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Ask the Herbalist_questions on RSD
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ASK THE
HERBALIST
We're posting some of the medicinal questions we get along with answers
from our Herbalist David Brill of The Rosemary House. Hopefully this may
help you with some of your own questions.
If you want to ask a new question there is a charge of $25 per question. Click
here for new question The answer will be sent to you directly by David.
Questions and answers may be posted on this site (names removed) to help
other people with the same concerns.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Question: I have read that Cayenne is being studied in the treatment of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. What can you
tell me about this?
Answer:
I have not heard of the use of Cayenne, Latin Named Capiscum annum, C. frutecens or Capsicum species with RSD
but Capsicum Creams have been used for other types of pain syndromes and conditions, you may want to try it.
Do you have reference for this idea, that you can send me to for further reading?
From The National Institute of Health (NIH) website.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
Synonym(s): Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, Causalgia
Reviewed 08-03-2000
What is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome?
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) is a chronic condition characterized by severe burning pain,
pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch. The
syndrome is a nerve disorder that occurs at the site of an injury (most often to the arms or legs). It occurs especially
after injuries from high-velocity impacts such as those from bullets or shrapnel. However, it may occur without
apparent injury. One visible sign of RSDS near the site of injury is warm, shiny red skin that later becomes cool and
bluish.The pain that patients report is out of proportion to the severity of the injury and gets worse, rather than better,
over time. Eventually the joints become stiff from disuse, and the skin, muscles, and bone atrophy. The symptoms of
RSDS vary in severity and duration. The cause of RSDS is unknown. The disorder is unique in that it simultaneously
affects the nerves, skin, muscles, blood vessels, and bones. RSDS can strike at any age but is more common
between the ages of 40 and 60, although the number of RSDS cases among adolescents and young adults is
increasing. RSDS is diagnosed primarily through observation of the symptoms. Some physicians use thermography to
detect changes in body temperature that are common in RSDS. X-rays may also show changes in the bone.
Is there any treatment?
Physicians use a variety of drugs to treat RSDS. Elevation of the extremity and physical therapy are also used to treat
RSDS. Injection of a local anestheticis usually the first step in treatment. TENS (transcutaneous electrical stimulation),
a procedure in which brief pulses of electricity are applied to nerve endings under the skin, has helped some patients
in relieving chronic pain. In some cases, surgical or chemical sympathectomy -- interruption of the affected portion of
the sympathetic nervous system -- is necessary to relieve pain. Surgical sympathectomy involves cutting the nerve or
nerves, destroying the pain almost instantly, but surgery may also destroy other sensations as well.
What is the prognosis?
Good progress can be made in treating RSDS if treatment is begun early, ideally within three months of the first
symptoms. Early treatment often results in remission. If treatment is delayed, however, the disorder can quickly spread
to the entire limb, and changes in bone and muscle may become irreversible. In 50 percent of RSDS cases, pain
persists longer than 6months and sometimes for years.
What research is being done?
Investigators are studying new approaches to treat RSDS and intervene more aggressively after traumatic injury to
lower the patient's chances of developing the disorder. Scientists are studying how signals of the sympathetic nervous
system cause pain in RSDS patients. Using a technique called microneurography, these investigators are able to
record and measure neural activity in single nerve fibers of affected patients. By testing various hypotheses, these
researchers hope to discover the unique mechanism that causes the spontaneous pain of RSDS, and that discovery
http://www.herbnet.com/ask%20the%20herbalist/asktheherbalist_questions%20on%20RSD.htm (1 of 2) [5/17/2004 9:08:05 AM]