Nervous Weakness – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment
When you are always on the run, hits and falls become part and parcel of your life. And most of the time, you don’t give them a second thought. But is that ok? No! Even minor falls can lead to serious medical conditions as a result of damaged or injured nerves, or in other words, nervous weakness. Even the long hours you spend stressing – be it about work, family, or relationships – can alter the functioning of your nerves. So, are you wondering what can be done to avoid this? Read on to find out!
Table Of Contents
- What Is Nervous Weakness?
- What Causes Nervous Weakness?
- Signs And Symptoms Of Nervous Weakness
- List Of Nervous System Diseases
- Natural Therapies For Nervous Weakness
- Best Foods For Nervous Weakness
- Best Exercises To Help Nervous Weakness
- Preventive Tips
What Is Nervous Weakness?
Nervous weakness or neuropathy is a medical term used to collectively define various nervous disorders that cause the nerves in some parts of your body to become weak or immobile. For some individuals, this condition is a temporary affair, while for others, it might be a permanent health issue.
Wondering what causes nervous weakness? Keep reading to find out.
What Causes Nervous Weakness?
The most common causes of nervous weakness are:
- Inflamed nerves
- Compressed nerves
- Nerve damage
- Degenerated nerves
- Development of malignant tumors on nerve cells
- Disruption of nerve impulses by toxins
- Unhealthy diet and lifestyle
- Stress
The causes of nervous weakness can also vary depending on the type of disease and other factors. They include:
- Nerve infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or other parasites.
- Medications or drugs that damage the nerves or alter their function over time.
- Deficiency of nutrients.
- Congenital defects or genetic abnormalities that alter the function of the nerves.
The symptoms of nervous weakness vary widely depending on the type and location of the affected nerve. However, some common symptoms are listed below.
Signs And Symptoms Of Nervous Weakness
- Prickling or tickling sensation
- Aches or pains
- Anxiety and depression
- Weak immunity
- Fatigue
- Diminished sense of smell, vision, taste, touch, or hearing
- Cognitive problems
- Muscle weakness and wasting
- Tremors
Weak or damaged nerves can also give rise to different medical conditions, and some of the most common ones are discussed below.
List Of Nervous System Diseases
There are a number of diseases that can cause your nerves to weaken. They include:
- Sciatica: Sciatica is often a result of nerve root compression.
- Multiple Sclerosis: This is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack the insulating sheath (myelin sheath) of your nerves.
- Bell’s Palsy: Also referred to as facial palsy, this disease results in inflamed nerves on one side of your face, thereby causing muscle weakness in the affected area.
- Diabetic Neuropathy: This condition is a result of long and untreated cases of diabetes mellitus.
- Stroke: When a part of your brain tissues develops a blood clot due to an interrupted blood supply, it leads to a stroke.
- Parkinson’s Disease: This is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to gradual loss of certain types of nerve cells in your brain.
Nervous weakness might lead to a host of medical conditions. Hence, it is best to treat it immediately. Given below are natural remedies, foods, and exercises that can help you deal with nervous weakness.
How To Treat Nervous Weakness Naturally
Natural Therapies For Nervous Weakness
1. Ayurvedic Oil Massage
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You Will Need
Almond or sesame oil
What You Have To Do
- Take sufficient amount of almond or sesame oil and warm it a little.
- Massage the warm oil on your body or hire a professional to do it.
- Leave it on for half an hour before going ahead with your regular bath.
How Often You Should Do This
You must do this daily.
Why This Works
Ayurvedic massages are a well-known treatment for various ailments, including nervous weakness. This traditional treatment helps in rejuvenating your body and mind and ensures that your nervous system is healthy and active (1).
2. Epsom Salt
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You Will Need
- 1 cup of Epsom salt
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Add a cup of Epsom salt to your bath water.
- Soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this at least thrice a week.
Why This Works
Epsom salt baths are most commonly used to relieve pain and inflammation of the muscles (2). Given its anti-inflammatory properties, owing to its high magnesium content, Epsom salt can also be used to relieve nervous weakness (3).
[ Read: Best Benefits And Uses OF Epsom Salt ]
3. Ashwagandha
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You Will Need
Ashwagandha supplements (300-1000mg)
What You Have To Do
Take ashwagandha supplements on a daily basis.
How Often You Should Do This
You must take these supplements 2 to 3 times daily for at least a month.
Why This Works
Ashwagandha has a range of benefits. It relieves stress and anxiety – two of the many disturbing symptoms of nervous weakness (4), (5).
4. Water Therapy
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You Will Need
Cold and warm water
What You Have To Do
- End your usual bath with a short cold shower.
- Alternatively, take a clean washcloth and soak it in cold water.
- Gently rub this cold washcloth all over your body and then dress warmly.
