Neural Therapy – Treatment, Effects & Risks

The developer of neural therapy was the German physician Ferdinand Huneke (1891-1966). In 1925, Huneke accidentally gave his sister, who suffered from migraines, a proca-containing drug instead of a drug without procaine. The unusual thing about it was the intravenous administration. So in the 20s the view was that it could come in this way to a fatal cerebral palsy. Instead, however, Huneke’s sister began to have a rapid and lasting healing effect.

Together with his brother Walter, Ferdinand Huneke then researched the therapeutic use of procaine. This research eventually led to the emergence of segment therapy, which formed an important component of neural therapy. In the further course of the so-called interference field therapy developed, which is still in use today. Neural therapy is primarily used in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

Application and function

Only a few scientific studies on the effectiveness of neural therapy have been carried out. Some studies showed positive results. However, the number of participants was too low to provide concrete information about the positive effects of the treatment method. In medicine, neural therapy is still highly controversial today.Neural therapy is used to support the self-healing of the patient in numerous different diseases. These include, above all, pain in the musculoskeletal system, headaches, nerve pain, rheumatic diseases as well as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and dizziness.

Methods and procedures

Neural therapy consists of two forms. These are segment therapy and interference field therapy. As part of segment therapy, the therapist administers a local anesthetic to the patient into the nerves of the diseased area of the body. The agent may be procaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine or lidocaine.

The injection is administered in the region of the so-called Head’s zones of internal organs. The positive effect of the drugs in the affected segments is to be unfolded via the autonomic nervous system.

The second theory on which neural therapy is based is interference field therapy. According to Ferdinand Huneke, pathological processes such as injuries, inflammations or scars within one organ have a negative effect on other organs. The triggering sites are referred to as interference fields, irritation centers or foci. According to neural therapy, the organism is temporarily able to compensate for the disturbances. However, if the interference fields are permanent, this results in pathological complaints.

Interference field therapy is based on the fact that diseases in one part of the body are caused by complaints in other parts of the body that are further away. In neural therapy, the therapist locates an active interference field by injecting a local anesthetic. If there is a decrease in symptoms in other areas of the body within a few seconds, the active interference field has been successfully localized.

What does the patient have to consider?

If the patient wants to have neural therapy carried out on him, he should pay attention to the selection of a suitable therapist. So it is important that he has sufficient experience with the treatment method. Competent treatment can significantly reduce the risk of risks and undesirable side effects.

For example, nerve damage caused by incorrectly placed injections is possible. Neural therapy may not be carried out by alternative practitioners in Germany. The reason for this is the prescription requirement for lidocaine and procaine, which has existed in Germany since 2006.

Neural therapy is usually offered by physicians who are trained in naturopathy. After further training of about 120 to 150 hours and a final examination, they are entitled to carry out the procedure. However, there are no uniform continuing education regulations.

process and implementation

Before the doctor starts the neural therapy, he looks at his patient’s medical history (anamnesis) and performs a thorough physical examination. Sometimes it is diagnosed by injection. If the injection relieves the pain in another part of the body, this is considered an indication of a one-second phenomenon.

Neural therapy consists of local treatment and the elimination of interference fields. As part of the local treatment, the skin is touched by the therapist’s fingers. He then injects a local anesthetic into the painful area. This treatment is continued until the pain subsides.

Special deep puncture techniques are also important for neural therapy. For this purpose, the local anesthetic is injected into specific trigger points in the muscles where there is severe pain or swelling.

Any sources of interference, including scars, for example, are treated during the field of interference field remediation. For this purpose, the therapist administers several injections around the interference field. If necessary, the local anesthetic can also be injected in the vicinity of larger nerve cords or the vertebrae.

Self-service or health insurance – who bears the costs?

Reimbursing the cost of neural therapy is not straightforward. It depends on the type of treatment being performed. In this way, doctors are more likely to bill the health insurance companies for segment therapy. In contrast, interference field therapies are private services that the patient has to provide himself. The cost of the injections is between 20 and 50 euros, depending on the area of ​​the body. The fee schedule for doctors (GoÄ) serves as the basis.

Risks, dangers and complications

Neural therapy is not without risks. For example, there is a risk of a hypersensitivity reaction to the local anesthetic. An infection at the puncture site is also conceivable. This is noticeable by swelling and reddening of the skin in the affected area. Sometimes there is throbbing pain or a visible collection of pus.

Typical signs of hypersensitivity include anxiety, restlessness, tremors, speech disorders, visual disturbances, muscle twitching, nausea and vomiting. Skin irritation and allergic reactions can also occur. Some patients also suffer from seizures or cardiac arrhythmias.