Question: My 36-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Can anything help decrease the shooting pains and loss of function in her hands and feet?

Dr. Blaylock's Answer:

Charcot-Marie-Tooth is a hereditary condition that can result in peripheral neuropathy, a form of damage to the sensory and motor nerves of the body’s peripheral nervous system. There is some recent evidence that glutamate-type receptors play a role. This may mean that foods containing higher levels of glutamate or aspartate (aspartame), MSG, soy protein, hydrolyzed proteins, and caseinate, would make the condition worse and cause it to progress more quickly.

We know that in other peripheral neuropathies, magnesium, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and white tea extract can help. Acetyl-L-carnitine, R-lipoic acid, vitamin B-12, folate, niacinamide, riboflavin, and vitamins B-6 and B-1 can also improve nerve function.

Avoid all known nerve toxins, such as pesticides and herbicides used in and around the home, and limit exposure to mercury and aluminum.