How Long Does It Take for Neural Therapy to Take Effect? - A Functional Perspective to Understand

In neural therapy, the effect is achieved by injecting the drug into the target tissues. This method reaches the sympathetic nervous system, which is located throughout the body and is important for the rapid transfer of information. The therapeutic effect is seen immediately or within 72 hours at the latest.

Neural therapeutics, even without medication, only needle pricks in the skin initially cause a reaction with afferent (incoming) and efferent (outgoing) responses from both the sensory nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. This reaction is acupuncture-like, but non-specific. On the one hand, these stimuli indirectly engage the sympathetic system for treatment by producing segmental reflex effects, and on the other hand, the application of local anesthetics interrupts sympathetic conduction and directly aims to normalize sympathetic function.

The application of local anesthetics is especially critical in eliminating the interference fields. The cessation of stimulation following anesthesia results in longer lasting therapeutic effects resulting from the normalization of sympathetic function. Only needle insertion (e.g. acupuncture) or additional analgesics activate inhibition neurons via segmental reflexes. However, this only affects problems in the segment concerned; in cases where the underlying disorder is extra-segmental, such interventions cannot directly reach the source of the main problem.

Neural therapy is a treatment with local anesthetics such as 0.5-1% procain or 0.5% lidocaine. This application stimulates and inhibits both sympathetic afferent and efferent fibers, thereby normalizing tissue perfusion.

Correction of the vasomotor system leads to normalization of the interstitial spaces and associated organs, muscles, joints and somatic nervous system. Among the positive effects of the treatment is the patient's relief from pain.

The relationship of the vegetative nervous system with the brain stem and limbic system plays a fundamental role in the treatment of complex conditions such as metabolic syndromes and psychiatric disorders. In this context, Neural Therapy offers a distinctive approach to conventional medical practice and makes a unique contribution through an in-depth study of the multifaceted functions of this system.

The effects of local anesthetics confirm the characteristics established by surgical observations in the past in the light of international scientific studies. In addition to analgesic effects in the pain-conducting nervous system, local anesthetics exert antipylogistic, antiallergic, immunomodulatory and even antitumoral effects through the vegetative nervous system. It also makes an important contribution to regeneration processes by improving microcirculation. These properties have been proven by experimental studies and are generally accepted in the medical field.

The terms Therapeutic Local Anesthesia and Neural Therapy are synonymous and the latter term has become more common over time. While the term Therapeutic Local Anesthesia emphasizes the drug used, the term Neural Therapy draws more attention to the vegetative system functions and the benefits it provides.

Neural therapy, which can be used in many areas, especially in the treatment of inflammation and pain, can be added to the internal medicine course content within classical medical education. Thanks to its wide network of indications, it has an important place in preventive medicine, treatment of acute and chronic diseases or rehabilitation processes.

Neural therapy not only offers advantages in terms of patient preference as a regulation therapy, but also stands out as a very favorable option in terms of cost, benefit and risk balance. Thanks to this method, it becomes possible to reduce the use of medication, prevent loss of workforce due to disease, minimize surgical interventions, end the need for continuous medication for chronic diseases and treat multimorbid patients with a holistic approach.

The basis of regulation and pain management is the imbalance between afferent and efferent responses of the sympathetic system. The sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in the regulation of neurogenic inflammation and nociception (pain responses). The secretion of pain-causing mediators, the transmission of pain signals, the formation of reflex arcs in response to these signals and the initiation of inflammatory responses are largely governed by the autonomic nervous system and the sympathetic structure.

Without the sympathetic nervous system, pain cannot occur. From this perspective, the importance of neural therapy and local anesthetic injections can be more clearly understood. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of the sympathetic innervation of the organs is of great advantage in order to be successful in the treatment of real pain.

NEURALTERAPY

Our body functions as an electrical structure. Local anesthetic injections in specific areas balance blood circulation (arteries and veins), muscle regulation, lymph circulation, peripheral, central and autonomic nervous system communication. By increasing blood circulation, i.e. perfusion, the tissue is nourished; when lymph circulation increases, the tissues are cleansed of metabolic wastes. Tissues with regulated nerve conduction begin to function more systematically.

The main condition for success in therapy is to make an accurate diagnosis. The diagnostic approach used in this process should be individualized; the effects of the changes experienced by the person over time and their reflections on the functional structure should be taken into account. In order to be able to apply an effective neural therapy, it is of great benefit to receive a training recommended and approved by IFMANT. The only organization in Turkey that offers this training in accordance with IFMANT standards is the Scientific Neural Therapy Regulatory Association, which can be found at www.noralterapi.com.

Neural therapy is a method successfully applied in the treatment of both acute and chronic diseases. In this treatment approach, the body creates a response by activating its own vegetative nervous system.

During the treatment process, local anesthetics (usually procaine) are applied to specific areas of the body, aiming to create a positive circulation. As a result, the body activates its self-healing mechanism and the symptoms begin to diminish. Neural therapy is therefore one of the most effective natural treatment options.

