Herbal Treatments for Sciatica
If you've ever had lower back pain, you're probably familiar with the sciatic nerve. It extends out of the spinal cord into the lumbar region of your lower back, branching into the buttocks all the way down to both feet. When you suffer from sciatica, something has usually happened to one of the discs in your spine, creating an often excruciating pressure against one of the roots of this long nerve. Depending on the source of this painful condition, one or more conventional treatments will be recommended to you. But there's also a holistic approach to treating sciatica, using herbs and extracts, that can ease discomfort. Here are some of the more customary and effective methods.Things You'll Need
- Wintergreen Oil
- Chamomile Extract
- St. John's Wort Oil
- Mustard Seed
- Stinging Nettle
- Garlic
- Milk
- Turmeric
Instructions
-
Wintergreen Oil
-
1
Rub the wintergreen oil on the affected area. It will act as a "deep heating" topical liniment that will increase blood circulation to the area by dilating the capillaries where the oil is rubbed onto skin.
-
2
Allow the oil to be absorbed into the skin. This botanical extract contains something called methyl salicylate which is actually the active ingredient in numerous commercial creams used for muscle pain.
-
3
Keep out of reach of children. While this extract may help your pain and discomfort, it should not be ingested as it is considered toxic (and sometimes fatal).
Chamomile Extract
-
4
Add about 15 drops of chamomile extract to a cup of tea or a glass of water.
-
5
Drink once daily until you feel relief as it should relax the muscles of the body and allow for healing. This herbal treatment for sciatica can also be used topically.
-
6
Rub about the same amount of chamomile extract to the affected area and allow the oil to be absorbed into the skin. Much like drinking the substance, this technique will also relax the muscles of the body and allow for healing.
Mustard Seed
-
7
Crush the mustard seeds until all the pods are broken. You should use about 1/4 cup in full.
-
8
Pour the broken seeds into a pouch or a flour sack cloth.
-
9
Soak the sack in hot water for about 10 minutes.
-
10
Place the dampened sack on the affected area. Leave it on for no more than 10 minutes, and you should find a good amount of relief as it acts an awful lot like wintergreen oil in that it will increase blood circulation to the area by dilating the capillaries where a mixture has been applied.
Stinging Nettle
-
11
Take the leaves from the stinging nettle (approximately 4 cups) and soak them overnight in water (another 4 cups).
-
12
Strain the liquid, using an old colander or mesh strainer. You can toss the leaves after the liquid has been strained.
-
13
Add the stinging nettle liquid to a tub of warm water that is only half full (you'll want to avoid getting the liquid on your chest).
-
14
Soak yourself for about 15 to 20 minutes in the tub, then wrap yourself in a robe and let the solution set for about an hour.
-
15
Shower off with warm, soapy water. This herbal mixture is supposed to be very beneficial, especially when suffering from more severe pain due to this unnerving (excuse the pun) condition.
Other Herbal Treatments
-
16
Simply rub the St. John's Wort Oil extract on the troublesome area prior to bed and you should experience relief from the pain related to sciatica. This ointment will relax the nerves and allow you to get some rest
-
17
Mix turmeric in a glass of milk (warm or cold) and drink daily for about a week. It helps manage the pain associated with sciatica while you rehabilitate the area.
-
18
Press two cloves of garlic through a garlic press and add to 1/4 cup of milk (again warm or cold). Boil, let cool and drink. What the garlic/milk combination will do is lessen the inflammation of the troublesome area.
-
1