are there alternative therapies for nerve pain

Hi Debbie--Do you know what has caused the nerve pain?  --Suzanne

This is peripheral neuropathy, I take it?

Poor you. Not being able to sleep is the worst.

I have had the same on the soles of my feet for years, which only start to burn at night, especially in hot weather. A very discomfortaing feeling. I have to soak them in cold water before retiring.

I was told to use capsiacim (sp?), the active ingredient in chilies (I think!). It comes as a cream and I put it on my feet  – somehow the burning of the cream was supposed to burn out the burning of the sole... sounds weird, eh?

Didn't do much for me, so I dropped it and live with it. 

You call yours 'pain' but don't say what kind.... It may go away of its own accord.

Hi Debbie - two things I have found to work. Magnesium oil sprayed to tops of the feet and the supplement Alpha Lipoic Acid. This is used a lot by diabetics with nerve problems. Doesnt seem to have any dide effects. I take 800 mg a day. Bith these items are relatively cheap too. Epsom salt baths are another way to up your magnesium. Hope this helps.

You may want to type "St. John's Wort and nerve pain" in your favorite search engine to discover one of the less documented uses for this highly popular and studied herb with so many fabulous health benefits. I will admit being highly biased about St. John's wort because of the many conditions it has helped me cure personally without experiencing a single negative side effect. But every person may react differently to medicine, even natural, so if you feel tempted about giving it a try, I would recommend that you also read about the herb's potential side effects and interactions, especially if you will be using any other drug at the same time. Do also keep in mind that such potential side effects and interactions may only affect very sensitive people or those taking very high doses of the herb. 

In my particular case, I have used the extract in pill form at doses as high as 900mg per day, to cure my various ailments very efficiently, and to repeat myself, I have zero complaint and nothing else but positive things to say about my experience. What I think may be helpful in your particular case, is that you might be able use St. John's Wort oil or cream applied topically to the affected areas, instead of opting for the systemic treatment that does cause issues for some. It's up to you... Read everything you can about it and then decide... We are all pretty much guinea pigs when it comes to trying alternative medicine... But it's also good to know that in the case of St. John's Wort, we are talking about one of the rare herbs that has been tested considerably and successfully on humans, and through several clinical trials.

Best of luck if you do elect to try it out and please comment on your progress should that be the case!

Do you smoke or drink heavily? Are you overweight (pre-diabetic)? Are you vegan/vegetarian or have stomach issues (these could result in b12 deficiency resulting in neuropathy)

Clary sage oil?

Accupuncture can help and i have had it in my lower back and thoracic spins area