The basic principle of neural therapy is regulation. However, anatomical deficiencies or genetic disorders are not suitable indications for neural therapy. In this context, the treatment focuses on the regulation of the existing structure.

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:

Response and Function The sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in pain conditions in particular and in disease processes in general, such as inflammation and degeneration. This system innervates blood vessels and manages active changes such as their dilation or constriction.

One of the main functions of the sympathetic nervous system is to produce a level of vasoconstriction that can completely close the vessels. However, vessels can dilate due to sympathicolysis. Moreover, even the smallest stimuli allow vasodilation necessary for processes such as tissue regeneration, growth and hyperplasia.

Acetylcholine plays an important role in active vasodilation triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. This suggests that active vascular dilation is considered a parasympathetic activity and is centered in the pars intermedia of the spinal cord. The autonomic nervous system can be stimulated both by the internal dynamics of the organism and by environmental factors. The response to this stimulus depends on the initial state of the individual organism and the intensity of the stimulus. The sensitivity of the autonomic nervous system to external stimuli increases from the center to the peripheral areas. Unlike the somatic nervous system, the autonomic system can form a permanent memory called an “engram”; repeated stimuli of moderate or high intensity consistently lower its threshold of arousal.

The process of arousal and the sequence of stimuli consists of the following stages: 1. The source of the stimulus. 2. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system and directed transmission of the stimulus. 3. Stimulus sequence acting on the vascular system in the capillary end zones. 4. Stimulus-induced consequences in the specific organ. This process constitutes the basic mechanism of vascular system reactions in G. Ricker's step rule. The processes occurring in the tissues can have a wide range of manifestations, ranging from improved microcirculation to tissue necrosis, cell regeneration, cell death or cellular dysfunction.

Use of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Treatment

The functional characteristics of the vegetative nervous system, both diagnostic and therapeutic, should be taken into account.

The sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in providing and supporting appropriate adaptation to conditions with its structure that extends throughout the whole organism. This system functions as the general information network of the organism, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system often takes on an antagonistic function in the head, neck and trunk regions.

The main functions of the sympathetic nervous system can be summarized as follows:

- Regulation of blood circulation

- Ensuring control of organ systems

Changes and processes in the terminal vessels occur in response to stimuli from the perivasal sympathetic nervous system. It is also noteworthy that the state of arousal in the perivasal sympathetic nervous system persists despite a short duration and limited number of stimuli.

A single exposure to a stimulus can cause “sensitization” of the perivasal sympathetic nervous system, which can lower the stimulus threshold and lead to a more intense response to the stimulus in subsequent encounters.

Repeated exposure to a very strong stimulus or a moderate stimulus can cause a state of sustained arousal through the autoregulatory mechanism in the perivasal sympathetic nervous system. The clinical manifestation of this condition is usually chronic disease.

TREATMENT OPTION:

This stimulus sequence can be interrupted by applying local anesthetic infiltration to the stimulated area. Just as repetitive stimuli cause excitation or sensitivity changes in the sympathetic nervous system, these effects can be eliminated by repeated local anesthetic applications.

Considering the response of the autonomic nervous system to neural therapy, the normalization of autonomic impulse transmission in the therapeutic process is based on the interruption of pathological impulse transmission rather than the duration of action of the local anesthetic. Therefore, it is important to choose a local anesthetic with the shortest possible duration of action. 0.5-1% esterified procaine solution offers optimal local anesthesia without additives such as vasoconstrictors and preservatives.

Common symptoms of procaine administration may include mild dizziness, a general feeling of warmth, slight sweating, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a feeling of shivering. In rare cases, short-term loss of concentration, temporary impairment of speech, vision or hearing may also occur.

Dr. Huseyin Nazlikul
IFMANT = President of the International Federation of Neuraltherapy
President of the Scientific Neural Therapy Regulatory Association

Sources Utilized :

Nazlikul, H: Neural Therapy Textbook
Nazlikul, H: Neuraltherapy Another Treatment Possible
Atlas of Neural Therapy by H. Barop (Translator H. Nazlikul)
The Neural Therapy Book by L. Fischer (Translator H. Nazlikul and Y. Tamam)
James W. NcNabb (Translator H. Nazlikul and Y. Tamam) Joint and Soft Tissue Injections
Weinschenk, S: Neuraltherapie
Fischer, L et: Lehrbusch Integrative Schmeztherapie
Herget, F, H, Nazlikul, H : “Neurophysiologie und Neuropharmakologie der Schmerzmatrix” P. 56 ff in Abstractband Deutscher Schmerztag 1998
Barop, H. : Lehrbuch Neuralthererapi, 2nd Überarbeitet Auflage Haug Verlag 2015
Fischer, L : Neuraltherapie nach Huneke 2004 HD
Reuter URM, Oettmeier R and Nazlikul H (2017) Procaine and Procaine-Base-Infusion: A Review of the Safety and Fields of Application after Twenty Years of Use. Clin Res Open Access 4(1): doi http://dx.doi.org/10.16966/2469-6714.127