How to Treat Sciatica Naturally

Sciatic pain is usually associated with weakness in either, or both, legs, often with a burning or tingling sensation. A common cause of sciatica is degeneration, or herniation of the discs between the vertebrae, causing compression of the nerve. In non-medical terms it’s usually called one sided low back pain.

 There are a number of treatments you can choose from to help relieve your symptoms. Ice packs on the area of pain can help minimize the inflammation around the nerve and reduce the pain. Put the ice pack on the back (not directly onto the skin, use a cotton cloth) for approximately 10 minutes. You can repeat this 2 or 3 times if you allow a rest period of 5 minutes before reapplying the ice.

 Try to become aware of which positions makes the pain worse. Stretching the muscles of the lower back, buttocks and hamstrings can often help ease the pain as the muscle tension eases off.

There are numerous natural treatments that you can try, Capsaicin can be used as a topical pain relief. The capsaicin is thought to block the action of the pain receptors. Taking a magnesium supplement can be beneficial, it helps calm the nerves and aid muscle relaxation. Low levels of Vitamin B can increase pain sensitivity, and many people find taking a good quality B vitamin supplement can reduce their perception of the pain significantly.

Osteopathic treatments can be very helpful for many people, the manipulations can release the pressure on any compressed nerves from the spine. Both massage and bodywork can be very helpful in recovery from sciatica, as well as making sure that you are sitting correctly in a supportive chair.

Another alternative therapy to consider is acupuncture. Traditional Chinese Medicine describes the flow of energy, or Qi, that flows through the body and how when that energy, or Qi, becomes stuck, or stagnant, it leads to symptoms of pain and stiffness. A skilful acupuncture practitioner can manipulate the Qi to  flow freely again, and thus, relieve the pain and discomfort of sciatica.