Sciatic pain causes a lot of discomfort. The sciatic pain is a severe pinching pain that is caused due to swelling in the sciatic nerve that runs down the complete leg.
The main causes of sciatica are compression of spinal nerves, herniation of the spinal disc and spinal stenosis. There are several allopathic, ayurvedic and herbal treatments for sciatica. However, home remedies are the easiest, cheapest and quickest means of getting relief for the pain caused due to sciatica.
Home Remedies For Sciatica
1. Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is one of the best home remedies for instantaneous relief from sciatic pain. This is a very effective remedy, especially during winters. Winter season results in compression in muscles and nerves that result in sciatic pain. Thus, the application of heat therapy eases the discomfort caused due to the cold weather. Hot water bottle can be applied to the place of pain origin.
This relaxes the muscles that compress due to cold. The warmth reaches inside and the muscles regain their elasticity. As soon as the muscles come back to their normal self, the blood circulation increases. This result in relief from the pinching pain caused due to sciatica. Thus, the application of hot water bottle cuts the sensation of cold sciatic pain. This means, hot therapy is suitable in such cases of sciatica where the cold sensation appears due to compression in the muscles and nerves, leading to sciatic pain.
2. Cold Therapy
Cold therapy is the reverse of hot therapy. However, the end results are the same. This is yet another very effective home remedy against the pain caused due to sciatica. The best thing about hot and cold therapies is that they offer instantaneous pain relief. Cold therapy is best in such cases of sciatic pain where the touch is hot.
The inflammatory pain caused due to sciatica generates heat, which gives away the heat sensation alongside causing pain. For such cases, you must apply ice packs on the affected area. This decreases the blood circulation in the affected area. The complete area falls numb; thereby, the surrounding nerves stop producing any sensation at all. This offers instantaneous relief from the pain.
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3. Grapes
Grapes are very common and regular citrus fruits that offer various health benefits. Since grapes are anti-inflammatory fruits, they form a powerful home remedy for sciatica. Inflammation leads to swelling, which causes heating pain in the sciatic nerve.
Consumption of anti-inflammatory fruits like grapes automatically reduces inflammation. Decreased inflammation automatically reduces swelling and the burning sensation. Moreover, reduced inflammation also eases the tense muscles. Since muscles ease out, the pain naturally subsides.
4. Lemon
Lemon is a very common kitchen ingredient that can effectively work against the problem of sciatica. Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory vitamin that reduces swelling, soreness and pain. Since lemon is a warehouse of vitamin C, it is a very powerful home remedy against sciatica.
The consumption of lemon juice increases the level of vitamin C in the human body. Vitamin C directly reduces the inflammation and sciatic pain subsides. You can mix lemon juice with water and honey to increase its effectiveness. However, consumption of solo lemon juice also provides the much needed relief.
5. Rest
Sometimes doing nothing and relaxing forms the best home remedy for sciatica. Sciatica is a painful condition that is agitated due to muscular strain. Thus, the best way to naturally get rid of the fierce sciatic pain is by relaxing the tense muscles. The more you rest, the more the muscles ease out.
It is necessary to change the postures from time to time, since sciatica is aggravated by long spells of a single posture. This happens because a single posture results in muscular tightening. Therefore, it is a good home remedy to take rest, if you feel muscular spasm. This eventually relaxes the muscles around the sciatic nerve.
6. Water
Water is already considered essential for the human body. However, it is a lesser known fact that consuming water decreases sciatic pain. Thus, water is yet another home remedy that naturally cures sciatica. Water is a natural lubricant that offers elasticity to the muscles and nerves. Thus, consumption of water eases the muscular strain. This cures the pinching spasm caused due to sciatica.
However, the above mentioned home remedies are very powerful against sciatic pain, but sciatica is a serious medical condition. Thus, medical checkup and proper treatment is very necessary. Slip discs are a cause of great concern. Therefore, you should always consider the advice given by your doctor in order to save yourself from the severe pain caused due to sciatica.
Some other powerful and strong home remedies for sciatica are stretching, exercising, consuming fibrous vegetables and fruits, consuming magnesium rich diet, ginger and proper sleeping postures. All such home remedies offer long term relief from sciatica.