Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (144 page)

Essential fatty acids daily. These have an anti-inflammatory and lubricating effect. Salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, herring, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and avocados are all good sources.

Add turmeric to beans, grains, and vegetables during cooking. Turmeric has well-researched anti-inflammatory properties.

AVOID

Oxalic acid found in spinach, chard, rhubarb, asparagus, beet greens, and eggs.

Salt, coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar, and processed foods. These can all aggravate the condition through increased water retention or depletion of vitamins.

Food containing additives. These can interfere with the utilization of vitamin B
₆
in the body. Especially avoid yellow dyes.

Excessive consumption of meat protein.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Herbs such as cramp bark, butcher’s broom, capsicum, marshmallow root, black cohosh, St. John’s wort, and skullcap can be taken as tinctures or capsules.

Supplement with vitamin B complex and B
₆
. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can be a sign of B
₆
deficiency so supplementation can make a big difference.

EXTRA TIPS

Identify whether the cause is due to specific activities and change your way of working, if necessary. Nowadays, CTS is often linked to computer use, so get your posture and chair looked at. Changes in the way we sit can often make a huge difference. Your back should be relatively straight with your forearms parallel to the floor and feet flat on the ground.

To prevent CTS, make sure you take regular breaks from tasks that affect the hands and wrists. Shake the hands out every hour and make circular movements in either direction with the wrists. Massage the wrists and hands to improve circulation to the area.

Apply St. John’s wort oil or aloe vera gel to aid healing.