and B12 test. Both are normal. EMG was conducted. It shows that Right lateral popliteal neuropathy due to compression at the knee of the axonal degenerative type. Right medial popliteal neuropathy due to compression at knee of the demyelinating type. We have started physiotherapy treatment. It’s almost 3 weeks now. Can you advice me?
Vidhya
Hello Sir,
My mother suffers from peripheral neuropathy as a side effect from Chemo that she took 4 years back. Her cancer is cured, but nerve damage causes great discomfort. Can this be treated with Ayurveda? What should she use?
Regards,
Vidhya
Deepak
Can ashawganda helps in numb ness
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)Author
It improves blood circulation, a very good anti oxidant, acts as a nervine tonic and soothes nerves. Hence, it is useful to relieve numbness.