Raynaud's disease or syndrome is a disorder of blood circulation, mainly in the fingers and toes. It is of unknown cause and characterized by changes of the skin that are aggravated by exposure to cold: first, becoming white with numbness and pain as a result of inadequate oxygenation of the blood, then red/purple with a burning sensation. The sudden constriction of blood vessels causes decreased blood flow to the extremities and can, in extreme cases, lead to gangrene. Also called "white finger", "wax finger" or "dead finger". Also: Raynaud's, Raynauds Disease, Raynaud's Disease, Raynauds Phenomenon, Raynauds Syndrome, Raynaud's Syndrome

	Buerger's Disease The Condition "...In addition, affected individuals may have sores (ulcers) on the extremities, numbness and tingling and a lack of normal blood flow to the fingers and/or toes when exposed to cold temperatures (Raynaud's Phenomenon), and/or inflammation and clotting of certain veins (thrombophlebitis)..." Cold Hands and Feet The Condition "...A number of things cause this, such as ... Raynaud's disease (disorder that affects the flow of blood to the fingers and sometimes to the toes)..." Relationship to Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome "Raynaud's phenomenon (severe cold hands and feet) affects about 16% of fibromyalgia sufferers..." Dermatomyositis The Condition "...Others may also have Raynaud's phenomenon, in which the small arteries in the fingers and toes constrict, causing the skin to look pale or bluish, usually after exposure to cold..." Fish Oils As A Treatment "...Small studies also suggest that fish oil may be helpful in Raynaud's phenomenon (a condition in which a person's hands and feet show abnormal sensitivity to cold temperatures), psoriasis, sickle-cell anemia, the autoimmune disease lupus, and a form of kidney..." Ginger Root As A Treatment "...Much recent work has focused on the use of ginger in circulatory disorders such as cold extremities and Raynaud's disease..." Ginkgo Biloba As A Treatment "...Ginkgo has been used successfully against Raynaud's disease, varicose conditions, dementia syndromes, vertigo and tinnitus of vascular origin, peripheral arterial occlusion, platelet aggregation and intermittent claudication..." Hypothyroidism The Condition "...Hypothyroidism can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and Raynaud's phenomenon; it can also lead to significant increases in cholesterol levels and homocysteine levels and is implicated in about 10% of cases of high cholesterol levels..." Raynaud's Phenomenon The Condition "Raynaud's disease, syndrome or phenomenon, whether primary or secondary, is characterized by extreme coldness in the hands or feet, the fingers or toes becoming white and numb..." Recommendation Inositol Hexaniacinate "Inositol hexaniacinate, a variation on the B-vitamin niacin, has been used with some success for relieving symptoms of Raynaud's disease..." Scleroderma The Condition "...With affecting the blood vessels, it can cause Raynaud's phenomenon..." Silicone Breast Implant Problems The Condition "...A full 70% of these thousand women had Sjogren's syndrome; 58% had Raynaud's phenomenon and 60% had dermatitis..." Sjogren's Syndrome The Condition "...In Raynaud's phenomenon, blood vessels in the hands, arms, feet, and legs constrict (narrow) when exposed to cold..."

Last updated: May 10, 2007