8 Home Remedies for Numbness in Hands and Feet

Numbness in hands and feet can be alleviated through massage

Numb hands and feet are not an independent condition. Whether it appears in elders who have been active their whole lives or in younger people who exercise regularly, numbness and tingling in hands and feet almost always points to a deeper underlying problem. Because of this, having numb hands and feet can be accompanied by more than one symptom as well. The most frequent symptoms include burning, intense aches or weakness. Once we exclude an arm or a leg that has gone to sleep, the causes of numbness in hands and feet vary largely and can be anything from pressure, exposure to extreme weather conditions, injury of a nerve, alcohol abuse, excessive smoking, sedentariness or a poor diet lacking nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Another reason why hands and feet numb are medical conditions like diabetes, carpal tunnel, multiple sclerosis or a faulty thyroid.

Overall, it is clear to see why having numb hands and feet can be cause for concern. In today’s, article we are going to go over some of the top home remedies that will allow you to ease some of the pain associated with numb hands feet. If you find that the issue persists or your numb hands and feet are accompanied by additional side effects, then you should make it a point to go and visit your doctor. This will allow you to rule out a more serious condition. 

While it’s more common in old age, no one is immune to hands and feet going numb. Most of us experience tingling and numbness in hands and feet at least once in our lives. Whether we’ve been standing in an awkward position for too long or we fell asleep on the couch with the left arm filling in for a pillow, we all know how it feels. Generally, numbness in hand and feet is not a cause for concern. If the feeling only lasts a few minutes and is only accompanied by a tingling sensation, you shouldn’t worry yourself. If the symptom doesn’t go away by itself, it can last up to hours or days at a time. This is a clear indication that something else in your body isn’t functioning properly. It can be a temporary nerve compression or a B12 or magnesium deficiency. Although it’s not always painful, hand and feet numbness is not pleasant either. It worries and makes those who experience it and assume the worst.

What causes numbness in hands and feet? When it’s not only a mere inconvenience, numbing hands and feet can be a sign of a stroke, injuries of the spinal cord or the neck, side effect of specific medication, type 2 diabetes, nerve damage, HIV or AIDS or cervical spondylitis. Getting rid of numbness of hands and feet involves more than knowing what massage to have or supplement to take. It requires understanding what is causing waking up with numb hands and feet or what is the underlying cause of numb hands and feet while sleeping. Once you know if you’re dealing with a disease that is restricting your blood flow or nerve damage, you can choose a course of treatment that addresses your specific symptoms and can help alleviate the signs. If you can’t reach a doctor or if medication is not doing much for the numb feeling in hands and feet, you can try the some of these at home remedies.

For the most part, you should not be too concerned if you find yourself dealing with numb hands and feet. Most often, the culprit is a restriction of blood flow. It can also be because of being on your feet too long. For example, many pregnant mothers suffer from numb hands and feet because of the added and sudden weigh of their growing baby. This can cause a change in their overall body that restricts blood flow. 

Numbness in hands and feet can be experience during the day or the night

1. Using heating pads or warm compresses

This is the universal home remedy that can alleviate the tingling pain and numbness in hands and feet. Since it doesn’t have any side effects, it can safely be used both by young individuals experiencing the temporary symptoms and by elders who have to endure the tingling sensation on a daily basis. The procedure is simple and can be used with damp warm washcloths, heating pads, hot water bottles or a DIY sock filled with rice and heated in the microwave. Once constant heat is kept on the aching area, the tingling sensation starts fading away until the muscles and nerves relax. It’s important to reheat the compresses or pads and keep the area warm for 30-40 minutes for the soothing effects to start kicking in.

2. Massage therapy

Another easy tip for relieving numbness in hands and feet at night is to massage the problematic areas. This will increase blood circulation, which, in its turn, will reduce numbing of hands and feet. Massages will also stimulate nerves and muscles’ functioning, helping them perform better. You don’t need a massage expert for this home remedy. You can either ask someone to massage you or do it yourself. The technique works best when you have some oil at hand. You can choose your favorite one, but we recommend coconut or olive oil. Focusing on the painful areas, start firmly rubbing in circular motions for up to 5 minutes. The massage can be repeated several times throughout the day until the pain ­gives in.

