Multiple neuritis, also known as peripheral neuropathy, and polyneuritis, is the degeneration (wear and tear) of peripheral nerves supplying mainly the distal (towards the end) muscles of the extremities (hands and feet). It results in muscle weakness with sensory loss and atrophy (muscle wasting), and decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes. This syndrome is associated with a non-inflammatory degeneration of the nerve cells and their coverings, chiefly affecting the distal muscles of the extremities. Although peripheral neuritis can occur at any age, its incidence is highest in men between the ages of 30 and 50. Because onset is usually insidious, patients may compensate by overusing unaffected muscles; however, onset is rapid with severe infection and chronic alcohol intoxication. If the cause can be identified and eliminated, the prognosis is good.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine is effective in treating this disease. It effectively controls the infection with few side effects, increases body resistance by various methods.

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Syndrome (a)
Excessive humid and heat

A person with humid and heat attacks, has numb and swollen arms, hands, legs and feet. His muscles may be sore, skin itchy and he may have loss of power in the muscles. The legs are affected more than the arms. The patient may have shortness of breath, problems with speech, difficulty in swollowing and stool and urine problems. The tongue is usually swollen and yellow, and the pulse is fast.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Eliminating the humid environment and removing the heat stasis, and therefore, promoting Qi in the body.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for dissipating Qi and humid stasis channel up to whole body. Sichuan Achyranthes at l0g; Atractylodes, Phellodendron, Tokoro, Notopterygium, Coix crude, Codonopsis at each 15g; Tuckahoe at 20g; Savia at 30g.

Simple Prescription: Two clever kind pills twice a day.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture and moxibustion helps regulate the circulation of Qi, discharge heat, resolve energy stasis and relieve humidity by using points mainly from Du / Extra meridian point and the Large Intestines meridian of Hand Yang-Ming and the Spleen meridian of Food Tai-Yin.

Prescription/Formula: Da-Zhui (Du14), Ming-Men (Du4), Yao-Yang-Guan (Du3), Qu-Chi (LI11), Shou--San-Li (LI10), He-Gu (LI4), San-Yin-Jiao (Sp6) and Ffua-Tuo-Jia-Ji (Extra2 1). Acupuncture 10-20 minutes or with Moxibustion at each point 10-20 minutes.

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Syndrome (b)
Cold Chill material blocked meridian

Due to the outside cold chill attack, the hands and feet are numb, painful at times, and there is a preference to warm environment. Also the patient has problems in walking, his tongue is white with light fur and his pulse is weak. The main reason for this is the inability of the body to get rid of the toxic materials from inside the body.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine can clean the heat and expel wind through the meridians.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for removing blood stagnation in the head area. Chuanxiong rhizome, Chuanxiong rhizome, Red peony rood, Angelica root, Cinnamon Twig at each 15g; Ledebouriella root at l0g; Wild ginger at 3g; Milettia at 30g; Terandra root at 20g.

Simple Prescription: Cinnamon Twig soup one time a bag, twice a bag.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture or moxibustion can regulate the circulation of Qi, discharge wind cold, resolve blood stasis and relieve muscle pain by using points mainly from Extra points and Food Yang-Min Stomach meridian point and the Hand Tai-Yin Lung meridian points and Food Tai--Yang Urine Bladder meridian points and San-Jiao meridian of Hand Shao-Yang points.

Prescription/Formula:
Upper extremity: Chi-Ze (Lu5), Qu-Chi (LI11), Wai-Guan (SJ5) and Ba-Xie (Extra28).
Lower extremity: Wei-Zhong (UB40), Zusanli (St36), Kun-Lun (UB60) and Ba-Feng (Extra36). 20-40 minutes Acupuncture or and 15-20 minutes Moxibustion.

  

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Syndrome (c)
Deficiency of spleen and kidney

When there is a deficiency in the spleen and kidney, the clinical picture is a disorder of muscles, including atrophy, numbness, power loss, dark skin colour, dry stools, yellow urine and a difficulty in swollowing. The tongue is dark and the pulse is weak. These symptoms occur in a later phase of the disease.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine helps clean the heat and expel toxic materials from the body, in order to arrest pain.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for removing blood stagnation in the head area. Phellodendron, Tortoise plastron , Scrophularia, Dioscorea, Achyranthes, White Peony Root and Tiger Bone at each 15g; Rehmannia cocked, Angelica and Tangerine peel at each l0g.