- You can also alternate between warm and cold water for your bath. Ensure the final rinse is with cold water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this daily.
Why This Works
Water therapy is extensively used for relieving pain and inflammation and is an excellent treatment for nervous weakness. Alternating cold and hot water helps reduce the pain and inflammation that occur due to weak or damaged nerves (6).
5. Sunlight
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Exposing yourself to the early morning sun rays is another way to treat nervous weakness. Nervous weakness is often associated with vitamin D deficiency, and the sun rays help your body produce more of vitamin D (7).
Caution
Avoid going out in the sun in the afternoon as it may have adverse effects on your health.
Best Foods For Nervous Weakness
1. Vitamins
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Consuming foods rich in vitamins B and D is another way to maintain healthy functioning of your spine and brain. Both the vitamins have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation within your body (8), (9). Vitamin D is also beneficial for bone health as it promotes the absorption of calcium by your body.
You can consume foods like fish, bread, whole grains, vegetables, brown rice, cheese, and egg yolk to combat any deficiencies in these vitamins naturally. You can also opt for additional supplements of these vitamins, but after consulting your physician.
2. Magnesium
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Magnesium is another important nutrient for a healthy nervous system (10). It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve the inflammation of your nerves. It also promotes the production of serotonin to relax your nervous system.
Consuming magnesium-rich foods like dark chocolates, green and leafy veggies, bananas, and apricots is a great way to counter any deficiencies of this mineral naturally.
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
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Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are a boon for your nervous system (11), (12). Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3s can aid the treatment of various nervous system diseases by speeding up the recovery of weak and damaged nerves.
Consuming seafood like mackerel, oysters, sardines, salmon, and tuna is a great way to increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids naturally. You can also consider taking additional supplements after consulting your physician.
[ Read: Top 10 Foods Rich In Omega 3 Fatty Acids ]
4. Chamomile Tea
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You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of dried chamomile herb
- 1 cup of water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon or two of dried chamomile herb to a cup of water.
- Bring this to a boil in a saucepan and steep for about 5 minutes.
- Strain and allow the tea to cool a bit before adding some honey.
- Consume it.
How Often You Should Do This
Drink chamomile tea 3 to 4 times daily.
Why This Works
Chamomile tea acts as a sedative and reduces anxiety and calms down your nerves (13), (14). It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help in the treatment of damaged or injured nerves.
5. Green Tea
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You Will Need
- 1 green tea bag
- 1 cup of hot water
- Honey
What You Have To Do
- Take a green tea bag and steep it in a cup of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Let it cool a bit before adding honey.
- Sip on it.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink green tea at least thrice daily.
Why This Works
Among the many benefits of green tea, one is its ability to promote a healthy nervous system. This is mainly due to the presence of compounds like L-theanine, which is known to have unique brain-boosting properties (15). These properties of green tea also help in combating depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders (16).
[ Read: 20 Benefits Of Green Tea You Should Definitely Know ]
Best Exercises To Help Nervous Weakness
1. Yoga
a. Sarva Hita Asana
How It Helps
This yoga asana has a calming effect on your nerves and helps in harmonizing your breath.
Repetitions
5 times
b. Shashankasana
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How It Helps
Shashankasana improves blood circulation to your head and promotes the functioning of your brain and eyes.
Repetitions
3 to 4 times
c. Khatu Pranam
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How It Helps
This asana strengthens your spine and muscles and improves blood circulation to your head. This, in turn, assures the healthy functioning of your nervous system.
Repetitions
4 to 6 times
[ Read: 10 Effective Yoga Asanas To Stimulate Your Nervous System ]
2. Walking Barefoot
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How It Helps
Walking barefoot on moist earth or a sandy beach can help in healing your nervous system. It is believed that the electrons from the earth’s surface improve your health by reducing your stress levels and inflammation in your body.
Duration
30 minutes
3. Deep Breathing
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How It Helps
You can also practice deep breathing to relieve stress and relax. It helps you combat anxiety and stress-related disorders and improves your body’s natural healing abilities.
Duration
5 to 10 minutes
Repetitions
2 to 3
In addition to the remedies mentioned above, like following specific diets, exercises, and remedies, there are also some tips you might want to consider to help you deal with weak nerves.
Preventive Tips
- Quit smoking and using tobacco products.
- Make sure to get plenty of rest.
- Treat and manage other medical conditions, if any.
- Drink a lot of fluids and water.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.
- Increase your attention span and ability to focus by learning new skills.
- Try and avoid the use of non-prescription medications.
If nervous weakness has taken a toll on your physical or emotional state of health, please treat it immediately to avoid complications. Avoid stress and maintain a positive attitude.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment in the box below.
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Shaheen Naser
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