Peripheral neuropathy: pathogenic mechanisms and alternative therapies

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a debilitating condition with diverse etiologies, including diabetes, chemotherapy, and HIV.
• Conventional treatments for PN often focus on symptom management and carry risks of side effects and addiction.
• Emerging research highlights the potential of alternative and complementary therapies for PN management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review well-researched alternative therapies for peripheral neuropathy.
• To explore a range of nutrient, botanical, and physical medicine options for PN.
• To discuss promising new conventional treatments for PN.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of alternative and conventional therapies for peripheral neuropathy.
• Identification of key nutrients, botanicals, and physical modalities with supporting evidence.
• Analysis of emerging conventional treatments.

Main Results:

• Alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, benfotiamine, methylcobalamin, and topical capsaicin are well-supported alternative treatments.
• Other potential therapies include various vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and St. John's wort.
• Acupuncture, magnetic therapy, and yoga show promise in physical medicine.

Conclusions:

• Alternative therapies offer significant benefits for managing peripheral neuropathy.
• A comprehensive approach integrating well-researched alternative options may improve patient outcomes.
• Further research into novel conventional therapies like dual-action peptides is warranted.