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In 1862, a French physician named Maurice Raynaud described a condition in which fingers (and occasionally toes, ears and noses) become painful and turn white in the cold. The medical experts of the day named this phenomenon for him, as Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s syndrome. (It is pronounced “Ray-NOSE”). What should you know about it?
Natural Approaches for Raynaud’s Syndrome:
Q. I’d like to know more about Raynaud’s syndrome. I have been suffering from this for several years now, but my doctor prefers not to prescribe anything for it.
Are there any natural ways to treat this? When I show my friends how white my fingers get, they seem worried and now I am too.
What Is Raynaud’s Syndrome?
A. In Raynaud’s disease, small blood vessels in fingers, toes or the tip of the nose constrict too much when they are exposed to cold. As a result, blood can’t flow freely, and the fingers turn white or blue in the cold. As they warm back up, they may turn unnaturally red.
Wintertime is especially challenging, but air conditioning can also trigger an attack. This can be quite painful.
Usually, doctors can’t identify a specific reason that a person develops Raynaud’s phenomenon, but vulnerable people may react to medications like beta blockers or birth control pills by developing these symptoms. Smoking exacerbates the problem because it impairs circulation.
Women are somewhat more likely to suffer than men. People with connective tissue disorders may have problems with Raynaud’s phenomenon as a consequence of their underlying medical condition.
Easing Raynaud’s Syndrome Naturally:
The most important nondrug approach to easing the symptoms is keeping the affected areas warm. Sufferers often find good gloves very helpful. Some people wear mittens and socks to bed.
Spices for Raynaud’s Syndrome:
We have heard from other readers with this condition who successfully use astragalus, cinnamon, ginger or grape seed extract to boost their circulation. We have found no scientific studies of any of these supplements for Raynaud’s phenomenon, but one or more might be worth a try. Some people also find it helpful to eat spicy food.
Magnesium Supplements:
Magnesium supplements may also be helpful (Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Feb. 2002). No dose has been established as the standard, so anyone who wants to try it will need to experiment to find an appropriate amount that helps without causing diarrhea. However, people with poor kidney function should avoid magnesium supplements, as their kidneys may not be able to manage any excess.
Ivana
Geneva, Switzerland
Hello,
I have had Reynaud’s for a year now. Has anyone tried to use olive leaf extract to ease the symptoms? Thanks Ivana
Donna
Florida
As a retired RN I tried acupuncture on two different occasions several years apart for chronic total body pain. (I have Raynaud’s also–which is an autoimmune disease). Both times I experienced a severe autoimmune flare known as a cytokine storm.
My immune system interpreted all the needle punctures (35 total–2 of the 4 inch needles were left taped in my left wrist to go home with for 24 hours) as an acute attack on my body and attacked back. I have never been in such intense total body pain in my life.
I could not even bear weight on my left leg for a week–the hip joint felt like I had an abscess deep inside it and was so painful. The doctor had especially focused on the leg and hip because I was limping so badly. (He was an excellent doctor trained in acupuncture in China–and I do not blame him in any way for my response.)
So all I want to say is–if you have severe autoimmune disease of any type as I do–be aware that acupuncture may bring on an acute, extremely painful autoimmune flare that lasts for weeks afterwards. Please be forewarned!
Katie
MI
I had hand surgery, and they told me to ice my hand to prevent swelling. It triggered Reynaud’s horribly, and my fingers turned white for about 12 hours, despite wearing gloves, etc. I called them after the first icing, and they told me not to ice any more. Just a warning if you are told to ice any extremities affected by Reynauds. The surgical team had never run into this before, and they were specialists at a highly respected hospital.
I’ve had this since I was a little kid and would cry in the cold since my toes were agonizingly painful when sledding or walking to school. None of the other kids were hurting, so it just looked like I was making it up. Only as an adult was it diagnosed. My mom had it, too.
Also, I score at the highest levels of the Highly Sensitive Personality scale. Sensory processing sensitivity (sps) is an inborn trait. I’d be curious to see research on whether Reynaud’s is related. My guess is that it is, since I have many other problems that seem related, like allergies, sensitive skin, etc. Having a more sensitive nervous system (and perhaps other systems, like the skin) is both good and bad.
In Michigan winters I always carry boots and gloves designed for Alaska winters (not kidding). When my car broke down once these may have saved my fingers/toes from bad damage. I use these types of gloves when I have to scrape my windshield. Also, a suede or cloth-padded steering wheel cover is very helpful.
