Background

Neural therapy is the process of receiving an injection of small amounts of the commonly used anesthetic (pain killer) Novocain (also known as novacaine or procaine) into specific areas of the body in order to supposedly relieve a variety of medical complaints. Practitioners of neural therapy base their explanations of how the procedure helps patients in terms of energy fields.

Neural therapy is popular in South America and in some parts of Europe. In Germany, neural therapy is considered a mainstream treatment for pain. Neural therapy is only practiced at a few clinics in the United States.

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In 1925, a German surgeon named Ferdinant Huneke began to formulate the idea of neural therapy as a treatment when he injected Procaine into the vein of his sister, who was suffering from a migraine. The delivery of the drug to stop the migraine was unusual because this pain drug was always injected into a muscle as a painkiller in surgeries. On another occasion in 1940, Dr. Huneke injected procaine into the shoulder of a woman who was experiencing shoulder as well as leg pain. The pain in the woman's shoulder improved to some extent, but her leg became itchy. When Dr. Huneke injected the woman's leg, the shoulder pain disappeared completely. This experience led the physician to theorize that physical symptoms could be treated by injecting a pain killer medication into a different part of the body to cause a positive change in the patient's flow of energy in another area of the body. The idea that problems in one part of the body could be treated by injecting another part of the body was the primary theory behind what became known as neural therapy.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

There is insufficient reliable evidence about the efficacy of neural therapy.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

General: After neural therapy there have been reports of sweating and unexpected emotional reactions.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

None known.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

None known.

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

Interactions with diseases

Mechanism of action

Neural therapy is based on the idea that the injections may restore the body's natural energy flow. Proponents believe that physical or emotional trauma may cause long-term disturbances in the energetic and electrochemical functioning of tissues. In addition, scars or changes in neural pathways may create long-lasting energy disturbances as well. Stress, malnutrition, and a patient's inborn emotional and physical profile may also cause energy interferences. The area where the energy is blocked is called an "interference field" or "interference zone." These zones or fields are thought to distort the body's energy flow. Therefore, it is believed that interference fields may cause problems in other areas of the body that would not seem related in the opinion of a conventional Western medical professional. For this reason, points on the body other than those directly over the source of pain may be chosen for injection. Points are chosen based on the extent of the benefit they may have in correcting an interference field.

Injections will theoretically remove the energy interference and restore the body's natural energy flow. The injection points may include the location of nerves, glands, scars, massage trigger points, and acupuncture points. Each of these points has a series of indications in neural therapy.

Different theories of neural therapy include: the restricted electrical disturbance theory, the ground system theory, lymph system theory, or myofascial restriction theory (also known as the fascial continuity theory).

Electrical disturbance theory: The electrical disturbance theory is based on the idea that chronic illness results in changes in the membrane potentials of the ganglia and nerve fibers. This may theoretically result in changes in the conductivity of these cells. Over time, this dysfunction may spread to nearby ganglia, affecting both motor and sensory fibers and resulting in abnormal nerve signals. The signals theoretically may disturb hormone regulation and the central and autonomic nervous system function. Neural therapy is theorized to interfere with this process by correcting the cells that delivered the original signal to the autonomic nervous system.

Ground system theory: Ground system theory is based on the idea that the fluid in the microscopic spaces between cells, called extracellular space, is interconnected throughout the body. The fluid in these extracellular spaces creates a network called a ground system. This system is thought to have properties of osmosis, electric conductivity, and ionic capabilities. Proponents believe that manipulation of the ground system through neural therapy may affect the extracellular space, and the ground system may move towards a healthier state.

Lymph system theory: Proponents of neural therapy believe that injecting novocaine into a lymphatic node or channel may lead to widening of these structures which will improve its functioning speed. This would theoretically improve the functioning of the immune system.

Myofascial restriction theory: Many massage therapists, chiropractors, and other bodyworkers have noted that the connective tissue that surrounds the body's bones, organs, blood vessels, and nerves form an interconnected web that surrounds the body. After physical trauma, fibrous tissue may build up as a scar or adhesion on the fascia. This scar or adhesion may change the overall orientation and tension of the fascia. As a result, musculoskeletal problems may arise, and muscles and organs may be displaced. Neural therapy theoretically works within this system.