Introduction
Nervive Nerve Relief claims to help age-related neuropathy, a condition that affects the nerves causing weakness, numbness and pain, especially in the hands and feet. The big question is, can it really deliver results in just 14 days, and is it worth considering?
Ingredients Analysis
Let’s take a look at the ingredients. Here are the dosages per capsule: The recommended dose is 1 capsule per day. We’re going to analyze each ingredient to see if they have enough dosage, if they have the active ingredients to work, and how effective they might be for neuropathy.
B Vitamins and Their Role in Nerve Health
Let’s talk about B vitamins and their role in supporting nerve health. These vitamins are essential for various physiological processes that keep our nervous system functioning properly.
Therapeutic Doses for Neuropathy
Now, we’ve established that these nutrients are important for nerve health, and a deficiency can lead to nerve issues. But what about using higher doses than normal, also known as therapeutic doses, to address neuropathy?
The Problem with Nervive’s B Vitamin Doses
Unfortunately, the research is weak, and most solid evidence supports the use of large doses of B12 to treat neuropathy. The problem with products like Nervive is that they don’t provide a therapeutic dose of B vitamins. These amounts are too small for therapeutic use and are only sufficient to correct deficiencies.
Calcium’s Role in Nervive
Now, let’s touch on calcium. Although it is associated with neurological function, there is no compelling reason to believe that supplementing with calcium is beneficial for neurological problems. Its presence in Nervive may be for reasons such as controlling pH or increasing the overall stability of the supplement, but evidence supporting calcium supplementation for neurological health is lacking.
Alpha Lipoic Acid: The Key Player
Alpha-lipoic acid or ALA is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in our bodies and can be found in foods such as red meat, organ meats and vegetables. Research shows that taking ALA, especially in doses ranging from 600 to 1800 mg per day, can help reduce symptoms such as burning, pain, numbness, and tingling in people with diabetic neuropathy.
Turmeric and Ginger: Do They Work?
Turmeric, especially its active compound curcumin, is believed to have potential benefits for neuropathy due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Ginger, known for its traditional analgesic effects, is also considered a potential aid in relieving neuropathic pain.
Side Effects and Warnings
When it comes to safety, any issues with Nervive are likely related to the alpha-lipoic acid it contains. Alpha-lipoic acid can cause heartburn, stomach discomfort, or a bitter taste, especially on an empty stomach. However, these effects are generally associated with higher doses, and the 600 mg dose of Nervive is likely to be well tolerated by most people.
Is Nervive Effective?
Nervive is primarily an alpha lipoic acid supplement. The dosage of other ingredients in it is very low which is not beneficial. Alpha lipoic acid is most effective for a specific type of nerve problem called diabetic neuropathy, which is caused by damage to nerves and blood vessels from diabetes.
Different Versions of Nervive
Nervive comes in different forms, but I’m mainly focusing on Nervive Nerve Relief. The other versions are quite similar, with some minor changes.
Alpha-lipoic Acid vs Gabapentin vs Lyrica
When we compare alpha lipoic acid supplements to drugs like gabapentin and Lyrica for nerve pain, research shows that ALA is comparable to many of these drugs.
Is Nervive Worth It?
Nervive Nerve Relief retails for around $20 per month. If I wanted to replicate its effects but better, I would combine alpha lipoic acid with vitamin B12. Generic alpha lipoic acid is around $3-4 per month. B12 is also about $3-4 a month. So getting the generics individually would cost $6-8 a month.
Overall Rating
Rating Nervive in terms of effectiveness for neuropathy, I give it a B. It contains ALA which is moderately effective for neuropathy. Just keep in mind that it is best for diabetic neuropathy and uses a less effective dose.
Conclusion
Overall, I’m giving Nervive a C. If you suffer from diabetic neuropathy, Nervive can be helpful, however, it is very expensive, and I would recommend just taking regular ALA high doses if you can afford it.