General characteristics

Paralysis is defined as the loss of control of movement of muscle/s. The paralysis may be partial or total, temporary or permanent and may also involve loss of feeling and sensations in the affected areas. Paralysis occurs because the communication pathways that carry nerve signals from the muscles to the brain and back to the muscles, in order for movement to occur, are damaged or destroyed. It can arise from damage to a nerve or the muscle. Sometimes muscle wasting will occur as a result of the paralysis caused by the lack of activity in the muscle affected.

Causes of paralysis include stroke (lack of blood flow to parts of the brain concerned with movement), injury to the brain or spinal cord, injury to a particular nerve or group of nerves, multiple sclerosis (nerve coverings responsible for transmission of impulses are damaged), poisons and neurotoxins (spider or snake bites, botulism), infections, motor neurone disease, cerebral palsy, polio, Guillain-Barre syndrome, low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemic paralysis), brain tumours and cancer.

Useful herbs

Chilli or cayenne pepper (capsicum species) has an excellent reputation for correcting some forms of paralysis. Take up to a teaspoon of powder in warm water daily (you may have to build up to this) or add a little chilli powder to some ointment ( 1/8th of chilli powder per base ointment or oil) and rub into the affected parts daily. It is powerfully blood moving so go very cautiously to begin with.

Other circulatory diffusive stimulants such as prickly ash bark and ginger will help restore blood circulation and in some cases movement and sensation to parts where it has been lost. Chewing a small piece of fresh ginger root twice daily may be helpful in cases of vocal chord paralysis. Use 5 drops of prickly ash tincture in a little water up to 3 times daily.

Essential oil of rosemary has some reputation for restoring movement and feeling after a stroke if rubbed into skin regularly over time,  dilute the oil in a carrier oil before use, 100 drops of rosemary in 120ml of a carrier such as sunflower oil.

Tinctures of ashwaganda, turmeric and nerve tonics and antispasmodics such as skullcap, wood betony, black cohosh, valerian and ginkgo can be made into a formula using equal parts of the herbs (except turmeric) and take 1 teaspoon in water 3 times daily. Add a small pinch of turmeric powder to each dose.

A daily tea made from a teaspoon each of oatstraw, nettle and gotu kola will help to provide valuable nutrients that will effectively feed the nerves and muscles. In fact nettle is very restorative and gently stimulating, rubbing affected parts with fresh nettle has been known to relieve rheumatism and gradually restore proper movement and feeling with persistent internal and external use.