Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, Sciatica affects only one side of your body.
Before resorting to heavy medications like Anti inflammatory drugs, Muscle relaxers or Steroids to treat sciatic nerve pain, it is worth trying Natural Remedies.
Non-dietary Remedies
1. Yoga and Stretching: Yoga is safe and effective.Lengthening the spine through stretching, yoga, or lying down can help develop good posture while reducing Stiffness, Inflammation and Pain. Yoga has some of the most important movements for preventing Sciatic pain, it targets the back, building strength and relaxing stiff areas.
2. Acupuncture and Massage Therapy: Acupuncture relieves chronic pain of all kinds including Sciatica. Massage therapy reduces back pain, relaxes muscles and releases endorphins, natural feel good chemicals that act like pain relievers.
3. Avoid sitting in one place for too long As it increases back pain. Move more as this helps in lengthening the spine & loosens up inflamed areas.
4. Heat & Ice Therapy: Alternating Heat & Ice therapy can provide immediate relief of Sciatic nerve pain. Ice can help reduce inflammation, while heat encourages blood flow to the painful area which speeds healing.
5. Deep breathing : Deep breathing & Meditation helps relax one totally & this helps in reducing stress & calming the body and mind. Practice regularly.
6. Sleep: Sleep is restorative. Our body heals during sleep. It repairs & rejuvenates. So do sleep well.
Dietary Remedies
1. Magnesium Rich Foods: Our body needs Magnesium to help release muscle contractions. Magnesium rich foods include Dairy products, Fish, Meat, Seafood, Apples, Apricots, Brown Rice, Beans and other Legumes.
2. Vitamin B-12: Vitamin B-12 is also beneficial to treat the nerve pain, so include foods such as Liver, Clams, Lamb and Cheese.
3. Hydration : Drink your daily quota of water for healing benefits (35 ml of Water per kilo of body weight).
4. Anti-inflammatory Foods: Are very useful for Sciatica. The following foods which I am listing are particularly helpful for sciatica.
a) Tomatoes: it has abundance of Anti-oxidants, Vitamins and Minerals.
b) Green Leafy Vegetables: These restore cellular health and are packed with vitamins A, C, K. These should be a staple for those with Sciatica.
c) Nuts: Nuts are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, Phytonutrients, and are highly Anti-inflammatory. These help with Sciatica enormously.
d) Extra-virgin Olive Oil: This oil contains strong Anti-inflammatory compounds which help fight Inflammation and promotes healing for Sciatica.
e) Oily Fish: are full of essential Fatty acids and packed with Vitamins.
f) Bok Choy : I am mentioning Bok choy separately as it contains 70 different Anti-oxidants & Minerals, and really helps with Sciatica.
g) Berries: Mist berries contain Quercetin which helps to fight Inflammatory cells and reduce sciatic nerve pain.
h) Pineapples: Contains a digestive enzyme called Bromelain which helps breakdown inflammatory cells within the body. So these are excellent for Sciatica because they reduce Inflammation in the body.
i) Virgin Coconut oil: Has best Anti oxidant benefits & helps Sciatica.
Note: Add Turmeric & Ginger to your meals for Anti-inflammatory effects. These spices contain Manganese and Vitamin B-3.
Hope these remedies help to heal you without having to resort to heavy medication.
All the best and happy healing from Naturally Dimpi!!