| Question: | | | | nutrients, so they malfunction, causing numbness, |
| Two years ago, my daughter-in-law had a numbing | | | | burning or tingling. A simple test to see if the ANS is |
| sensation in her arms and legs. The doctors suspected | | | | functioning properly is to push a blunt object vigorously |
| multiple sclerosis but an MRI scan did not confirm this. | | | | along the skin of the inner arm. You'll see a grey line, |
| The feeling has continued and she now has dizziness, | | | | which within seconds becomes pink or red as the area |
| too. Another MRI proved negative. She has two little | | | | fills with blood (it is harder to see on darker skin). |
| boys and works full-time so is finding things very | | | | Normally, the red disappears again almost instantly and |
| difficult although she has a lot of help from my son. | | | | the marks vanish. But as the ANS controls the dilation |
| Can you suggest anything? | | | | and constriction of blood vessels, if there's a problem |
| Answer: | | | | with its functioning, the grey will take some seconds to |
| I have come across this problem before - more in | | | | turn red, and that redness may persist for several |
| women than men - and most patients get diagnosed | | | | minutes. My emphasis is on restoring the functioning of |
| as having multiple sclerosis, even though the MRI scans | | | | the ANS as soon as possible. |
| of the brain and spinal cord do not show signs of | | | | This is what I suggest |
| abnormality. I can understand how worried and upset | | | | Diet |
| she must be feeling. | | | | * Avoid foods that are known to make nerves |
| The three main types of symptoms associated with | | | | sensitive, particularly citrus fruit excess salt, coffee and |
| impaired sensation are numbness, burning and tingling. | | | | alcohol. |
| Another is blotchy 'corned beef' skin, with areas of | | | | Supplements |
| pink, where the little blood vessels (capillaries) are | | | | * To improve peripheral circulation, take Ginkgo Biloba |
| dilated, and patches of grey, where they're constricted. | | | | 2000: one daily for two months. |
| Patients also suffer fatigue, lack of concentration, | | | | * To counteract fatigue and depression, take |
| dizziness, headaches, neck tension, disturbed sleep, | | | | BioEnergy: two daily for three months. |
| and, not surprisingly, depression. | | | | Neck and shoulder massage |
| I suspect the underlying cause of your | | | | * With your thumbs and fingers, massage the sides of |
| daughter-in-law's symptoms could be the following. | | | | the neck the base of the skull and shoulders with |
| There are two systems controlling our nerves as they | | | | Lifestyle Oil. You'll find more details in The Ultimate |
| conduct messages from the brain to the body and | | | | Back Book. Initially, some areas will be sore and tight, |
| vice versa. One is voluntary the other involuntary. This | | | | so focus on these; as blood flows in, the tenderness |
| latter autonomous nervous system (ANS) is | | | | will ease. Do this yourself for three minutes daily for |
| responsible for regulating breathing heart rate, body | | | | three months, and/or ask a partner to do it once |
| temperature, hormone production, digestion, circulation, | | | | weekly for l5 minutes. |
| sweating and the constriction or dilation of smaller | | | | Yoga |
| blood vessels. If the blood flow to the ANS control | | | | * Therapeutic Iyengar yoga can help; specific poses |
| centre in your brain, the hypothalamus, is impaired, | | | | include cobra, turtle, semibridge, child pose, head roll and |
| parts of the subconscious brain won't function properly. | | | | shoulder stand. Find a qualified teacher locally. |
| This can be caused by a trauma to the head or neck, | | | | Breathing |
| which misaligns the vertebrae in the neck and so | | | | * Practise inhaling for three seconds, holding for six, |
| prevents the smooth flow of blood through the | | | | then exhaling for six seconds. This retains carbon |
| cerebral-vertebral arteries running either side of your | | | | dioxide in the blood so the capillaries dilate, improving |
| spine. | | | | blood circulation to the nerves and often helping |
| All nerves get nutrition - oxygen and glucose - from | | | | numbness, burning and tingling. Do this four times daily. |
| small capillaries running their entire length. If these | | | | Relaxation |
| capillaries don't supply optimum quantities of blood due | | | | * At bedtime, listen to a relaxation tape (there are |
| to ANS malfunction, the nerves don't receive sufficient | | | | many available including my own relaxation CD. |