Dr. Ramesh Rai

Sciatica is a painful condition in which the sciatic nerve of the legs gets affected. It is also associated with the lower back pain and can aggravate to such an extent that the gait and the posture of a person can drastically reduce. Though there are conventional methods and medications to treat the condition, ancient Ayurveda offers the best solution in treating the symptoms. Let us take a look at how the ancient wisdom can successfully keep the condition of sciatica under check.

Ayurveda for Sciatica
As per Ayurveda system of medicine, the condition of sciatica was termed as Gridhrasi. This is because the patient's gait is altered due to the intensity of the leg and gets slightly curved due to pain. As a result of this, his walk resembles that of a vulture (Gridhra). Many factors lead to sciatica, most common ones being that the person bends the body at unreal angles and sitting for a prolonged period. Other factors can include accidents or physical trauma due to an injury and old age. In some rare cases, infections and tumors can cause exertion on the sciatic nerve, and this can lead to sciatica.

How Ayurveda Heals
Ayurveda generally categorizes the diseases by the doshas and sciatica is caused by vitiated Vata (one of the primary doshas in the body which is responsible for the movement and functionality of the body). Sometimes even Kapha, a dosha responsible for lubrication and bodily fluids can also cause sciatica. The fundamental principle in an Ayurvedic treatment focuses on restoring the imbalances in the doshas. It effectively channelizes the treatment from the roots. It consists of three methods in the eradication of sciatica. The first one is the elimination of accumulated toxic products in the body followed by the correction and rejuvenation of the body.

Diet too plays a significant role and certain foods like fried foods, pulses and beans should be completely avoided. Patients also need to get his rest only on a hard bed during the treatment cycle, and gentle leg exercises can be done along with the medications. There are certain therapies like Abyanga swedam, Pathrapotali swedam (Elakizhi), Sarvangadhara (Pizhichil), Kadeevasthy, Navarakizhi that are done to relieve the pain. The most important of all is the Vasti treatment to cure sciatica permanently. These therapies focus mostly on reducing the inflammatory changes and underlying causes of Sciatica, thereby strengthening and nourishing the entire spine & supporting tissues. The treatment cycle usually lasts 4 – 5 weeks.

Ayurveda is safe
The biggest advantage of an Ayurvedic treatment method is that it is extremely safe and that there are no side effects. It effectively acts as a detox thus getting rid of the harmful substances from the body along with curing the symptoms. Ayurveda can be effectively used for treating Sciatica and keep the condition from reoccurring.

 There are several lovely and gentle herbs that can help children in different ways as they quickly respond to the effects of the herbs. These herbs can be used not just for improving the conditions of an ailing child but also teaches them the wonderful benefits of Mother Nature. If a parent is willing to use some herbs for the children, then it is imperative to know which herbs are best suited for the individual kids.

It is very important to do your homework well before choosing the herbs to administer on kids. Herbs have a long history of helping children and their families to be healthy and steer clear from common ailments. But it is crucial to note here that children tend to be more sensitive than the adults and they respond much quicker to the mild herbs.

A few of the herbs for your child suggested by Ayurveda:

• Nourishing plants: There are some plants which act as a nutritive potion for the child and the herbal resistance proffered by these nourishing herbs comes from the high amounts of minerals, vitamins and different types of phytochemicals which are effortlessly absorbed by the children. Some of these herbs include nettle, oat straw, raspberry, dandelion, seaweeds, violets, marshmallow, rose hips, and alfalfa. These herbs can be used for making soups, salads, and casseroles. They may also be used in making refreshing teas and ice pops. Yet, one should remember that not all herbs will be suitable for the child. A few may not suit the child while others may work wonders for him/her. So, it is important to consult with an Ayurvedic expert before administering herbs.
• Gentle nervines: Nervines are a class of herbs which helps in nourishing and calming the nervous system and they are wonderful to soothe the central nervous system. It is great for those children who suffer from the uncontrollable amount of anxiety, stress, and nervousness. These herbs are great for alleviating the tiredness that kids face after a hard day’s toil. Herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, rose petals, spearmint, lavender, and catnip are regarded as nervines and they are great for treating occasional insomnia and body pains. It is a good practice to use these herbs on a regular basis in order to experience a calming comfort.
• Herbs also help in treating illness: It goes without saying that it is a great thing to use natural remedies for helping a child feel better. There are some herbs which can aid in alleviating signs and symptoms of a runny nose, sore throats, tummy aches and coughing. Some of the best herbs that can be used for this purpose include violet and pansy, elderflower and berry, anise seeds, cinnamon, garlic, thyme, and marshmallow. Certain nerviness is also known to provide beneficial effects for an ailing child.

Thus, herbs are a natural way of prevention and cure of many conditions in children, however, it is important to know how these herbs need to be administered. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!