Numbness In Hands: Causes, Medicinal Herbs and Herbal Preparations

Numbness in hands refers to a loss of sensation or feeling in the fingers or palms, often described as tingling, prickling, or a "pins and needles" sensation.

This condition can be caused by various factors, including nerve damage, diabetes, poor circulation, or repetitive strain injuries. Prolonged numbness in hands can lead to motor skill impairment, hand weakness, and even loss of independence. To alleviate numbness, herbal remedies such as arnica, ginkgo biloba, and turmeric can be used in medicinal preparations like creams, salves, or teas.

However, it is crucial to consult a healthcare professional before using herbal remedies, especially if you have underlying health conditions or allergies, to avoid potential interactions or adverse reactions.

This article explains in detail what are the causes of numbness in hands, what medicinal herbs to use to relieve this problem and how to prepare these herbs to get the best results.

What are the main causes of numbness in hands?

The main causes of numbness in hands are a combination of medical conditions, injuries, and lifestyle factors.

Compression of the median nerve in the wrist, known as carpal tunnel syndrome, is a common cause, affecting up to 3% of adults in the general population. Diabetes is another leading cause, with approximately 60-70% of people with diabetes experiencing neuropathy, including numbness and tingling in the hands. Other potential causes include cervical radiculopathy, multiple sclerosis, peripheral artery disease, and vitamin deficiencies, particularly B12 deficiency, which can occur in 1-2% of the general population.

Furthermore, repetitive motion injuries, such as those sustained by assembly line workers, can also lead to numbness in the hands due to repetitive strain on the nerves.

• Carpal Tunnel: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand through a narrow passageway in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, is compressed or pinched, causing numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm.
• Diabetes: Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur in people with diabetes, causing numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet due to high blood sugar levels damaging the nerves.
• Vitamin Deficiency: Vitamin deficiencies, particularly a lack of vitamin B12, can cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet due to the vitamin's essential role in maintaining the health of the nervous system.
• Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands and feet due to the hormone's role in regulating the body's metabolic processes.
• Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, causing numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands and feet due to the damage caused by the immune system's attack on the protective covering of the nerves.
• Nerve Trauma: Nerve trauma, such as a bruised or cut nerve, can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet due to the nerve's damage and disruption of normal nerve function.
• Pinched Nerve: A pinched nerve, which occurs when a nerve is compressed or irritated by surrounding tissues, can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet due to the nerve's disruption and compression.
• Amyloidosis: Amyloidosis is a rare condition in which abnormal proteins called amyloid accumulate in the body, causing numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands and feet due to the proteins' damage to the nerves and other tissues.
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands and feet due to the nerve damage and inflammation.

What are the primary medicinal plants used for numbness in hands?

The main medicinal herbs used for numbness in hands are Capsicum annuum, Piper nigrum, Zingiber officinale, Acmella oleracea, Mentha x piperita, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Ginkgo biloba, Capsicum frutescens, Curcuma longa, Echinacea purpurea.

Capsicum annuum, a member of the Capsicum genus, contains capsaicin, a compound that helps improve blood flow and reduces numbness by increasing the levels of substance P, a neurotransmitter involved in pain transmission. Piper nigrum, commonly known as black pepper, contains piperine, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and promote healing in the hands. Zingiber officinale, or ginger, has anti-inflammatory compounds like gingerol and shogaol that help reduce pain and numbness by reducing inflammation.

Ginkgo biloba, on the other hand, improves blood flow to the hands by dilating blood vessels and reducing numbness caused by poor circulation.

• Capsicum annuum: Capsicum annuum, commonly known as sweet pepper, helps alleviate numbness in hands due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, particularly the capsaicin compound, which inhibits the production of a chemical called substance P, a key player in the transmission of pain signals.
• Piper nigrum: Piper nigrum, or black pepper, helps with numbness in hands because it contains piperine, a bioactive compound that exhibits analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, thereby reducing pain and discomfort.
• Zingiber officinale: Zingiber officinale, or ginger, alleviates numbness in hands due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, particularly the gingerols and shogaols, which inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes and reduce pain.
• Acmella oleracea: Acmella oleracea, or paracress, helps with numbness in hands because it contains sesquiterpene lactones, which exhibit anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, thereby reducing pain and discomfort.
• Mentha x piperita: Mentha x piperita, or peppermint, alleviates numbness in hands due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, particularly the menthol compound, which cools the skin and reduces pain.
• Zanthoxylum bungeanum: Zanthoxylum bungeanum, or sichuan pepper, helps with numbness in hands because it contains hydroxy-alpha-sanshool, a compound that activates the trigeminal nerve, which is involved in the transmission of pain signals.
• Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo biloba, or maidenhair tree, does not directly help with numbness in hands, but its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may contribute to overall vascular health and potentially alleviate numbness.
• Capsicum frutescens: Capsicum frutescens, or malabar pepper, helps alleviate numbness in hands due to its capsaicin compound, which, like Capsicum annuum, inhibits the production of substance P, a key player in the transmission of pain signals.
• Curcuma longa: Curcuma longa, or turmeric, alleviates numbness in hands due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, particularly the curcumin compound, which inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes and reduces pain.
• Echinacea purpurea: Echinacea purpurea, or coneflower, does not directly help with numbness in hands, but its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may contribute to overall health and potentially alleviate numbness.

What are the main herbal preparations used for numbness in hands?

The main herbal preparations used for numbness in hands are Tincture, Decoction, Salve, Cream, Ointment, Capsule, Poultice, Gel, Suppository, Topical Oil.

Tincture of Ginkgo biloba and St. John's Wort is used to improve blood circulation and reduce numbness, while Decoction of Ashwagandha and Ginger is used to reduce inflammation and pain. Salve and Cream of Arnica and Calendula are applied topically to reduce inflammation and promote healing of the nerves, while Ointment of Capsaicin is used to block the production of a chemical that transmits pain signals. Capsule of Omega-3 fatty acids and Capsule of Vitamin B12 are used to reduce inflammation and promote nerve health.

Poultice of Willow bark and Gel of Aloe vera, Suppository of Arnica and Topical Oil of Peppermint are applied topically to reduce pain and inflammation.

• Tincture: A tincture of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) helps with numbness in hands by its vasodilatory properties, which increase blood flow to the affected area, promoting healing and reducing numbness.
• Decoction: A decoction of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) helps with numbness in hands by its warming and anti-inflammatory properties, which increase circulation and reduce numbness.
• Salve: A salve of Arnica montana helps with numbness in hands by its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which reduce pain and numbness.
• Cream: A cream of Capsicum annuum (Cayenne Pepper) helps with numbness in hands by its vasodilatory and analgesic properties, which increase blood flow and reduce pain and numbness.
• Ointment: An ointment of Eucalyptus globulus helps with numbness in hands by its anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties, which reduce swelling and promote healing.
• Capsule: A capsule of Ginkgo biloba helps with numbness in hands by its vasodilatory properties, which increase blood flow to the affected area, promoting healing and reducing numbness.
• Poultice: A poultice of Calendula officinalis helps with numbness in hands by its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which reduce pain and numbness and promote healing.
• Gel: A gel of Aloe barbadensis helps with numbness in hands by its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which reduce pain and numbness.
• Suppository: A suppository of Capsicum annuum (Cayenne Pepper) helps with numbness in hands by its analgesic and vasodilatory properties, which reduce pain and increase blood flow.
• Topical Oil: A topical oil of Peppermint oil (Mentha piperita) helps with numbness in hands by its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce pain and numbness.