Catherine
Florida
I acquired raynauld’s after having my left thyroid removed. only my fingers are affected and they would turn terribly white. I was on Levoxyl for the thyroid and when I went to renew was told it was recalled, I then went on levothyroxine and dr has me on amlodipine for blood pressure and my fingers no longer turn white, but will turn dark when cold.
Grandma Goose
In cold weather, I understand that the body circulates less blood to the extremities to better protect the core temperature. Although I don’t understand the connection (or lack thereof) to Reynauds, I followed my doctor’s advice to concentrate on keeping the core warm and always wearing a good hat in the cold Vermont winters. It helps! And yes, Reynauds occasionally raises its ugly head in the grocery store in the middle of the summer.
Cari
NC
I had Raynaud’s. Then, when I became a Reiki practitioner, it went away. Energy medicine might be considered for it such as qigong and reiki. Some people don’t believe in energy medicine but, I have seen some amazing results.
M F
I was diagnosed when I lived in CT and research led me to take cayenne capsules, which I did, I think three caps every day, but not at one time. It seemed to help. I also discovered that prevention was the best approach, so I always wear gloves when it is cold. I also put on gloves before touching a cold steering wheel or pump gas or anything that is cold. I take magnesium citrate (400 mg/day) for a nerve-related issue and suspect that might be helpful for Reynaud’s which affects only my fingers. My feet tend to get cold easily so, again using prevention, I have warm socks to wear in the winter. I put them on as soon as I get out of bed. I hope this is helpful.
Barbara
I’m 75 years old now but when I was in my middle thirties the last three toes on both feet swelled, turned black and got blisters on the side of each toe. This would happen when the temperature would drop below 33 degrees and forget the pain, it was so excruciating. I went to countless Specialist and given countless prescriptions and nothing helped. This went on for years until I had to find a new primary care Doctor. After telling him about my toes he suggested I take either B6 or B12. I actually walked out of his office laughing to myself thinking none of the prescriptions worked and he thinks vitamins are going to work. I can’t remember but whatever it was the shelf was empty so the Pharmacist said to take B150 both were in the B150. IT WORKED I don’t think you can get B150 anymore so I use B100 and B50. Good luck to you
Sha
I’ve had Raynaud’s in my fingers since the early ’90’s. My mother had it, so I assume I inherited it from her. My fingers turn white/purple even in the summer months when I’m walking in a cold store or going through the frozen food section at the supermarket. Around the time my friend and I turned 50 we read that Gingko Biloba was good for keeping your brain healthy.
We both started taking it. My friend had to stop after a couple of months because it seemed to cause her to have headaches, but I continued. I had taken it for about a year, and suddenly realized that during that entire time I had not been bothered with Raynaud’s even in the cold of winter.
I took it for another few years and during that time never had another incident. Unfortunately, I had to be put on a medication that the Gingko would interfere with, and so had to stop taking it. Within a couple of months my Raynaud’s was back and is still with me today. (Don’t know if it did anything for my brain.)
Anne
Wisconsin
I’ve got this one, too. I think I’ve had it since my teens, but it was milder back then. Now I’m in my 60s, and recently I’ve noticed that if I’m chilled at all (yesterday driving in the car), I get it in my fingers, especially the middle finger on each hand. Getting something out of the freezer can be uncomfortable and actually painful if I have to handle a frozen package for too long (minutes).
During the winter I often find myself using a hair dryer or warm water to get the color and circulation back into my fingers. It’s very annoying and keeps me from a lot of outdoor activities during winter months. For some reason, it’s only in my fingers.
Domenique
Cape Town
Hi can you find out from your Dr if you can take niacin B3? It has really helped me but you must have the flush. I take it before bed and sleep through the flush so am not worried by it.
Doug
Kamloops
Horny Goat Weed works miracles for me, embarrassing name but my index finger would turn white and numb even in cool windy summer weather until I started taking it. My doctor suffered from it too and he is now taking the supplement and works for him too. Magnesium is great for Migraines.
Donna
Ohio
Flaxseed oil helped me fight Raynaud’s. I take 1 organic 2000 dose per day. I rarely get an attack (it was always my fingers).
Dawn
I found that forcing a shiver up my spine (imagine a feather running up your back – it takes a little practice) causes the hair to raise on my arms and legs. This response signals the blood vessels to relax and allow the blood to flow better to the fingers and toes instead of clamping down and restricting flow which caused them to turn ghostly white.
I’ve taught other people this method and it works for some. I got the idea after reading an article about how scientists taught skaters to raise the temperature in their fingers and toes using biofeedback.
