Peripheral Neuropathy

Nutrients important for nerve health: ① Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Key to nerve myelin synthesis. Deficiency causes numbness in the hands and feet. Supplemented through eggs, meat, and dairy products (vegetarians require supplements). ② Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Essential for nerve energy metabolism. Administered in high doses for the treatment of alcoholic neuropathy. ③ Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA): A powerful antioxidant with significant clinical evidence regarding diabetic neuropathy. ④ Omega-3: A component of nerve cell membranes, anti-inflammatory. ⑤ Magnesium: Regulates nerve excitability. On the other hand, long-term use of Vitamin B6 at doses exceeding 50 mg/day can actually lead to peripheral neuropathy. In Korean medicine, Vitamin B12 deficiency corresponds to weakness of the spleen and stomach and a lack of *Jeonghyeol* (fundamental Qi and blood). The spleen (digestive function) digests and absorbs food to generate Qi and blood; however, if the spleen and stomach are weak, absorption does not occur no matter how nutritious the food consumed is. Therefore, the efficiency of nutrient absorption improves only when treatment to restore spleen and stomach function is combined with the intake of supplements. At Dongjedang, we strengthen the foundation for digestion and absorption while improving the neuro-nutritional environment through acupuncture stimulation on acupoints that aid digestion and Qi and blood generation, combined with constitution-tailored herbal medicine that nourishes the spleen and stomach.