Natural Health: Tongue tingling

Q. For some time now I’ve had a strange tingling on my tongue.

I have been to the doctor, dentist, and the dental hospital and tried quite a lot of different medications but nothing worked. The tingling is at its worst at night and in the mornings — has during the day it’s just uncomfortable. Are there any natural remedies that might help?

A. It is most frustrating when you have an issue such as this, and nobody seems to be able to give you a definitive diagnosis. I can only offer a few suggestions as to a list of likely causes for your tingling tongue, since it is near impossible to make a proper diagnosis without seeing you and taking a detailed history.

The main cause behind tingling of the tongue is typically an issue with the nervous system — often damage to the nerve that supplies the tongue (lingual nerve). However, there are a number of related conditions and problems which could be at the root of the tingling. Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) may be a cause, as could nerve damage as a result of conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or diabetes.

You and your doctor/dentist may have already ruled these out, but if not, it is worth checking these avenues.

You don’t mention whether or not you are currently taking any medications — this can be a side effect of some prescription drugs, or even something as basic as an extreme deficiency in vitamins or minerals. Again, this is something you may already be aware of, but is worth ruling out completely as you investigate further.

When it comes to nerve health, the B vitamins are crucial — and a lack of most of the B family are behind a range of symptoms that occur with the tongue and mouth — so taking a B complex is a good start.

To test for mineral deficiencies, you can purchase test kits from www.mineraltestkit.co.uk.

The best solution when it comes to mineral deficiencies is to eat a varied diet of local, seasonal fresh produce. Organic is best, but if you can get to a farmers’ market then you can chat about specific practices with the producers and find out who uses chemicals and who doesn’t.

Eating a bowl of leafy greens before each meal helps tremendously with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and taking your time to eat slowly, mindfully, and chewing your food thoroughly will help to maximise the uptake of vitamins and minerals.

Recent dental or medical procedures can also effect nerves. Extractions, implants, or root canals all carry a small risk of nerve damage that might explain your symptoms, and any surgery has a slight risk of resulting nerve damage. It can even be something as simple as pressure being placed on a nerve due to inflammation, infection, or at worst, a clot or blockage.

Ensure your circulation is working efficiently, too — blood-flow issues can lead to a pins and needles sensation, although it is likely that these would begin in your hands and feet rather than your tongue. Making an infusion using fresh ginger root is brilliant for circulation, and adding a pinch of cayenne will supercharge this brew.