Celery Juice and Neuritis

Neuritis, also called neuropathy, is the term used for damage to your nerves. It may be caused by an injury or by a systemwide ailment, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Neuritis may cause a tingling or burning sensation, loss of sensation, weakness, paralysis or a combination of these symptoms. Celery juice is included in some alternative medicine remedies for this condition. Talk to your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan before trying any remedy for neuritis.

Significance

You must identify the cause of your neuritis to treat it properly. For example, if it’s caused by diabetes or high blood pressure you need to treat the underlying problem. Your doctor may recommend corticosteroids or surgery if your neuritis is caused by an entrapped nerve. She also might prescribe pain medication or antidepressants. Sometimes no treatment is needed and your neuritis will resolve on its own. Celery juice is used in traditional medicine remedies for two underlying causes of neuritis -- high blood pressure and diabetes 3.

Celery Juice and High Blood Pressure

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Celery has a theoretical benefit if your neuritis is caused by high blood pressure because it contains substances such as the plant chemicals 3-n-butyl phthalide and apigenin that help lower blood pressure. Apigenin is a vasodilator, meaning it dilates your blood vessels. However, the 3-n-butyl phthalide is believed to be celery’s key blood-pressure lowering ingredient. In addition to dilating your blood vessels it reduces levels of stress hormones in your blood, according to the Reader’s Digest publication, “Eat to Beat Blood Pressure,” by Robyn Webb and Jamy D. Ard 6. Juicing four stalks of celery supplies a therapeutic dose of these plant chemicals. Consult a doctor before using this traditional medicine remedy and have medical supervision if you do use celery to as a hypertension therapy because more research is needed to determine whether celery juice is effective for this use.

The Diabetes Connection

Neuropathy, or neuritis, is a common complication in diabetes. Celery also is used in traditional Chinese medicine in diet therapy for treating diabetes 3. Diabetes is characterized in TCM as a condition that has, in part, excess internal heat. Celery is on the list of TCM foods that have a cooling effect on the body, according to an August 2001 scientific review published in “Diabetes Spectrum.” If you use TCM to treat diabetes, be sure to do so under the supervision of a health care professional who monitors your blood glucose levels, recommends review author Maggie B. Covington. That’s because, while TCM may help optimize your body’s ability to function normally, it does not offer a cure for diabetes and more research on effectiveness and safety of TCM diabetes remedies is needed, Covington notes.

Use

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Celery juice is often paired other juices in alternative medicine treatments for neuritis. For example, celery, carrot and parsley juice is one recommended combination, according to “Alternative Medicine,” by Larry Trivieri and John W. Anderson 1. While you can use this treatment at home, you need to do so under the supervision of a qualified alternative medicine professional because the juice therapy is likely to be just one component of your therapy, the authors note. For example, the practitioner might also recommend dietary changes such as increasing your fluid intake, consuming whole foods instead of processed foods, and avoiding stimulating foods like caffeine and refined sugar.

Considerations

Celery juice does not commonly cause side effects, though it can have a diuretic effect. However celery can interact with certain medications. Taking it with certain antibiotics such as doxycycline and some anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. Using celery with fondaparinux can raise your risk for bleeding and bruising. Using it with leothyroxine can reduce effectiveness of this drug. Celery also is contraindicated if you have a kidney ailment because it may trigger inflammation.