What Is Neuropathy—and What Can You Do About It Naturally?

Understanding Neuropathy Causes and Holistic Treatment

You rely on your nerves for everything — walking, balancing, even picking up that cup of hot coffee. Chances are, you’ve never given them much thought…until they stop working the way they should. Suddenly, everyday life feels a hundred times harder.

Nerve pain can be exhausting and frustrating, but here’s the good news: damaged nerves can heal. With the right approach, natural care can make a big difference in how you feel and function.

In this article, we’ll break down what peripheral neuropathy is, what causes it, and the natural steps you can take to support nerve health.

Table of Contents:

• What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
• Can Peripheral Neuropathy Be Reversed Naturally?
• Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
• Neuropathy vs. Sciatica: How to Tell the Difference
• The Connection Between Gut Health and Nerve Health
• Natural Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy
• How Simply Southern Chiropractic Center Treats Peripheral Neuropathy
• Finding Relief from Peripheral Neuropathy
• References

---

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Ever had a bad phone connection where the person on the other end keeps cutting in and out? (“Hello? Hello? Can you hear me now?”) It’s frustrating and confusing and a lot like what happens with peripheral neuropathy (aka diabetic neuropathy) — the most common type of neuropathy. It affects the network of nerves outside your brain and spinal cord, the ones that carry messages between your central nervous system and the rest of your body. When those nerves get damaged, the “signal” drops — and the brain and body aren’t on the same page anymore.

Neuropathy shows up in all kinds of ways, depending on which nerves are affected. You might notice:

• Tingling or that annoying “pins and needles” feeling in your hands or feet
• Numbness or trouble sensing temperature changes
• Sharp, stabbing, or electric-like jolts of pain
• Burning sensations that don’t make sense
• Muscle weakness or trouble with balance and coordination
• Extra sensitivity to touch — even a bedsheet brushing your foot can feel uncomfortable
• Changes in circulation, skin, or hair growth in affected areas

Neuropathy isn’t just pesky pins and needles in your feet — it’s your body waving a red flag that something deeper is going on. 

Can Peripheral Neuropathy Be Reversed Naturally?

If you’re worried that nerve pain isn’t reversible, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Nerves actually have an incredible ability to heal themselves — when they’re given the right resources. That means neuropathy doesn’t have to be a one-way street toward more numbness, tingling, or pain.

Think of your nerves like garden plants. If the soil is dry, full of weeds, and lacking nutrients, the plants wither. But give them water, clear out the weeds, and add the right nutrients? They perk up and start thriving again. Nerves work the same way — they can regenerate and reconnect, but only if you address what’s blocking their growth in the first place.

That’s why the most effective treatment starts with getting to the root cause. For one person, that might be diabetes or blood sugar issues. For another, it could be chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or even gut health challenges quietly fueling the fire.

At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, this is exactly why we take a whole-body approach. By focusing on circulation, inflammation, nutrition, and lifestyle, we help create the right environment for nerves to heal naturally.

Treating symptoms isn’t enough. To help nerves truly heal, you need to tackle what’s causing the damage in the first place.

And that brings us to the next step — understanding the most common causes of neuropathy.

Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

Neuropathy isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition. It can develop from several different factors, and sometimes it’s even a mix of them. Understanding the “why” behind your symptoms is the first step to creating the right treatment plan.

Here are some of the most common causes

• Diabetes: Diabetes is the #1 cause of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S. High blood sugar damages small blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. Without enough circulation, nerves weaken and begin to misfire. About half of people with diabetes develop some form of neuropathy, often starting in the feet and moving upward (“stocking-glove” pattern). Managing blood sugar plays a huge role in slowing or even reversing the damage. 
• Alcohol Use: Excessive drinking can damage nerves directly and deplete nutrients essential for nerve health. 
• Nutrient Deficiencies: Vitamins like B12, folate, and vitamin D are vital for nerve repair and signaling. Low levels can interfere with nerve function and make healing harder.
• Gut Health Imbalances: An unhealthy gut microbiome can drive inflammation and block proper nutrient absorption. Over time, this creates an environment where nerve health suffers and neuropathy symptoms become harder to manage.
• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Guillain-Barré syndrome can cause the immune system to mistakenly attack nerves.
• Infections or Toxins: Shingles, Lyme disease, heavy metals, or certain medications may damage nerves and trigger lasting symptoms.
• Poor Circulation or Injury: Vascular disease and direct trauma can limit blood flow or physically injure nerves, leading to neuropathy.

Next, let’s clear up one of the biggest sources of confusion: the difference between neuropathy and sciatica.

Neuropathy vs. Sciatica: How to Tell the Difference

Neuropathy and sciatica often get mixed up, probably because both involve nerve pain. But they’re actually two very different issues — and knowing the difference matters.

Neuropathy is usually a widespread problem. It happens when nerves themselves are damaged. It’s a long-term condition tied to issues like diabetes, inflammation, or nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, burning, or loss of balance.

Sciatica, on the other hand, is more of a mechanical problem. It’s caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve (the longest nerve in your body) as it exits the lower spine. Instead of being widespread, sciatica pain usually shoots down one leg, often with sharp or burning sensations.

Both neuropathy and sciatica can cause nerve pain, but they’re not the same. Understanding which one you’re dealing with is the first step to getting the right kind of care.

