Neuropathic Pain: Literature Review and Recommendations of Potential Phytotherapies

Introduction: One of the common syndromes that affect humanity is neuropathic pain (NP), yet poorly understood with no efficient treatment till now. Consequently, it is extremely crucial to seek further evidence for accurate diagnosis and optimum treatment. The aim of this work is to summarize the findings related to neuropathic pain in terms of etiology, types, diagnosis, current and future management prospective, and identify the gaps in neuropathic pain therapy. Methods: A literature investigation was carried out by analyzing classical peer reviewed papers and textbooks, taking into consideration worldwide well established scientific databases mainly PUBMED and SCOPUS to retrieve accessible published literature. The selection of phytotherapies was based upon their potentials in relieving NP in pre-clinical or clinical models. Results: One of the most critical points in this research is that recommendations of the future plans should be focused on the engagement of phytotherapy in the treatment regimen aiming at improving patients’ quality of life and reaching optimum efficacy and minimum toxicity. Phytotherapies offer relatively low-risk options to NP patients and have an increasing evidence to be the future of neuropathic pain management. Patients suffering from neuropathy are depending increasingly on phytotherapies; however, they need more clinical trials in order to fully understand their mechanism of actions. Conclusion: Health-care specialists should be regularly informed about neuropathic pain current therapies and promising future phytotherapies, bearing in mind the risk/benefit profile of the utilization of these therapies in the amelioration of NP.