When you suffer from carpal tunnel pain, or pain in any of the hand and wrist joints, there’s a possibility that you have a deficiency in minerals or vitamins that support your joints and muscles.
Today we have a guest post by Victoria Cunningham just to give you a change of pace from what I usually write about carpal tunnel pain relief.
Here’s Victoria’s article:
Best Supplements For Wrist And Hand Joint Health
Out of the many bodily functions we must watch over as modern, health-conscious consumers, wrist and joint support is one area that often gets lost in the shuffle. This is an unfortunate reality, since a deficiency in the chemicals that facilitate the smooth movements of joints can lead to some very common complaints, including carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. If you are trying to beat either of these complaints off at the pass or counteract them, these are some nutrients you should surely stock up on—and where to get them.
Vitamin B6
Regardless of your current health condition, B6 is one vitamin you should ensure your suggested intake of. First of all, B6 is one of the body’s key resources for growing healthy nerve tissue, and at the same time, it reduces overall bodily inflammation. Furthermore, B6 is an essential precursor of the chemical GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, which—much like endorphins—is a natural way of regulating the way the stimuli we experience are translated into feeling pain.
In other words, boosting GABA levels will make carpal tunnel or arthritis a lot more manageable. Note that B6 is one of the vitamins than can be harmful if you take too much of them, so be sure to never ingest more than 200 mg per day, no matter what your current pain levels may be.
MSM
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a chemical through which the body can
extract sulfur, one of the key building blocks of connective tissue, so any deficiencies in this are likely to increase the chances of joint complaints. Additionally, sulfur supplies over a hundred compounds that our bodies need, so it’s a good idea to be taking MSM supplements under any circumstances.
Image Courtesy of Blu3d/Wikimedia Commons
Omega-3s
These fatty acids—commonly called “fish oils” and “brain food” as well—are key for reducing inflammation. Fish, especially tuna and salmon, is a great source of omega-3s, but be vigilant against toxins, such as mercury, that may come along with seafood.
Because toxins can be eliminated in the refining process, here is one case in which supplements might be preferable to nature’s way. But remember, omega-e’s are essential fats—meaning your body can’t synthesize them from other sources—so be sure to get them somehow.
Turmeric
Fans of spicy Indian dishes may already be familiar with turmeric, which gives many Indian dishes their trademark spicy flavor. On top of its flavor, turmeric delivers broad health benefits through its key ingredient, curcumin. Not only does turmeric prevent arthritis, it also is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. In capsule form, turmeric/curcumin is a natural pain-killer, as it blocks the cox-2 “pain enzyme.”
Image Courtesy Sanjay Acharya/Wikimedia Commons
Hyaluronic acid
This substance helps with production of the gelatinous aminoglycan, an ingredient you absolutely need in the spaces between your tissues, in your joints and even in your eyes.
Cissus
Many cultures turn to cissus as a holistic cure-all as it can be effective in treating eye and ear disease, bone discomfort, and muscle pain and even anorexia. While studies are still being done to determine whether it is an agent in facilitating joint health, given that it is an established healer in bones and muscle, this is a supplement to watch out for. As with any supplements, make sure to seek your doctor’s advice to ensure that the levels you are taking are ideal for you.
Additionally, joint support is best aided by regular physical activity such as yoga, so make sure you keep yourself healthy from every angle possible. All of these supplements can be found at any health food store (or even at higher end grocery chains), so there’s no excuse not to feel your best.
Virginia Cunningham is a freelance writer from Southern California who covers a wide range of health topics, including vitamins and supplements, healthy cooking, fitness and holistic medicine. As a writer, she prevents wrist and joint pain by taking the essential supplements that her body needs.
Kathryn says: If you use some of Virginia’s suggestions along with the other ways that I suggest for getting rid of your hand and wrist pain, you have a great chance of having carpal tunnel pain relief naturally.