Natural Remedies for Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon (also known as "Raynaud's syndrome" or "Raynaud's disease") is a condition where cold temperatures and/or stress cause small blood vessels to narrow and, in turn, temporarily restrict blood flow to your fingers, toes, ears, and nose.

Scientists have yet to determine why the blood vessels of people with Raynaud's tend to spasm and constrict in response to cold temperatures and stress. However, the condition appears to be more common among women, as well as people who live in colder climates and/or have a family history of Raynaud's.

In some cases (known as "secondary Raynaud's"), the syndrome is associated with other conditions or lifestyle issues, including:

• Atherosclerosis
• Buerger's disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Connective tissue diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, and polymyositis
• Repeated injury
• Smoking
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
• Use of certain drugs (such as amphetamines and certain types of beta-blockers and cancer medications)
• Thyroid disorders

Although symptoms vary from person to person, Raynaud's typically causes the affected body parts to turn white, then blue, in response to stress or exposure to cold. An attack can last a few minutes to more than an hour. Once blood flow resumes, the affected area may turn red before returning to its usual color.

In many cases, people with Raynaud's show signs of the disease in the same fingers on both hands. Attacks may be as brief as a few minutes or as long as several hours.

While Raynaud's isn't always uncomfortable, people with secondary Raynaud's often experience stinging or burning sensations and can develop painful ulcerations or even gangrene.

So far, there is a lack of scientific support for the use of remedies in the treatment of Raynaud's, however, the following approaches may offer some benefits:

Biofeedback: In biofeedback training, people learn how to consciously influence the body's vital functions (including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure) with the help of relaxation techniques and information feedback delivered by specialized electronic devices.

Although some practitioners encourage using biofeedback to help control body temperature and lessen the severity and frequency of Raynaud's attacks, a research review published in 2009 concluded that biofeedback does not work for Raynaud's disease.

Nutritional Supplements: Very early research had suggested that taking essential fatty acid supplements may be mildly effective in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon. And vitamin B3 (also known as niacin) was also thought to benefit people with Raynaud's since the nutrient causes blood vessels to dilate and stimulates circulation to the skin. However, niacin has not been extensively studied as a treatment for Raynaud's and may cause side effects such as diarrhea, headache, stomach upset, and adverse skin reactions. Additionally, more recent research have found no benefits from supplementation. And current reviews evaluating the evidence-based management of Raynaud's do not include discussions of supplementation.

Ginkgo Biloba: Another natural remedy thought to be useful in preventing Raynaud's attacks, ginkgo biloba has not been extensively studied for its effects on the disease. The available research includes a small study published in Clinical Rheumatology which compared ginkgo biloba extract to nifedipine sustained-release (a type of medication known as a calcium channel blocker). After treatment for eight weeks, nifedipine was found to be more effective at reducing the number of attacks, with improvement in those taking nifedipine at 50.1 percent, compared to 31.0 percent in those taking ginkgo.

Your health care provider may recommend lifestyle changes:

• Avoiding caffeine
• Wearing protective clothing and accessories (such as mittens or gloves) when exposed to cold
• Quitting smoking
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress

It's too soon to recommend any remedy to treat Raynaud's phenomenon. If you're considering trying a natural approach, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider first to weigh the potential risks and benefits and to discuss whether it is appropriate (and safe) for you.