Home treatment for carpal tunnel

The wrist is bound by bands of tissue that support the joints and the tunnel shaped space between the band and the bone is called the carpal tunnel.

Conditions that cause swelling of this tissue within the tunnel irritate the median nerve that passes through the tunnel and this is what is known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is a painful condition of the wrist and hand in which the ligaments and tendons get swollen and press against the median nerve. When a person has this condition, the pressure makes the hands hurt and feel numb.

There are many different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, some of which include rheumatoid arthritis, acromegaly, myxedema, pregnancy, amyloidosis, kidney failure, oral contraceptives, obesity, diabetes, repetitive hand and finger motions, wrist injuries, arthritis and osteoarthritis.

People who have jobs that involve a lot of repetitive motions of the hands such as sewing, typing, writing, or assembly line duties are also prone to develop the condition.

There are some home remedies that are useful for decreasing the swelling and helping with the problems and pain associated with carpal tunnel.

A person can take enzyme supplements like bromelain in order to reduce the swelling though this type of treatment takes several weeks for the results to be palpable.

Pineapple is the best natural source of bromelain, and should be consumed when carpal tunnel syndrome becomes a problem.

Massages are also good for relieving the pain. A person can try massaging the wrist and finger area with any type of herbal oil, and the swelling should go down.

Arnica can also speed up recovery after hand surgery, if it is needed to fix the problem.

Even without surgery people who take arnica tablets or massage the hands with arnica ointments have shown a great decrease in the pain after two weeks of treatment.

Vitamin B12 is also essential in helping to heal the problems associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Vitamin C will also help.

Acupressure can also stimulate the nerves in the wrist and hand and reduce the swelling caused by carpal tunnel considerably.

Another effective home remedy is taking up yoga.

If a person has a job that involves a lot of typing on the computer or general work on the computer, they can use a brace for supporting the wrist while working.

There are things that need to be avoided as well in order to make sure that the pain and discomfort does not increase over time. It is important to keep the hands, forearms and wrists warm. If a person is riding a bike frequently it is good to wear gloves and to avoid bumpy road conditions that will cause a lot of vibrations while riding.