From getsurrey.co.uk/news
Dr Eric Berg DC recommends speaking to your GP about the possibility of a copper deficiency being the cause of your nerve pain
A doctor has explained how people suffering from nerve damage could 'reverse' the problem with one mineral he says "no one talks about". Dr Eric Berg DC claims the mineral is associated with a common deficiency behind many nerve issues.
Dr Berg, age 59, is a chiropractor specialising in healthy ketosis and intermittent fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices but focuses on health education through social media.
In a new video for his 13 million YouTube subscribers, he says people with sciatica pain should speak to their GP about possibly upping their intake of copper. Sciatica pain refers to the discomfort a damaged nerve along the sciatic nerve can cause, which extends from the buttocks down through each leg.
The condition typically occurs from a herniated disc or when bone overgrowth puts pressure on the nerve roots in the lumbar spine. Dr Berg says: "The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body, and 90% of sciatica cases involve the discs in your spine."
He adds: "Sciatica typically stems from a disc problem. Copper deficiency is at the root of many disc problems, so it can be an excellent solution for sciatica. A copper supplement or copper cream can help reduce sciatica pain."
Copper is essential in maintaining nerve health and function; a lack of copper can damage nerves. Sciatica may also occur when the sciatic nerve is compressed, causing pain that radiates down the leg.
The expert explained how copper could be linked to nerve pain, telling viewers: "One of the enzymes that greatly impacts sciatica is the same enzyme that uses copper as an essential cofactor for building collagen. 75% of the outer part of the discs in your spine are made out of collagen. Copper is also used in enzymes involving your nerves and is essential for many other bodily functions."
Dr Berg says that copper is used topically in many natural therapies for inflammation and pain. He added: "It’s also used for myeloneuropathy, which can lead to various nerve problems. In many cases, myeloneuropathy is caused by a copper deficiency. Copper is very low-risk, non-toxic, and relatively inexpensive."
Although copper is a vital mineral supporting nerve function, research connecting copper supplementation to relief from sciatica is quite limited. More effective treatments for sciatica typically involve physical therapy, stretching exercises, medications, and, in certain situations, surgical intervention.
Top causes of copper deficiency:
- A lack of copper in the diet
- Intense physical exercise (especially at higher altitudes)
- Taking a lot of zinc, iron, potassium, or niacin without also taking copper
- Consuming enriched flour products
- Consuming fluoride from tap water
- Taking high amounts of ascorbic acid
- Excessive sweating
- Sun tanning too often
- Stress, high levels of DHEA, or high levels of cortisol
- Consuming distilled water
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Consuming too much sugar, coffee, alcohol, or aspartame
Dr Berg says: "A genetic problem with copper absorption can also lead to a deficiency in copper. A copper brace that wraps around the buttocks where the sciatic nerve is or other topical copper remedies may be beneficial for sciatic nerve pain."
Ensuring you’re getting enough copper from your diet is also essential. Foods high in copper include liver, oysters, shellfish, dark chocolate (sugar-free), cashews and meat. If you have been diagnosed with a copper deficiency by a GP, you may also want to consider taking a copper supplement if your health care professional recommends it.
If you think you might be lacking in copper, it's a good idea to see a doctor for testing and to talk about suitable treatment options. While copper bracelets are frequently promoted for alleviating pain, research indicates they are no more effective than a placebo.
Can any other deficiencies cause nerve pain?
Dr Berg says a vitamin B6 deficiency could cause carpal tunnel syndrome. "Along with increasing vitamin B6, you also need more vitamin B12 to support the myelin sheaths of your nerves," he said.
In an interesting discussion about how viruses can hide in the ganglia, which is a nerve cell cluster, Dr Berg said: "This can turn off autophagy - a state in which the body recycles damaged proteins. Here, the viruses can lie dormant until stress levels rise, which increases cortisol and weakens the immune system. Emotional stress can significantly weaken the immune system.
"This is why many dormant viruses come out of remission after a stressful event, such as losing a loved one. The herpes and shingles viruses are often seen after a significant stressor.
"These viruses need the amino acid arginine to survive. Lysine can block arginine and stop the reproduction of these viruses. You need at least 1000 to 3000 mg of lysine to block arginine."
The doctor also claimed that many people with diabetes develop a condition called peripheral neuropathy that causes numbness in the toes and feet. "Vitamin B1 in the form of benfotiamine can penetrate the myelin sheath and help reverse nerve damage caused by high blood sugar," he said. "For vitamin B1 to work, you need the cofactor magnesium."
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/doctor-says-one-mineral-reverses-31244193
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