Simple Prescription: Jia-Wei-Jin-Gang Wan one time a pill, twice a day.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Regulating the Circulation of Qi, restoring Yin material, resolving blood stasis and relieving atrophy. By using points mainly from Du meridian and Food Yang-Min Stomachs meridian point and the Hand Yang-Ming Large Intestines meridian points and Food Tai-Yang Urine Bladder meridian points and Spleen meridian of Foot Tai-Yin and Kidney meridian of Foot Shao-Yin meridian points.

Prescription/Formula: Gan-Shu (UB18), Shen-Shu (UB23), Ming-Men (Du4), Yao-Yang-Guan (Du3), Zusanli (St36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Tai-Xi (K3), Qu-Chi (LI11) and He-Gu (LI4). 15-30 minutes Acupuncture and or with Moxibustion 15-20 minutes.

  

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Syndrome (d)
Kidney Yin Deficiency

When the Qi and Blood are deficient in the body, there is not enough energy in the muscles, as a result of which they become weak, atrophied, numb, swollen etc. Also there are sleep problems, increased perspiration, dark skin colour, a dark tongue and a deep pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine helps promote qi though to the meridian block and improve blood circulation to arrest pain.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for removing blood stagnation in the muscle skeleton system. Angelica, Chinese Starjasmine, Turmeria slice, Gentian Root, Chuanxiong rhizome and Achyranthes, at each 15g; Perilla Seed, Carthamus , Trogopterus dung, Tiger head Banana, Mastic cooked and Myrrh cooked at each 10g.

Simple Prescription: Xiao-Huo-Luo Wan one time a pill, twice a day.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture and moxibustion can help regulate the circulation of Qi, resolve blood stasis and relieve pain by using points mainly from Extra meridian points and Food Yang-Mm Stomach meridian point and the Hand Yang-Ming Large Intestines meridian points and Food Tai-Yang Urine Bladder’meridian points.

Prescription/Formula: Qu-Chi (LI11), Zusanli (St36), Hegu (LI4), Qi-Men (LI14), Ge-Shu (UB17), Gan-Shu (UB18), Tai-Chong (LI3), Ba-Xie (Extra28) and Ba-Feng (Extra36) 15-30 minutes Acupuncture and or with Moxibustion 15-20 minutes.

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies
1. Qigong: Qigong is a very effective exercise for neuritis disease. Try a self-setting exercise everyday for 10-30 minutes. Relax and lead the Qi down to your foot then release the bad energy out of your foot. Also do self hand massage for extremities (hands and feet), twice a day.

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

• Static Qigong:
  Relaxation Qigong
  Inner-Nourishing Qigong
  Six-Character Qigong
  Breathing Exercise Qigong
  Standing Qigong
  
• Dynamic Qigong:
  Fifteen Sets of Taiji-Qigong
  Baduanjing of Internal Exercise

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

2. Skin Acupuncture: puncture for atrophy area, Du meridian area and back sides area of Hua-Tuo Jia-Ji points.
3. Electrical Acupuncture: Both sides of Yang-Ming meridian or Dash area. Find out the sensitive points and pick and let the bad energy out.
4. Ear acupuncture: Shen-Men, Jiao-Gan and extremities area 15-20 minutes twice a day.
5. Head acupuncture: Using movement area and sensitive area 30-60 minutes once a day.
6. Acupressure and Tuina massage: Using TCM acupressure at the painful body sites and at the atrophy areas for 30 -40 minutes once a day.

(b) Medicated diet
1. Barley and Coix congee: Barley 60g and Coix 60g with Tuckahoe 60g make congee without Tuckahoe dregs to eat.
2. Moggy bone with gingili food: Take moggy spinal bone cooked to powder 300g with black gingili 300g fry to good smell, then make to powder with candy to eat.
3. Astragalus Root big bone soup: Astragalus Root 50g with 500g big spinal bone with 1L water cooked 1.5-2 hours and eat.

(c) Life style
1. Diet: Avoid irregular eating habits and eat nutritious food.
2. Note in Life: Keep the body in action and keep the blood circulating well.
3. Life habit: Exercise regularly and try to have good emotions.

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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.