Peripheral neuropathy, which is one of the most common types of nerve pain, often afflicts people who suffer from diabetes, especially Type 1 diabetes.

The condition is characterized by sharp pains and numbness in the legs, feet, abdomen, and pelvis.

As with most painful conditions, patients suffer severe inflammation within the nerves and nerve pathways that carry pain impulses.

Another common source of nerve pain that is increasing greatly because of the widespread use of chickenpox vaccines is herpes zoster — also called shingles.

Like other neurological conditions, nerve pain is driven by immunoexcitotoxicity. Reducing intake of foods that contain glutamate additives — or foods that are naturally high in glutamate — and eating an anti-inflammatory diet high in vegetables and some fruits will make a person’s pain control much easier.

Studies show that a growing number of plant extracts can reduce nerve pain without the risk of addiction that comes with prescription painkilling drugs. These include curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, grape seed extract — and now Triphala.

Animal experiments in which researchers induced severe pain found that Triphala brought considerable relief.

The reduction of pain was the effect of Triphala on nerves directly, as well as by its effects on pain pathways inside the brain.

In my own experience, I have found that a combination of curcumin and grape seed extract dramatically reduces the pain of shingles.