Raynaud's phenomenon is a circulatory disorder
that results in the hands, and sometimes feet, being hypersensitive to
the cold. When the hands are exposed to cold temperatures, the small
arteries that supply the toes and fingers suddenly contract and go
into spasm. As a result, the fingers and toes are deprived of adequate
amounts of oxygenated blood, and become whitish or bluish in color.
The symptoms come on quickly, and may also be triggered by emotional
stress.
Over time, the condition may result in a general shrinkage of the
affected area. Ultimately, ulcers may form, damaging the tissues and
resulting in chronic infection under and around the fingernails and
toenails. In severe cases, gangrene may
result from prolonged and persistent contraction of the arteries.
Raynaud's phenomenon is more common in women than in men. It may occur
by itself or it may be a complication of another underlying illness.
Some of the disorders that can lead to Raynaud's phenomenon include
arteriosclerosis
and
Buerger's disease, a
chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the extremities that is
most common in people who smoke. Certain
drugs that affect the blood vessels such as calcium channel blockers,
ergot preparations, and alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockers have been
known to produce symptoms similar to those of Raynaud's as a side
effect. Recent research has also linked Raynaud's with other
conditions involving abnormal constriction of blood vessels, including
migraine and Prinzmetal's angina which is a form of
angina caused by spasms in the
coronary arteries. If symptoms occur on their own, and are not
related to any other condition, a person is said to have Raynaud's
disease.
|
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| B
vitamin complex |
9 |
the B
vitamin family aids with blood
circulation, are needed for good metabolism, and they
also helps with stress and emotional related problems. |
| Essential
fatty acids |
8 |
they are helpful in improving
blood circulation and are required for good heart and
cardiovascular health. Fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish
oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. |
| vitamin E |
10 |
improves circulation acts also as
an anticoagulant. It is also a powerful healing agent and
strengthens the body's immune system. |
| Coenzyme Q10 |
10 |
improves circulation, some
supplements will
include reishi mushroom which helps boost the
immune system as well. |
| Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
9 |
contains B vitamins,
vitamin E ,
calcium, zinc, folic acid, and magnesium, which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of
raynaud's and related problems. The nutrients in a supplement
also are required for
general good health and well being. |
| Folic
acid |
9 |
helps
with metabolism of fat and cholesterol and works with the B
vitamins. |
| Zinc |
8 |
this
mineral works in combination
with calcium and magnesium |
| Calcium |
9 |
mineral that helps circulation and to protect
arteries from stress caused by sudden blood pressure changes.
Women are often low in calcium but need other vitamins and minerals
also to properly absorb
the calcium into their body. |
| Magnesium |
9 |
mineral that works with calcium |
| Ginkgo
biloba |
8 |
herb that helps strengthen blood
vessels, improve blood flow, and oxygenation. |
|
Myrrh resin |
8 |
promotes healing and it works well
with frankincense and aloe vera |
| Blessed
Thistle |
8 |
herb used in Europe for almost any
problem and used for many inflammation and infection problems. Often used in a blend with myrrh and frankincense. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
