Sciatica - How Ayurveda Is The Safest Treatment Option?

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