Raynaud's Disease: natural remedies and the evidence behind them
Raynaud's disease causes episodes of reduced blood flow to the fingers and toes, triggered by cold or stress, leading to color changes, numbness, and…
7 options1 graded B3 graded C3 traditional or ungraded
B
Guided condition explorer
Start with what sounds familiar.
Choose what sounds familiar, then choose the kind of support you want to explore. HealisticMD narrows the library without presenting the result as personal medical advice.
Evidence grade B · Traditional use not yet assessed
Omega-3s may ease cold-triggered vasospasm
Why it may be relevant
If cold is your main trigger, fish oil's omega-3s (EPA and DHA) act on the blood-vessel lining that controls how your fingers and toes respond to a chill.
A small placebo-controlled trial in primary Raynaud's found omega-3 fish oil improved cold tolerance and delayed the onset of cold-induced vasospasm.
Dose or use Commonly 3-4 g/day of combined EPA/DHA taken with food; check with your doctor, especially at higher doses.
Key study RCT (1989, PMID 2536517): a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil in primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon found that fish oil improved tolerance to cold and delayed the onset of digital vasospasm in people with primary Raynaud's; no benefit was seen in secondary Raynaud's.
EvidenceSupported by smaller clinical studiesTime to resultsTypically 6-12 weeks
Caution: High doses can thin the blood and may interact with anticoagulants; ask your doctor first if you take blood thinners.
If cold temperatures are your main trigger, supporting peripheral blood flow is a direct priority, and Ginkgo biloba has been studied specifically for this in Raynaud's.
A small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial suggested it may help reduce the frequency of Raynaud's attacks, possibly by supporting peripheral circulation, though later research has been mixed.
Dose or use 120–240 mg of standardized extract daily, divided doses; follow product labeling.
Key study Small RCT (2002, PMID 12710841): a double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial of Ginkgo biloba in Raynaud's disease suggested fewer attacks; subsequent comparative studies and pooled analyses have shown mixed results.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Limited human trials so farTime to resultsTypically 4–8 weeksTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: May interact with blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, aspirin); consult a healthcare practitioner before use.
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use recognised
Low magnesium can worsen blood-vessel spasm
Why it may be relevant
If cold sends your fingers into spasm, it helps to know that magnesium relaxes blood-vessel walls, and low levels can make vessels more prone to constricting.
Magnesium acts as a natural calcium counter-balance that supports healthy vascular tone; correcting a shortfall is a sensible, low-risk step, though it has not been proven to treat Raynaud's in trials.
Dose or use Favor magnesium-rich foods (leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes); if supplementing, common doses are 200-400 mg/day of a well-absorbed form.
Key study Mechanistic rationale: magnesium regulates vascular smooth-muscle tone and low levels are linked to vasospasm; not yet tested as a Raynaud's treatment in controlled trials.
EvidenceNot yet assessed · We have not reviewed the literature for this oneTime to resultsTypically several weeks if a deficiency is correctedTraditional useRecognised traditional use
Caution: High doses can cause loose stools; people with kidney disease should check with a doctor before supplementing.
What tends to set off your Raynaud's episodes - and what kind of help sounds right for you?
Stress and tension set off my episodes as much as the cold - I want ways to calm that response and keep my hands warm
Mind-body technique to reduce stress-driven spasms
Why it may be relevant
If stress and tension are major triggers for you, learning to self-regulate your body's response through autogenic training directly addresses that pathway.
Supported by clinical research comparing mind-body techniques, suggesting autogenic training may help reduce vasospastic episodes by calming the nervous system's stress response.
Dose or use Practice guided sessions 10–20 minutes daily; work with a trained instructor or use a structured program.
Key study Comparative study (1980, PMID 6988380): Biofeedback, autogenic training, and progressive relaxation in the treatment of Raynaud's disease: a comparative study.
EvidenceLimited human trials so far · Most of the research is laboratory or animal workTime to resultsTypically 4–12 weeks with consistent practice
Caution: Not recommended as a sole treatment for severe or secondary Raynaud's; consult your doctor.