David
Australia
Thanks Dawn. Great ideax
Amy
North Carolina
I can tell you from personal experience that the one product/therapy that helped me tremendously is Far Infrared Therapy gloves. Skeptical at first, I had to remove them in the middle of the night because my hands warmed up so much! They are not cheap, but they’re also not invasive. You can buy them as socks, sleeves, scarves, etc.
Betty
I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s syndrome about 1980 by a college health center doctor. He suggested having a glass of wine to increase blood flow. It seems to help to this day. I didn’t argue!
Dawn
CT
I discovered that if I forced a “chill up my spine” (It takes a little practice. Imagine a feather lightly stroking your back.) it causes the hair to raise on my arms and legs. This is the body’s normal shiver response to cold, as opposed to the brain telling the nervous system to clamp down on blood supply to the fingers and toes. It works! Maybe not in long-term frigid conditions, but enough to keep the blood flowing. I got the idea from reading about scientists teaching ice skaters to use biofeedback to raise the temperature in their hands and feet. No medication required.
Lynn
Midwest
For years I suffered with Raynaud’s. I had “core cold” as I called it. I could not get warm. I tried hot baths, brandy, and layers of clothes. Nothing worked. Particularly in dampness and cold winter nights. Classic symptoms in the hands, etc. Then I discovered acupuncture. I went for other issues which were the result of unknown conditions at the time.
My acupuncturist got me moving in spite of these, and even though I never mentioned the Raynaud’s, it helped immensely. My suggestion is to find a licensed acupuncturist. Acupuncture does not hurt. It is relaxing. It not only will help your Raynaud’s but perhaps some other issues as well. It will help your body be in balance and work to its best. If the acupuncture does not work, find another acupuncturist. Just like any profession, skill levels vary. Initially, you may have to go for a few visits to help get it in control, but then with occasional maintenance, your symptoms should be minimal. The discoloration in the hands will not go away when you get something out of the freezer, but the discomfort will be much better. You may still wear socks to bed. But you will not be miserable with it. It is the best medical treatment I have ever had.
Chironex
Florida
Reynaud’s can be serious. My brother, who has had Reynaud’s and Scleroderma for decades, has had to have three fingertips surgically amputated to avoid gangrene. And we live in the deep South! Nobody else in the family has ever had these things. I wonder what causes them if they’re not heritable? I don’t think Reynaud’s is something to play around with. If you’ve been diagnosed, you owe it to yourself and your family to find a Reynaud’s specialist and see what they have to say.
Patricia
Have had Raynaud’s for most of my adult life. This goes beyond cold hands and feet. It can be very painful and causing a blanching of the fingers and toes that alarms folks nearby when they see that. I’ve known others who have the same condition, including medical doctors, and we all pretty much handle it the same way. Some of the things that have helped me: Warm gloves or mittens, warm socks, leg warmers, keeping the house temperature warm, soaking my hands and feet in warm (not hot) water, or wrapping them in an electric heating pad. Be grateful that this is an annoyance, not a major medical issue.
Jan
I had what was diagnosed as a severe case of Reynaud’s in January of 1963. It was 20 degrees below zero, and due to my schedule (work and college classes) and the school rules back then, I was running around campus for more than half of the day with no covering on my legs (wearing a dress, no pants allowed till it was voted on, and by then I was out for the day with no time to go back to change). In my case, it started with a blue spot on one toe which was misdiagnosed as a “stoved” toe and iced. The circulation problem then became a purple and swollen foot and purple and swollen leg up to about 2 inches above my knee. Heat packs would take the swelling and discoloration down, but when the heat packs came off, and I tried to get out of bed, the leg and foot swelled up again.
After I lived in bed like this for three days, they found a doctor who had seen a similar case 20 years before. They gave me some kind of prescription (which I was too young and self-care uneducated to ask about, so I do not know what it was). In time, the circulation came back, and after some months went by, I was able to walk without a limp. I never heard of such a thing after that until recently when I read of a woman whose mother had suffered similarly, but she ended up having multiple limbs amputated, so I was apparently fortunate to have been seen by a doctor who has a remedy for it.
I was told I would be at higher risk as I age, but so far, so good. I experience some pain when I pull things from the freezer and such, but so far, no real problems.
emma
seattle
I have mild Raynaud’s in Seattle winters (glad not to live in a really cold climate), but in warm weather I get small dark red splotches, especially on my hands and lower arms. It looks like a capillary has given up the ghost. The timing is the same for both, so I tend to think there is a connection.
RE: magnesium – I had to try several kinds before I found one that worked for my innards. I use Mag Glycinate which I tolerate well.