MCVitamins News

Your Nutritional Education Site

1. Trigeminal Neuralgia
2. Stinging Nettles:  The Benefits of this Herb  
3. Saturated Fats:  When Marketing Alters Dietary Recommendations.
4. Vitamin C & Your Nerves

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Neuralgia, also called nerve pain, is defined as pain that follows the pathway of a nerve

It can have many different causes, but often the cause is unknown. Sometimes a primary external agent or cause at a particular site along the nerve pathway can be identified. Chemicals, inflammation, compression of tissues, tissue damage from accident or surgery and tumors all can cause nerve pain.

The human face has two trigeminal nerves, one on each side. Each nerve splits into three branches which transmit sensations of pain and touch from the face, mouth, and teeth to the brain.   It is the fifth cranial nerve and contains both sensory and motor nerves. There are 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve:  the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular.  It supplies sensations to the face, and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing and swallowing.     

Trigeminal neuralgia, damage to this nerve, causes facial pain. Trigeminal neuralgia develops in mid to late life. The condition is the most frequently occurring of all the nerve pain disorders.

The pain, which comes and goes, feels like bursts of sharp, stabbing, electric-shocks. This pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.   The pain occurs almost exclusively in the maxillary (along the cheekbone, most of your nose, upper lip and upper teeth) and mandibular area (the lower cheek, lower lip and jaw).   In almost all cases (97%), pain is restricted to one side of the face.

It is sometimes called “tic douloureux” due to the characteristic muscle spasm that accompanies the pain.

This intermittent severe pain interferes with common daily activities such as eating and sleep. There is always the fear of unpredictable painful attacks, which leads to sleep deprivation and under eating. The condition can lead to irritability, severe anticipatory anxiety and depression. It can lead to life-threatening malnutrition.  Suicidal depression is not uncommon.

Doctors usually cannot find any disease of the trigeminal nerve or central nervous system.

Cases in younger women are usually linked to damage of the central nervous system.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Causes

The condition has no clear-cut cause.

Some experts argue that the syndrome is caused by traumatic damage to the nerve as it passes from the openings in the skull to the muscles and tissue of the face. The damage compresses the nerve, causing the nerve cell to shed the protective and conductive coating – called demyelination.

Some believe the cause stems from biochemical change in the nerve tissue itself.

Some believe that an abnormal blood vessel compresses the nerve as it exits from the brain itself.

All agree that an excessive burst of nervous activity from a damaged nerve causes the painful attacks.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Symptoms

A defining feature of trigeminal neuralgia is the trigger zone-a small area in the central part of the face, usually on a cheek, nose, or lip, that, when stimulated, triggers a typical burst of pain.

A light touch or vibration is the most effective trigger.   Because of this, many common daily activities trigger the attacks such as washing your face, brushing your teeth, shaving or talking.  It can be caused by wind hitting your fact or eating and chewing.

Many people avoid food and drink rather than experience the severe pain.   It can then lead to weight loss and dehydration.

Between attacks, most people remain relatively pain-free. A subgroup, however, experience a dull ache between attacks, suggesting physical compression of the affected nerve, either by a blood vessel or some other structure.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuralgia often develops into a condition called neuropathic pain. When neuralgia becomes chronic, it can cause deterioration of the myelin sheath that surrounds and insulates pain nerves.

Then, just like an electrical circuit with exposed wiring, nerves that shouldn't be communicating directly with each other cross paths and create a feedback loop that perpetuates pain.

What can be done?  Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatments and Natural Pain Relievers

Stinging Nettles:  The Benefits of this Herb

See entire article Stinging Nettles

Saturated Fats: When Marketing Alters Dietary Recommendations.

In more recent years, numerous studies have confirmed that saturated fat consumption is not associated with heart disease. On the contrary, it appears to be associated with improved heart health and decreased risk of heart disease

Many nutritional experts believe most people need upwards of 50-70 percent healthful fats in their diet for optimal health

See entire article:   Saturated Fats

Vitamin C and Your Nerves

Sorbitol (a form of sugar) travels to certain parts of the body where it builds up. These parts of the body are the lens of the eye where it forms a white milky film called cataracts, and the sciatic nerve (the big nerve that runs down your leg) where it causes nerve damage (nerve pain).

Studies have shown that taking 2,000 mg a day of vitamin C reduces the production of sorbitol and strips sorbitol out of the body.

The only way you can acquire the vitamin C you need is through your diet and/or supplementation.

Most of the “vitamin C” sold in the US is ascorbic acid. This is a man-made chemical found nowhere in nature.

For  more information go to:  Vitamin C 

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