Evidence grade C · Traditional use not yet assessed
Learn to warm your hands and calm flares
Why it may be relevant
If stress and tension set you off, thermal biofeedback teaches you to consciously raise the temperature in your fingers, targeting the stress-to-vasospasm pathway directly.
Studied for Raynaud's in a comparative trial alongside autogenic training and relaxation, biofeedback helps some people reduce the frequency of vasospastic attacks.
Dose or use Work with a trained practitioner or a temperature-feedback device; practice short sessions several times a week.
Key study Comparative study (1980, PMID 6988380): biofeedback, autogenic training, and progressive relaxation in the treatment of Raynaud's disease.
EvidenceLimited human trials so far · Most of the research is laboratory or animal workTime to resultsTypically 4-12 weeks with regular practice
Caution: A self-management aid, not a substitute for medical care in severe or secondary Raynaud's; consult your doctor.
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use long-standing
Self-acupressure point for calm and circulation
Why it may be relevant
If you want a hands-on, whole-body approach, PC6 on the inner forearm is an easy self-acupressure point traditionally used to calm the nervous system and support circulation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PC6 (Neiguan) is used to promote relaxation and improve circulation, fitting for stress-linked vasospasm, though it has not been tested for Raynaud's in clinical trials.
Dose or use Press firmly on the inner forearm, about three finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the tendons, for 1-2 minutes; repeat a few times a day.
Key study Traditionally used in Chinese medicine to calm the nervous system and support circulation; this specific use has not been confirmed in controlled clinical trials.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Human evidence not yet assessedTime to resultsVaries; use as an ongoing self-care practiceTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Gentle self-acupressure is generally safe; avoid pressing on broken or irritated skin, and don't rely on it alone for severe symptoms.
What tends to set off your Raynaud's episodes - and what kind of help sounds right for you?
I'd rather try hands-on, traditional approaches - like acupuncture or pressure points - to encourage warmth and blood flow
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use long-standing
Traditional whole-body circulation support
Why it may be relevant
If you're looking for a hands-on, whole-body approach, acupuncture has been traditionally used to support warmth and blood flow to the extremities.
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine to promote circulation and address cold in the limbs, though modern clinical proof is limited.
Dose or use Work with a qualified, licensed practitioner; ask them how many sessions and how often are right for you.
Key study Traditionally used for this condition; this specific use has not been confirmed in controlled clinical trials.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Human evidence not yet assessedTime to resultsTypically 4–8 weeks of regular sessionsTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Seek a licensed acupuncturist; advise them of any medications or underlying conditions.
Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use long-standing
Self-acupressure point for calm and circulation
Why it may be relevant
If you want a hands-on, whole-body approach, PC6 on the inner forearm is an easy self-acupressure point traditionally used to calm the nervous system and support circulation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PC6 (Neiguan) is used to promote relaxation and improve circulation, fitting for stress-linked vasospasm, though it has not been tested for Raynaud's in clinical trials.
Dose or use Press firmly on the inner forearm, about three finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the tendons, for 1-2 minutes; repeat a few times a day.
Key study Traditionally used in Chinese medicine to calm the nervous system and support circulation; this specific use has not been confirmed in controlled clinical trials.
EvidenceCenturies of traditional use · Human evidence not yet assessedTime to resultsVaries; use as an ongoing self-care practiceTraditional useLong-standing traditional staple
Caution: Gentle self-acupressure is generally safe; avoid pressing on broken or irritated skin, and don't rely on it alone for severe symptoms.
Evidence grades describe the strength of published research for Raynaud's Disease, not a promise of results. A higher grade is not a personal recommendation. Nothing here is medical advice — talk to your clinician before starting anything, especially alongside prescription medication.
Related pressure points
Hands-on options you can try yourself.
Acupressure is a comfort measure, not a treatment for Raynaud's Disease itself. Each page shows where the point is and how to press it.
The evidence behind Raynaud's Disease, in one page
We track 5 natural options for Raynaud's Disease — what each is typically used for, usual dose, cautions, and the study behind the ones with real trial data.
One email with the summary. We'll also send a short weekly evidence update — unsubscribe any time.
Build your plan in the app
Build and track your natural-health plan for Raynaud's Disease in the app.