If you can, then ask your partner to massage the affected area as well. While it may not be the same as the pros, having someone massage the parts of your hands and feet that are numb is a great way to allow and encourage your blood to circulate properly. Also, if you have been suffering from aches and pains due to your numb hands and feet, a massage can help remedy this as well. 

3. Taking Ginkgo Biloba

The power of Ginkgo Biloba in healing and helping the body has been known for thousands of years. Now, science is backing up our hunches. Improving blood flow, brain functioning and acting as an antioxidant, Ginkgo Biloba can be taken as a supplement three times a day. This herb will also help with memory problems due to dementia or Alzheimer’s while fighting intermittent numbness in hands and feet.

4. Doing regular exercise

While high impact exercises are strictly ruled out for patients dealing with numbing in hands and feet, mild exercises on a daily basis are a must. The media is saturated with articles on the importance of regular exercises, yet we tend to dismiss it, finding pretexts such as lack of time or equipment. But exercising is not only for those who want to stay fit. It also keeps severe conditions at bay, preventing numbness and tingling and promoting mobility and overall health. Establishing a personal exercising routine should take into account the level of endurance and other medical conditions. 15 minutes of simple exercises in the morning are a great way to start the day and warm up your whole body. No time to go to the gym shouldn’t be an excuse. Walking, jogging, taking the stairs, or biking can easily be incorporated in day to day activities and help with hands and feet numbness.

5. Epsom Salt warm feet bath

A warm salt bath is not only beneficial when you have the flu or when you’ve been out in the cold for hours. Using Epsom Salt is beneficial for cold numb hands and feet and is one of the easiest home remedies. A half of a cup of Epsom salt is enough for a small tub. You can soak your feet for up to 10 minutes or even longer, until numbness in the hands and feet diminishes or completely disappears. Epsom salt is rich in magnesium sulfate crystals, which will help increase the magnesium levels in the body, as  well as boosting blood circulation.

6. Incorporating turmeric in your diet

Dubbed the most efficient nutritional supplement out there, turmeric comprises powerful compounds that have impressive medicinal properties. Used for thousands of years in Indian cuisine, turmeric contains curcuminoids, powerful active ingredients that act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. With curcumin working on improving the boy’s blood flow and its active ingredients alleviating the pain in the affected area, turmeric is not to be overlooked in the kitchen. It can be incorporated in other dishes than rice. For example, it can be mixed in with warm milk and sweetened with a teaspoon of honey. This concoction improves circulation and decreases inflammation. Turmeric supplements are also efficient because they contain a high concentration of curcumin, which works wonders for poor circulation as well as numbness and pain in hands and feet.

7. Cinnamon and honey

Packed with antioxidants, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties, decreases the risk of heart disease, lowers blood sugar and can even fight off free radicals, protecting the body against cancer. But cinnamon is also a strong ally against swelling and numbness in hands and feet. Since it is rich in manganese and potassium, cinnamon promotes good blood circulation and can keep numb and tingling hands and feet at bay. Combined with honey, the resulted natural supplement can be taken in the morning and in the evening to help with pain and discomfort.

8. Vitamin B supplements and magnesium intake

B6 and B12 vitamins are essential for promoting a healthy nervous system. Patients wondering why their hands and feet go numb could be facing a Vitamin B deficit. Include foods that are high in B6 and B12 in your daily meals: avocado, bananas, eggs, oatmeal, nuts and fish will give you a Vitamin B boost and help with hands and feet going numb and tingling. In the same vein, low levels of magnesium in the body will take a toll on blood circulation and the nervous system. Some good examples of foods that are high in magnesium are dark green vegetables, fish, dark chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal and nuts. These will promote a healthy eating style and give your body all the nutrients it needs for an adequate functioning.

All these home remedies or DIY suggestions are safe to be carried out at home. However, people who experience frequent numbness tingling in hands and feet should consult a doctor in order to rule out more severe conditions like a damaged nerve or spinal cord injury. It’s also worth keeping in mind that cigarettes can overtax the nervous system, while alcohol and coffee reduce blood circulation. A deficient diet is often the main cause for constant numbness in hands and feet, which can be solved by a meal plan that is rich in leafy green and fruit.

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