Treatment for numbness in hands

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*********************************** version 1****** 02-16-02
Some Action Medical folks have come together with this=20
information for those who are still experiencing numbness in their=20
hands after being handcuffed. The following is a list of treatments,=20
aftercare contacts, explanations of what might be happening in=20
your hands, and futher reading and links that you can follow. I am=20
posting this to the Action-Medical.Net website as well, all updates=20
to this information will appear there at:=20
http://www.action-medical.net/library/aftercare/handcuffs.htm

ACTION:

The sooner you are treated the better for your recovery. The=20
numbness can be long term and become a serious problem if left=20
untreated or undertreated. Get checked out by a Medical or Health=20
professional who has dealt with this specific kind of injury before.=20
Also, read the information below, there are many things you can do=20
yourself to help your hands heal.=20

TREATMENTS:=20

Acupuntcure and/or Massage:=20
If you are able to find a practitioner who specializes in Dieh Dah=20
Acupuncture this has been shown in several recent studies to be=20
the most effective Tx for this form of nerve damage. (If you have an=20
Acupuncturist who does not know the Tx but is wiling to learn this=20
Tx we can arrange for them to do a phone consult with a senior=20
Dieh Dah Practitioner). Also, Deep Tissue Massage (such as=20
Rolfing Nuuscular can be an effective adjunctive Tx.

Homeopathic Arnica: You can buy these pills at health food and=20
large grocery stores.You take them internally, a few at a time=20
(dosage on bottle) under the tongue and let them dissolve.=20
Potency: 30C.

Homeopathic Hypericum (St. John's): You can buy these pills at=20
health food and large grocery stores.You take them internally, a=20
few at a time (dosage on bottle) under the tongue and let them=20
dissolve. Potency: 30C. But the effects of homeopathic Hypericum=20
are diminished if you drink mint tea, use mint toothpaste,=20
consume/come into contact with strong volatile oils, drink coffee or=20
alcohol.

St. John's Wort Tincture: St. John's Wort Tincture can be used=20
internally (but NOT the oil). Do NOT take this if you are taking anti-
depressants.

Chinese Herbals: Wan Hua Yon or Zheng Gu Shui are often=20
effective, Dieh Dah Wan taken internally can also help. Consult a=20
Chinese herbalist (see Doc Rosen listed below) before using these.=20

Combination of Hypericum, Arnica, and Hemp Oil: A combination=20
of Hypericum, Arnica, and Hemp Oil can be used externally. TO=20
BE USED TOPICALLY (meaning on your skin)... don't take Arnica=20
oil internally! Also, Evening Primrose Oil is amazing for repairing=20
nerve damage. Follow the dosage on the bottle...=20

Cow Parsnip Tincture: Cow Parsnip Tincture can be applied=20
topically (meaning on your skin) to stimulate regrowth of damaged=20
nerves. It's a little hard to obtain unless you're on the west coast,=20
Corey Pine will send an ounce to anyone who needs it (see list=20
below).

WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN YOUR HANDS:

The continued numbness could be due to the ever stimulation of=20
the radial nerve which runs along the outside of the wrist (thumb=20
side) the cuffs sit directly on it and basically "short" the nerve=20
depending how long the cuffs were on how tight they were personal=20
body issues like circulation nerve sensitivity et al will hasten or=20
retard nerve "reactivation".=20