Thoughts 18 Sep 2008 10:38 am
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Everyone’s looking for miracles.
A friend who also has type 2 diabetes is hyping ALA (Alpha lipoic acid) as a cure for neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is a well know side effect of diabetes. Symptoms can include pain, burning, numbness, tingling, weakness, and itching, especially in the extremities.
Alpha lipoic acid is thought to work as an antioxidant in both water and fatty tissue, enabling it to enter all parts of the nerve cell and protect it from damage.
Preliminary studies suggest that alpha lipoic acid may help.
Side effects of alpha lipoic acid may include headache, tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation, skin rash, or muscle cramps.
Note the use of the words “thought,” “suggest” and “may”
Somebody is always taking something that looks like it might have possibilities and touting it as the be-all end-all. “Guaranteed to cure what ails you.”
Of course there’s no solid evidence that it will work.
For Technical information check the Linus Pauling Institute’s website.
—Having said this I may try it. The known side effects are no worse that the known side effects from too much Ibuprofen or Excedrin. –It would be nice if my feet didn’t burn and tingle.
As I said “everyone’s looking for miracles.”