Postherpetic Neuralgia

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Peppermint Oil [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that peppermint helps to treat neuralgia)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Germanium (Germanium Sesquioxide, Vitamin O) [1, 2, 3, 4]:

WARNING: Germanium may cause permanent Kidney failure. Even organic supplements, though less toxic than inorganic supplements, have caused kidney and liver damage. NOT TO BE USED.

Recommendation: strongly against (Evidence shows that Germanium is not effective in treating neuralgia in any way, and is also toxic, causing severe kidney and liver damage.)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Aconite (Aconitum Napellus, Monkshood, Fu-Tzu):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself, and it not recomended for use because it is EXTREMELY TOXIC and can cause irregular heartbeat, heart failre, and death, even when only used only on the skin.

Recommendation: strongly against (Aconite has been shown to be extremely toxic, and can lead to irregular heartbeat, heart failure and death)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. Baselt, R. (2008). Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man (8 ed.). Foster City, CA: Biomedical Publications. pp. 693–694.

3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9237323

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/germanium

5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/peppermint

6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159

7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19507027

8. http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/alternat/AT022.html

9. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-peppermint.html

10. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/peppermintoil/index.htm

11. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/neuro/neuraliga/conditions/phn/signs.html

12. http://postherpeticneuralgia.net/

13. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1143066-overview

14. http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Postherpetic-Neuralgia.htm

15. http://www.healingchronicpain.org/content/neuralgia/default.asp

16. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postherpetic-neuralgia/DS00277/DSECTION=symptoms

17. http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/articles/691/postherpetic-neuralgia

18. http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/700_799/0725.html

19. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/postherpetic-neuralgia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

20. http://www.msd-trinidadtobago.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec3/ch29/ch29c.html

21. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007423.htm


 

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