Neural Therapy
Neural therapy is a procedure in complementary medicine where a local anesthetic, usually procaine or lidocaine, is injected at specific body points to relieve pain and improve mobility. Neural therapy is particularly used for chronic conditions such as back pain, migraines, or joint conditions, as conventional painkillers often do not work sufficiently.
In the following, we will examine the use, areas of application, and common questions about neural therapy in more detail.
What is Neural Therapy?
The approach of neural therapy is based on the idea that scars and chronic inflammation, so-called interference fields, can throw the nervous system out of balance and thereby cause health problems and pain in other areas of the body.
The idea is to treat these interference fields through targeted injections to calm the vegetative nervous system. The local anesthetic procaine is often used for this purpose.
By temporarily blocking pain transmission through nerve paralysis, the body is supposed to be given the opportunity to return to a pain-free basic state.
Neural Therapy according to Huneke
Neural therapy was developed in the 1920s by brothers Ferdinand and Walter Huneke. The approach stems from a remarkable observation made by Ferdinand Huneke in 1925 involving his sister, who had endured severe migraines for years. During a treatment for vein inflammation, Ferdinand administered an intravenous injection of the local anesthetic procaine, which unexpectedly resulted in the disappearance of her migraine.
This spontaneous healing, which the brothers called the “secondary phenomenon,” inspired the targeted injection of local anesthetic into so-called interference fields to treat patients with chronic ailments.
Even today, neural therapy according to Huneke is a widely used therapeutic procedure aimed at alleviating chronic pain.
Neural Therapy Areas of Application
Neural therapy offers diverse application possibilities, especially in the treatment of chronic pain conditions such as migraines, joint conditions, chronic inflammation, and circulatory disorders.
If you are interested in neural therapy but are unsure whether it is suitable for your conditions, we recommend asking your physician for an expert assessment.
Application for Migraines
Migraine is an episodic headache that can significantly impact the quality of life of those affected. Often, the long-term use of pain medication leads to a worsening of symptoms.
Neural therapy offers a promising complement to conventional pain medication. It can help break the cycle of pain while causing fewer side effects.
Application for Endometriosis
With endometriosis, severe abdominal pain can occur around menstruation. Additionally, inflammatory processes are involved that can increase pain sensitivity and affect quality of life.
Neural therapy aims to break the pain cycle, reduce inflammation, and provide relief.
Application for Inflammation
Neural therapy is particularly used as an alternative method for chronic inflammation in joints, muscles, or organs to avoid the excessive use of painkillers. Procaine is injected into the affected areas to temporarily interrupt pain transmission and alleviate the inflammatory response.
Neural Therapy Side Effects and Risks
Neural therapy is a very well-tolerated treatment method for chronic pain. Side effects occur only rarely and are usually milder than those that can arise from the long-term use of painkillers. Occasionally, small bruises may occur at the injection site or slight local swelling.
Some patients report a temporary worsening of their pain before improvement occurs. This so-called initial aggravation is, however, rare and of short duration. Overall, when performed by experienced professionals, neural therapy presents a very low risk.
Med. pract. Dana Hreus M.A.
At Alpine BioMedical, we use neural therapy as a supportive measure to relieve pain and improve the body's regulatory processes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Neural Therapy
In the following section, we will answer commonly asked questions about neural therapy. For individual questions about your personal situation, we recommend consulting your physician.
Neural therapy can contribute to rapid and sustainable pain relief depending on the individual case. Additionally, it is associated with significantly fewer side effects than the long-term use of painkillers, which can damage organs over time.
It is important to consult with your physician to find the therapy that best suits your needs.
Neural therapy is often used for chronic pain conditions such as migraines, joint issues, inflammations, back pain, or persistent postoperative discomfort.
It is also successfully used in biological dentistry, after dental surgical procedures.
It is essential to discuss with your doctor whether neural therapy is a suitable option for your conditions.
Is neural therapy dangerous? Neural therapy is generally considered safe and is well tolerated by most individuals. Side effects are uncommon, but occasionally, minor bruising may occur at the injection sites. These bruises typically fade within a few days.
Patients frequently share positive experiences and report significantly fewer side effects compared to their usual pain therapy.
The frequency and intervals between treatments depend on the patient’s individual conditions and are adjusted accordingly. Usually, three to ten treatments are required to see initial improvements.
Further information
Further information intended to give a better overview of the topic.