Sciatica is a general term for pain originating from the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom of a disorder that causes mild to sharp and sometimes excruciating pain. Patients have described sciatic pain as mildly disturbing to burning, aching, deep, and similar to a sudden bolt of lightning. Sciatic nerve pain travels from the buttock, down the back of the thigh, and into the leg. Leg pain is the classic hallmark of sciatica. Low back pain may accompany sciatica, and some patients experience sciatic pain extending into the foot. Another characteristic of sciatica is it usually affects either the lower left or right side of the body.

Sciatic pain can make life miserable. Walking, standing, bending over, driving a car, working at a computer, catching up on household chores, sneezing or coughing, and many other activities of daily living can cause sudden and intense pain. Patients who suffer sciatica, especially of a more acute nature, find the symptoms disrupt many aspects of their life.

Besides pain, other symptoms may accompany sciatica. These symptoms include sensations such as tingling, pins and needles, burning, numbness or muscle weakness. Such symptoms may be felt in the buttock, thigh, behind the knee, calf, ankle, and sometimes the foot.

Ayurved Management

Ayuveda is specialized in treating Sciatica with highest treatment success rate. It offers excellent Panchakarma therapies along with internal medicines for treating Sciatica.

Ayurveda described sciatica as Gridhrasi (Gridhra means Eagle), as the gait of the affected person resembles that of an eagle’s walk and the inflamed nerve appears like eagle’s beak.

Ayurveda categorized Sciatica as one of diseases caused by vitiation Vata (one of the principle dosha in the body, responsible for the movement and functionality of the body). Sometimes even kapha (dosha responsible for lubrication and bodily fluids) vitiation along with Vata (vata kaphaj) also causes sciatica.

Treatment in Ayurved is aimed at restoring the equilibrium through correction of the underlying functional in-equilibrium. Ayurvedic treatments for Sciatica concentrate on bringing back the aggravated vata or vata kapha to the state of equilibrium and thereby to the state of health.

•   Elimination – (Sodhanam) of the accumulated toxic products of digestion, metabolism and the disease process,
•   Pacification - (Samanam) and correction of the entities responsible for altered functioning and
•   Rejuvenation – (Rasayanam) of the bodily tissue to regain and maintain natural strength and vitality.

The strength of Ayurved in the area of spine and joint treatments is globally appreciated. Since it addresses the root cause of the issue the results are fantastic.

•   Abhyanga – Ayurved Oil Massage
•   Swedan – Ayurved Medicated Steam Therapy
•   Pathrapotali swed – Massage & Fomentation By medicinal herbal leafs
•   Katibasti –Pouring medicated oil over lumbar region.
•   Pindswed – for healing the nerves and strengthening the muscles and nerves.
•   Basti –(the most important procedure in Ayurved for curing Sciatica permanently) etc., are done as per the necessity and condition.

These therapies are directed towards relieving the inflammatory changes and underlying causes of Sciatica, releasing the spasms and nerve compressions in the affected area, strengthening and nourishing entire spine & supporting tissues.

Usually the treatment period is 4 – 5 weeks according to the severity of the disease.

Along with these therapies, Ayurveda has also described Sira vedana (Venesection) and Agni karma (Heat therapy) for treating Sciatica.

In four to six weeks, the majority of patients find their symptoms are relieved with our treatment. Ayurved stands as a better alternative to surgery in Sciatica.

We have experienced the best treatment success rate in treating Sciatica cases including post-surgical recurrence.