Does Coconut Oil Reduce Pain In Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? 8
Coconut oil is one of the healthiest items to include in your diet as it has a host of antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that nourish and protect your body. If you take a teaspoon of coconut oil daily, you will note the difference yourself. It not only helps you to lose weight but also helps heal cuts and wounds and stabilizes blood sugar. Yet many people avoid using coconut oil due to its high concentration of saturated fats. But what you need to know is that the saturated fats present in coconut oil are actually beneficial for the body as they are medium chain fatty acids like Lauric acid and Capric acid etc. These acids in fact even help improve cardiovascular health as can be seen by the fact that communities like the Tokelauans in South Pacific have no history of heart diseases. This is because they are the largest consumers of saturated fat across the world and most of their diet is composed of coconuts. This miracle oil is also beneficial for those suffering from Carpal tunnel syndrome as it helps relieve
the pain and inflammation in the hands and fingers. WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is characterized by a numbness, tingling sensation and pain in the hands and fingers. It usually does not affect the little finger as that is connected to another nerve in the body. When a person puts too much pressure on the median nerve in his wrist, he experiences a sharp pain and may even lose sensation in his palm, hands and thumb and the next three fingers. WHO ARE AT RISK OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME Around 23,000 people suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome every year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is mostly prevalent among people who have to repeatedly use their hands like cashiers, truck drivers who use hammers and computer operators. If you have a vitamin B6 deficiency ora magnesium deficiency you are also at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Those suffering from hypothyroidism, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, you may also face the effects of this disease. Also pregnant women are prone to suffering from this syndrome. WHAT CAUSES CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME There are many things that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome but it is mainly caused due to excess pressure on the median nerve. If you have any kind of swelling, it affects the carpal tunnel around the nerve. The carpal tunnel is not able to expand and thus puts force on the median nerve instead. If you repeatedly move your hands and wrist around and stretch them a lot, this also creates pressure on the nerve. Also if your kidney fails, there will be a buildup of fluid around the carpal tunnel. SYMPTOMS OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME You are probably suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome if you experience weakness and loss of grip in your hands when you try to hold or squeeze something. You may also not be able to sleep at night due to the constant tingling, in your fingers.
You will also not be able to perform manual tasks which you could normally do with ease as there will be a lack of coordination between your thumb and fingers and your thumb will become numb. After some time if the condition persists, you lose all sensation in your hands and fingers and the pain then even affects your arms and shoulders. How Coconut Oil Helps Reduce the Pain Coconut oil can also be used to help negate the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome and unrefined virgin coconut oil is your best option. This is because unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil has not been bleached and is entirely natural, so it retains all its antimicrobial properties. You can either apply the oil directly to the area or drink it to help relieve the inflammation associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Coconut oil is especially beneficial for those suffering from hypothyroid, which is one of the leading causes of the carpal tunnel syndrome. Hypothyroid means your thyroid levels have fallen and you may experience some symptoms like low body temperature, depression, sleep disorders, general aches, headaches, infertility and hair loss. If you start including coconut oil regularly in your diet, you will see some most of these symptoms disappear over time, including the painful effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. CAUTION WHILE USING COCONUT OIL But remember if you are having coconut oil for the first time, you must be prepared for some side effects as your body is not used to it as yet. These include rashes and eruptions but they are just temporary so no need to panic. Once your body becomes accustomed to the coconut oil, you will start noticing the healing properties of the medium chain fatty acids on the body. You must also ask your doctor how much coconut oil you can consume in a day, rather than taking a dosage on your own. Also if you have any allergies, it is better you avoid it or consult the doctor about the same. WHAT DOES COCONUT OIL DO
Coconut oil attacks viruses with a fatty coating and prevents colds and prevents you from getting the flu when you are suffering from hypothyroid.Due to its antibacterial properties, it also gets rids of bacteria that causes sore throats, pneumonia, dental cavities and food poisoning, that are some symptoms of hypothyroid. There are other options to cure carpal tunnel syndrome like acupuncture, vitamins, acupressure but coconut oil is one of the most natural, pain free methods to do so. HOW TO USE COCONUT OIL To make use of coconut oil as a healing agent for carpal tunnel syndrome, you can melt the oil by putting the solid coconut oil mixture in sun light or by putting it in warm water. Never put the oil in a microwave to heat it but use a small bowl over a flame to heat it and apply to your hands and fingers. You can also include it in your diet by replacing your normal vegetable oils for coconut oil, during use in cooking.