Lack of oxygenated blood causes the fingers of toes to become a pale or bluish hue. Sometimes you experience a sensation of numbness from the lack of blood. If the lack of circulation is not corrected, ulcers may form, damaging the tissues and your sense of touch. Chronic infection may occur under and around the fingernails and toenails. Eventually, gangrene may result from prolonged contraction of the arteries.
Causes include exposure to cold, vibrations from powerful handheld equipment, a nerve disorder known as “Burger’s disease,” sensitivity to certain drugs that affect the blood vessels (such as calcium channel blockers, ergot preparations, antihypertensives, alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockers), and autoimmune disorders of the connective tissue.
Royal Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment
1. Avoid smoking absolutely as this contributes to arteriosclerosis and increased blood cholesterol. (See “Smoking Addiction,” “Cholesterol” and “Atherosclerosis.”) Nicotine causes vasospasms that narrow the small blood vessels. Avoid consumption of other socially accepted poisons such as coffee, black tea, and alcohol. Coffee and other caffeinated products constrict blood vessels. Alcohol may increase blood flow to the skin but the heat is soon lost to the air, reducing your core body temperature and making you colder.
2. Avoid processed foods (e.g., white flour products), refined foods (e.g., white sugar products), deep-fried and fatty foods, and hydrogenated fats such as margarine and heat-processed oils. Junk food should be eliminated altogether as refine sugars are a major factor in increasing blood fat levels and contributing to atherosclerosis. Reduce your consumption of red meat. Emphasize a high-fiber, complex carbohydrate diet by increasing your consumption of raw fruits and vegetables. (See “Constipation.”)
3. Increase your fluid intake to 6-8 glasses. This can be in the form of distilled, reverse osmosis, or spring water. Dehydration can aggravate chills. Increased liquid helps to prevent this. Hot ciders, broth, and herb teas are also recommended as a source of fluids.
4. Increase your activity level. A brisk walk in which the heart rate is increased by approximately 10 beats will improve circulation to the body organs. Do this for at least 20 minutes three times weekly. A windmill-like exercise used by skiers in which the arms are swung behind and then in front of you will help to warm you up your hands through both gravitational and centrifugal forces. Try to do this at a pace of 80 twirls per minute.
5. Avoid drugs that constrict the blood vessels such as birth control pills and migraine headache medicine. (See “Headache” and “Migraine Headache.”)
6. Keep your hands and feet warm. A warm climate is best. Wear comfortable shoes and do not go barefoot outdoors. Always wear gloves in cold weather. You can also train your blood vessels to better adapt to cold by immersing you hands in a container of warm water for 3-5 minutes, going into a freezing room, and again dipping your hands in warm water for 10 minutes. Repeated training of the blood vessels to open eventually enables you to counter the constriction reflex even without the warm water.
7. Reduce your stress levels. (See “Stress.”) Meditation, stretching, auto-suggestion tapes, and breathing exercises can help you to feel more relaxed and peaceful. You can stop and deep breathe anywhere. Do this by closing your eyes and slowly inhaling for 10 to 20 seconds. Use your diaphragm by allowing your stomach to expand outward with each inhalation. Hold your breath for 10 to 20 seconds. Then, exhale by forcing your stomach inward for 10 to 20 seconds. With each breath, allow your shoulder to droop, you jaw to drop and your body to relax. Repeat this three times or whenever you begin to feel stress building.
8. Check your hormone levels. This includes estradiol, thyroid, and DHEA. Estrogen increases under conditions of stress and interferes with thyroid function. DHEA, an adrenal hormone precursor, decreases with aging, when a degenerative condition is present, and as a result of prolonged stressful conditions. Natural hormones made from plants are available without the side effects of synthetic medicines. These natural hormones can be obtained by prescription from a compound pharmacy.
9. Check your thyroid function by measuring your basal body temperature. This is done by placing a thermometer under your arm for 10 minutes before arising from bed on two consecutive days. For menstruating women, this is best done at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. The average basal body temperature should be greater than 97.8 degrees. If not, a trial of natural thyroid should be considered. Thyroid regulates body heat. (See “Hypothyroidism.”)
10. Check your food allergies. (See “Allergy—Food.”) The allergy evaluation should include screening for foods. At the very least, you can eliminate some of the foods that you tend to eat repetitively. Eliminate products containing food coloring, dyes, MSG, and aspartame as well.
11. Heart rate variability testing, an assessment of heart rhythm, can reveal if an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system exists. The ANS controls non-conscious bodily functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. An imbalance in the ANS can now be treated with non-cognitive biofeedback (i.e., recycling of heart rate variations).
12. Consider evaluating your body burden level of environmental pollutants such as lead, aluminum, and cadmium. (See “Chelation Therapy.”) All heavy metals can act as free radicals in the body and be a possible source of damage to the blood vessels and/or immune system. Mercury should also be evaluated if you have amalgam fillings in your teeth. If elevated, heavy metal detoxification therapy is indicated.
13. Recommended supplements include the antioxidant vitamin E. If blood pressure is high, start low and gradually increase up to 1200 IU daily. This helps improve circulation and acts as an anticoagulant. B-complex is necessary for fat and cholesterol metabolism. Vitamin B3, or niacin, helps to dilate small arteries and improve circulation. Coenzyme Q10 and Dimethylglycine help improve oxygenation of the tissues. Proteolytic enzymes such as Serapeptidase help neutralize the effect of free radical damage. Kyolic Garlic, Lecithin, and the amino acid L-Carnitine all have a beneficial action on reducing blood fats. Essential fatty acids, such as fish oils or flax seed oil, help reduce blood clotting and prevent cholesterol deposits. Minerals such as magnesium and zinc aid in improving elasticity of vessels and tissue repair, respectively.
14. Herbs known to be helpful include butcher’s broom, cayenne, garlic, ginkgo biloba, hawthorn, and pao d’arco have all been found useful in improving circulation, oxygenation, and relaxation of blood vessels.
15. Homeopathics found to be beneficial for this condition are: Adrenaline (helpful in reducing excess sympathetic activity, lowering blood pressure and relaxing peripheral arterioles), Aurum Metallicum (generally indicated in arteriosclerosis), Baryta Carbonicum (if leg pains occur with walking), Cuprum Metallicum (for spasmodic cramps in the calves), Secale (for numbness, coldness, or absence of any sensation), Tabacum (if there is a history of smoking), Veratrum Album (sensation of coldness throughout the entire body).
To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to www.NewHopeMedical.org or call NEW HOPE MEDICAL CENTER at (702) 476-0000 (direct line) or toll free (866) HEAL-NOW!