Sciatica occurs when there is inflammation or irritation wityh the compression effect one or more nerves running down your lower back and into the legs. It refers to the pain in lower back traveling through gluteal area to the legs. It is caused by nerve compression of sciatic nerve. This nerve is body's longest nerve running from lower back to legs, finishing just below the knee. This is actually a nerve bundle that comes from five nerve roots branching off from spinal cord. There are two sciatic nerves running in each leg, just below the knee it splits into other nerves that connects to lower leg, foot and toes.
Sciatica mostly occurs due to herniated disc or a bone overgrowth putting extra pressure on nerve. This results in pain and inflammation along with some numbness in affected leg. The severity of pain depends person to person and on involvement of specific neves. Now a days it's quite common and maybe shooting or jolting in nature too resulting in acute discomfort.
Types of Sciatica:
True sciatica: any injury or condition affecting sciatic nerve directly.
Sciatica-like conditions: Conditions that appear like sciatica, but happen due other reasons related to the sciatic nerve or nerves that bundle together to form it.
SYMPTOMS OF SCIATICA
- Moderate to severe pain in lower back that radiates to legs.
- Sometimes there is weakness or numbness along the legs.
- Prickling sensation in foot or legs.
- Shooting pain so severe that it makes difficult for the patient to get up.
- Continuous pain on one side of back
- Burning of foot or twisting.
- Worsening of pain with movement.
- In severe cases muscle weakness is seen.
- Urinary or fecal incontinence is also a severe symptom.
CAUSES OF SCIATICA
It can happen due to variety of reasons like:
- Degenerative disc diseases
- Herniated discs
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Being over weight
- Sleeping on hard mattress too often.
- Sitting position for too long
- Spondylolisthesis
- Tumors, cysts or other growths
- Injuries to spine
- Conus medullas syndrome
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Smoking
- Tumors in spine compressing the nerve
- Having insufficient core strength
- Not using good posture while lifting
- Type 2 diabetes puts in risk of peripheral neuropathy
- Physical inactivity
AYURVEDIC APPROACH IN TREATMENT OF SCIATICA
According to Ayurveda Sciatica is associated with Gridhrasi and is explained among 80 types of vata imbalance disorders. The word Gridhrasi itself is derived from the root word Gridhra which denotes vulture. It is named so because the patient's gait becomes altered and ultimately patient walks similar to the walk of vulture. The radiating pain to a leg or legs from the back is a characteristic feature of Sciatica. The common causative factors are eatables like flat bean, red lentil, peanut, pigeon pea. Also intake of dry, light and cold food and intake of pungent, bitter and astringent food add to the causes. Heavy lifting, long walks, improper position while lying, suppression of urge of urine or feces also may result in sciatica.
Based on the dosha imbalance Sciatica is of two types Vataj gridhrasi and Vaat kaphaj gridhrasi. Here the vaata dosha is increased in body due to nidan sevan and the hip area is invaded by exacerbated vaata dosha, which fills the circulation pathways. It causes stiffness and discomfort in affected area.
Since Sciatica is one among the vata disorders the measures to calm down and balance the vata dosha must be taken. The method of treatment is vata pacification via snehan, swedan, mridu sanshodhan , basti ,lepa, parisheka, virechan, shira vedha, jaloka avcharan or agni karma accordingly.
Useful Herbs :
- Shigru
- Jambira
- Bala
- Chincha
- Nirgundi
- Punarnava
- Rasna
Chandigarh Ayurved Centre’s ” Sciatica Care Kit ” is purely Herbal and Ayurvedic formulation. The medicines have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and immuno-modulator properties that helps to relieve the symptoms like pain , numbness, burning sensation etc. The medicine also helps to pacify the aggravated vata dosha in the body. The kit contain ;
- Nerve Up Tablet
- Trikatu Syrup
- Makar Rasayan Tablet
- Pain-O-Kill Tablet
1. Makar Rasayan tablet:
Makar Rasayan is a herbo-mineral tablet and is purely Ayurvedic formulation. CAC MAKAR RASAYAN tablet help in balancing all the three doshas. It helps to rejuvenate body tissues and act as an immuno modulator. It helps in proper blood circulation. It prevents the skin from dryness. It contains natural ingredients like shudha kuchla, guduchi satva, shudha shilajeet, ras sindoor, moonga bhasma, shankh bhasma, praval pishti etc. Herbs and minerals used for the formulation of these tablets show antioxidant, aphrodiasic, analgesic and immuno modulator properties.
Recommended Dosage: Take one tablet twice daily.
2. Nerve up tablet:
These tablets are pure ayurvedic formulation. Nerve up tablets help in balancing the vata doshas and kapha dosha. It acts as nervine stimulant. It shows effective results in improving the central nervous system. It contains natural ingredients like shudha kuchala, shudha shilajeet, praval pishti, shankh bhasma etc. This tablet helps in Backache, kneepain, headache, bronchitis, depression.
Recommended Dosage– Take 1 tablet twice daily.
3. Pain-O-kill Tablets:
As the name suggests these tablets will kill the pain naturally. The herbs present in the formation of these tablets are Ashwagandha, Hadjod, Punarnava, Nirgundi, Methi, Garlic, etc. These herbs in combination show antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulator properties. The regular use of these tablets reduce body pain and acts on its root cause.
Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.
4. Trikatu Syrup:
Trikatu combines the goodness of Black pepper, Ginger and, Long pepper to create an herbal remedy for digestive ailments, sluggish metabolism, obesity, and high cholesterol. This syrup has best results in anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and expectorant. It also help to tackle the weight problems or obesity. It can modulate your body’s immune response while cutting the characteristic inflammation associated with the back pain.
Recommended Dosage –Take 2 teaspoonful twice a day before meal with normal water.
