Home Remedies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Here are several home remedies for carpal tunnel syndrome. This page also answers these questions. What is carpal tunnel syndrome? What causes carpal tunnel syndrome? What are carpel tunnel symptoms?

Carpel tunnel syndrome or CTS is an inflammation of the nerves. This painful condition happens when there is too much pressure placed on the median nerve. It can also occur because of nerve entrapments on the forearm and towards the elbow. Medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, pregnancy and obesity may also cause carpal tunnel pain.

The carpal tunnel is located on the palm side of your hands. It is a passageway with blood vessels, nerves and tendons. All these combined control the movements of the fingers. When compression happens and the tendons are swollen, the blood flow to the thumb, index finger and middle fingers is interrupted and you will feel the pain and numbness around these areas.

The common symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome are burning, numbness, stiffness, tingling and pain from the wrist to the fingers. You may also face difficulties to make a fist. If the symptoms are not treated, it can cause further damage to the nerves and the pain may extend to the hand and forearm. Your hand will become weak and you may easily drop things that you are holding.

Here is a list of home remedies for carpal tunnel syndrome that may provide carpal tunnel pain relief.

Home remedies for carpal tunnel No. 1 - Use ice

Soaking your hand in ice water may help provide carpal tunnel relief. You may try alternating soaking your hand in ice water followed by warm water for pain relief. Another way to use ice is to place an ice pack on the wrist for 15 minutes several times a day.

Home remedies for carpal tunnel No. 2 - Exercise your wrist and fingers

Exercising your wrist and fingers will improve blood flow and strengthen the muscles and tendons. Take breaks during your desk and computer work to avoid pressure to the median nerve.

Here are a few carpal tunnel exercises:

1. Stretch your hands with the palms facing down. Rotate your wrist five times clockwise followed by the opposite direction.
   
   
   
2. Spread your fingers of both hands apart and stretch them for ten seconds. Repeat this finger stretching exercise about five times.
   
   
   
3. Hold out your right hand with the palms down. Using your left hand, pull the thumb of your right hand, release the pull and hold it for ten seconds. Repeat this thumb stretch exercise several times and then do the same to your left thumb.

Home remedies for carpal tunnel No. 3 - Castor oil

You can try using castor oil pack as a natural carpal tunnel treatment. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid which has anti inflammatory properties. Soak a piece of wool or cotton flannel in castor oil and then place it on your wrist. Place a heating pad or hot water bottle on it for an hour to allow the castor oil to penetrate. Then wrap the pack and sleep with it. This remedy is especially helpful if you suffer from the symptoms of carpal tunnel at night and it is disturbing your sleep.

Home remedies for carpal tunnel No. 4 - Health supplements

1. Bromelain is the extract of pineapple. It has anti inflammatory properties. Taking this daily supplement may help reduce swelling and inflammation.
   
   
   
2. Increasing your intake of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine between 25mg up to 100mg a day may help treat carpal tunnel syndrome. This vitamin is essential to nerve and muscle cell health. Eating foods that contain vitamin B6 such as ready-to-eat cereal, baked potatoes and bananas isn't enough.
   
   
   
3. When you increase your intake of vitamin B6, you should also increase vitamin B2 or riboflavin so that it will activate vitamin B6.
   
   
   
4. Vitamin C is helpful in repairing tissues. Taking vitamin C supplements daily has many other benefits including preventing onset or slow progression of many conditions and diseases.

Home remedies for carpal tunnel No. 5 - Herbal remedies

Herbs that reduce inflammation and provide pain relief are helpful as natural carpal tunnel remedies.

1. Cayenne peppers have anti-inflammatory properties. Besides reducing inflammation, this herb also helps reduce sore joints.
   
   
   
2. Comfrey herb is best used topically. Boil the herb and use it as a compress to ease carpal tunnel pain.
   
   
   
3. Use chamomile tea as a cold compress to provide carpal tunnel pain relief. After steeping the tea bag in hot water, chill it in the fridge and then place it on the affected area.
   
   
   
4. Devil's claw and St John's wort have shown to be effective in reducing inflammations.
   
   
   
5. Another herb that contains anti inflammatory properties is turmeric. Curcumin is one of the active ingredients.
   
   
   
6. White willow bark and meadowsweet leaves extract are natural pain relief herbs. They are an alternative to taking over the counter pain relief medication such as aspirin.

Home remedies for carpal tunnel No. 6 - Alternative healing methods

1. Even though it may look and sound silly, emotional freedom technique of EFT tapping may help relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
   
   
   
2. Certain yoga poses that emphasize stretching and strengthening the joints is used as a remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome.
   
   
   
3. Acupuncture is another one of the popular remedies for carpal tunnel. This therapy makes use of needles which are inserted on certain points of the body to remove the pain.
   
   
   
4. Acupressure is an alternative healing method that uses the fingers to put pressure on certain meridian points on the body.

How to Prevent Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Prevention is better than finding a cure. Here are some changes that you may want to consider.

1. If you do a lot of desk and computer work, make use of a wrist rest.
   
   
   
2. Take breaks in between your work if you use your hands and fingers a lot and especially if you have to exert force.
   
   
   
3. Avoid placing your wrist at the sharp edge of your desk.
   
   
   
4. Most of us use a dominating hand to do things. Try to learn to use the non-dominant hand and alternate between them.
   
   
   
5. Avoid sleeping with your hand tug under your head.
   
   
   
6. Exercise your arms, wrists and fingers daily.

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