Neuritis is one of the serious nervous disorders, which refers to an inflammation of the nerves, involving a single nerve or a series of nerves. Specifically, it affects the peripheral nerves (those outside the brain, spinal cord, or central nervous system), blocking sensory and motor functions, with definite symptoms. At times, several different groups of nerves in various parts of the body may be involved. This condition is known as polyneuritis; though this condition is not an inflammation, it is a change in the state of the nerves resulting in weakness, loss of the reflexes and changes of sensation.

Symptoms of Neuritis:

•The characteristic symptoms of neuritis include pain and tenderness; tingling and burning sensation, abnormal circulation and decreased ability to sweat in the affected nerves.
•In severe cases, there may be numbness and loss of sensation and paralysis of the nearby muscles.
•In the acute stage of Bell palsy i.e. facial neuritis, the patient may not be able to close the eyes due to loss of normal tone and strength by the muscles on the affected side of the face.
•Neuritis involving the nerves of the spine makes the condition of the patient difficult to walk in the dark.
•Acute brachial plexus neuritis is an uncommon disorder characterized by severe shoulder and upper arm pain followed by marked upper arm weakness.
•Some mild dizziness when moving the head may continue for several years following the infection. This condition is known as Vestibular neuritis.
•Some people experience severe difficulty seeing which is known as Optic Neuritis, while others might not notice any changes in their vision. Vision loss usually develops over a day to a week and may be worsened by heat or exercise. Vision loss is usually temporary, but in some cases, it may be permanent.

Causes of Neuritis:

•Mechanical from injury, pressure, overworking a part of the body.
•Vascular like blockage of a vessel or hemorrhage into nerve tissue.
•Infectious as in shingles, diphtheria, polio, tetanus, or leprosy.
•Toxic from heavy metals like arsenic, mercury and lead; chemical poisoning from phosphates, drugs or alcohol; vaccination.
•Metabolic from acidosis, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes.

Diet for Neuritis Patients:
The best treatment for neuritis is to ensure that the patient gets optimum nutrition, well assimilated with all the vitamins and other nutrients. The emphasis should be on whole grains, particularly whole wheat, brown rice, raw and sprouted seeds, raw milk, especially in soured form, and home made cottage cheese. In this regimen, the breakfast may consist of fresh fruits, a handful of raw nuts or a couple of tablespoons of sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Steamed vegetables, whole-wheat chapattis and a glass of buttermilk may be taken for lunch. The dinner may comprise a large bowl of fresh, green, vegetable salad, fresh home-made cottage cheese, fresh butter and a glass of butter-milk.

Carrot, beet, citrus fruits, apple and pineapple may be used for juices. The patient should avoid white bread, white sugar, refined cereals, meat, fish, tinned foods, tea, coffee and condiments which are at the root of the trouble, by continuously flooding the tissues with acid impurities.

Home Remedies for Treating Neuritis:
Neuritis can be cured using simple home remedies. These remedies should be administered as per the symptoms of the disease. Following are the remedies and its usage for natural cure of Neuritis.

Soya Bean Milk
Soya bean milk is prepared by soaking the beans in water for about 12 hours. The skin of the beans is then removed and after a thorough wash, they are turned into a fine paste in a grinding machine. The paste is mixed with water three times its quantity. The milk should then be boiled on slow fire, stirring it frequently. After it becomes little cooler, it should be strained through a cheesecloth and sugar added. This cupful of soybean milk mixed with a teaspoonful of honey should be taken every night in this condition. It tones up the nervous system due to its rich concentration of lecithin, vitamin B and glutanic acid.

Barley Brew
Barley brew is another effective remedy for neuritis. It is prepared by boiling one-quarter cup of all natural pearled barley in two quarters of water. When the water has boiled down to about one quarter, it should be strained carefully. For better results, it should be mixed with buttermilk and limejuice.

Carrot and Spinach
Raw carrot and spinach have proved valuable in neuritis, as both these vegetables are rich in elements. The quickest and most effective way in which the body can obtain and assimilate these elements is by drinking daily at least half a litre of the combined raw juices of carrot and spinach.

Orange Flowers
The use of orange flowers has also been found useful in neuritis. The water distilled from these flowers is a stimulating and refreshing drink, and should be taken regularly by the patient. The finest quality is one distilled from the petals of the bitter orange. Eating fresh orange flowers with honey is also 1m effective tonic for the nerves and valuable in treating neuritis, and about ten grams should be eaten daily.

Vitamin B
All vitamins of the B group are valuable ill neuritis. A combination of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and pantothenic acid have proved to be of immense help in this disease; in fact, extreme pain, weakness, and numbness, in some cases, have been relieved within an hour.

Water Treatments:
The patient should be given two or three hot Epsom salt baths weekly. He should remain in the bath for 25 to 30 minutes. The affected parts should also be bathed several times daily in the hot water containing a tablespoon of salt to a cupful of hot water. The patient should under take walking and other moderate exercises.