The Connection Between Gut Health and Nerve Health

Many people would be surprised at how closely connected gut health and neuropathy are. Your gut is responsible for more than just digestion — it’s a key player in your overall health, including nerve health. Inside your digestive system lives your microbiome, where trillions of bacteria influence everything from your immune system to inflammation levels.

Here’s why that matters for neuropathy:

• Balances inflammation: A healthy microbiome helps keep inflammation in check, lowering one of the biggest drivers of nerve damage.
• Boosts nutrient absorption: When your gut is working properly, your body can take in the vitamins and minerals that nerves rely on for repair and communication.
• Protects nerve healing: An imbalanced microbiome leads to higher inflammation and poor nutrient absorption — two factors that make it much harder for damaged nerves to recover.
• Supports immune function: Did you know that at least 70% of your immune system lives in the gut? A balanced microbiome helps the immune system respond appropriately, reducing the risk of immune-related nerve damage.
• Regulates communication: The gut and nervous system are in constant conversation (sometimes called the gut–brain axis). A healthier gut environment helps those signals flow more smoothly, which supports overall nerve function.

In short, a healthier gut environment creates a healthier foundation for your nerves. That’s why addressing gut health is often an important piece of neuropathy care. Supporting the microbiome through diet and lifestyle can reduce stress on the nervous system and give your body a better chance to repair damaged nerves naturally.

Natural Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy

When it comes to neuropathy, quick fixes won’t cut it. The goal isn’t just to quiet the pain for a while but to repair the “wiring” so your nerves can actually heal. That’s where natural, whole-body care really makes a difference.

Some of the most common natural approaches include:

• Chiropractic care: Improves alignment, circulation, and nerve communication.
• Therapeutic laser: Stimulate blood flow and support cellular repair.
• Nerve stimulation: Helps “retrain” damaged nerves to work properly again. 
• Nutrition and supplements: Provide the building blocks nerves need to heal.
• Blood sugar balance: Even small improvements in diet and activity can make a big difference in reducing nerve stress.
• Reducing toxins: Limiting alcohol, smoking, and environmental exposures gives your nerves a better chance to repair.

Instead of covering symptoms, these therapies create an environment where nerves have the best shot at repairing themselves naturally. Up next, let’s look at how these ideas come together in a comprehensive, gentle program designed specifically for neuropathy.

How Simply Southern Chiropractic Center Treats Peripheral Neuropathy

At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, the focus is on drug-free, non-invasive therapies that help nerves actually heal. Here’s what that looks like:

• Chiropractic Care: Gentle adjustments relieve pressure on nerves, improve spinal alignment, and restore healthy communication between the brain and body. This also supports better circulation and reduces inflammation — two key factors in nerve health.
• Class IV Laser Therapy: Think of this as deep cellular “recharging.” High-powered therapeutic lasers penetrate the tissues, increasing blood flow and oxygen while stimulating the repair process. Many patients notice reduced pain and improved sensation after consistent sessions.
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: This therapy helps “wake up” damaged nerves and retrain their connection to the brain. Over time, it can restore more normal sensation and improve balance.
• Nutrition and Supplementation: The right nutrients reduce oxidative stress, improve circulation, and support nerve regeneration. SSCC incorporates gut health into care plans as well, since a healthy gut reduces inflammation and creates the right environment for nerves to repair.
• Home-Based Therapies: Healing doesn’t stop when you leave the office. Patients are given simple, practical tools they can use daily to reinforce progress at home.

Together, these therapies create an environment where nerves have the best chance to repair and regenerate naturally — something medications alone can’t accomplish.

Finding Relief from Peripheral Neuropathy

Everyone’s neuropathy story looks a little different. For some, it’s tied to diabetes. For others, it may be inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or lifestyle factors. That’s why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution — and why a personalized approach is so important.

At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, every patient begins with a neuropathy evaluation. From there, we create a customized plan that supports the body’s ability to heal — without drugs or invasive procedures.

The most important thing to remember is this: neuropathy isn’t something you just have to “live with.” Natural, comfortable, and supportive care is possible, and with the right approach, your nerves can get the help they need to repair and function better.

---

References

Ijaz, S., Goyal, P., Kandambige, D., Sharifa, M., Jameel Maslamani, A. N., Kutabi, S. A., Saleh, I., Albshir, M. M., I KH Almadhoun, M. K., Soomro, S. N., & Kumari, N. (2023). The Gut-Brain Axis in Autoimmune Diseases: Emerging Insights and Therapeutic Implications. Cureus, 15(11), e48655. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48655

Garvey, M. (2023). The Association between Dysbiosis and Neurological Conditions Often Manifesting with Chronic Pain. Biomedicines, 11(3), 748. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11030748

Lehmann, H.C., Wunderlich, G., Fink, G.R. et al. Diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. Neurol. Res. Pract. 2, 20 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00064-2

Hammi C, Yeung B. Neuropathy. [Updated 2022 Oct 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542220/Onifer, S. M., Sozio, R. S., DiCarlo, D. M., Li, Q., Donahue, R. R., Taylor, B. K., & Long, C. R. (2018). Spinal manipulative therapy reduces peripheral neuropathic pain in the rat. Neuroreport, 29(3), 191–196. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.000000000000094