Ayurvedic Treatment For Sciatica At Central India
About Sciatica:
Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg.
It is caused by injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a
symptom of another medical problem, not a medical condition on its own.
The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the body and is made
up of individual nerve roots that start by branching out from the spine
in the lower back and then combine to form the “sciatic nerve.”
Sciatica symptoms occur when the large sciatic nerve is irritated or
compressed at or near its point of origin.
- The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back, typically at lumbar segment 3 (L3).
- At each level of the lower spine, a nerve root exits from the inside
of the spinal canal, and each of these respective nerve roots then come
together to form the large sciatic nerve.
- The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of each leg.
- Portions of the sciatic nerve then branch out in each leg to innervate certain parts of the leg—the thigh, calf, foot, and toes.
Causes Of Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the Sciatic
nerve. This nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down to the back of
each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and
lower leg.
6 Most Common Causes of Sciatica
The following six lower back problems are the most common causes of sciatica:
-
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Irritation of the sacroiliac joint—located at the bottom of the
spine—can also irritate the L5 nerve, which lies on top of the
sacroiliac joint, causing sciatica-type pain.
Again, this is not a true radiculopathy, but the leg pain can feel the same as sciatica caused by a nerve irritation.
-
- Piriformis syndrome
The sciatic nerve can get irritated as it runs under the piriformis
muscle in the buttock. If the piriformis muscle irritates or pinches a
nerve root that comprises the sciatic nerve, it can cause sciatica-type
pain.
This is not a true lumbar radiculopathy, which is the clinical
definition of sciatica. However, because the leg pain can feel the same
as sciatica or radiculopathy, it is sometimes referred to as sciatica.
-
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
This condition commonly causes sciatica due to a narrowing of the spinal
canal. Lumbar spinal stenosis is related to natural aging in the spine
and is relatively common in adults older than age 60.
The condition typically results from a combination of one or more of
the following: enlarged facet joints, overgrowth of soft tissue, and a
bulging disc placing pressure on the nerve roots, causing sciatica pain.
Lumbar spinal stenosis commonly occurs along with spinal arthritis,
and arthritis can also cause or contribute to sciatica symptoms.
-
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis
This condition occurs when a small stress fracture allows one vertebral
body to slip forward on another; for example if the L5 vertebra slips
forward over the S1 vertebra.
With a combination of disc space collapse, the fracture, and the
vertebral body slipping forward, the nerve can get pinched and cause
sciatica.
-
- Degenerative disc disease
While some level of disc degeneration is a natural process that occurs
with aging, for some people one or more degenerated discs in the lower
back can also irritate a nerve root and cause sciatica.
Degenerative disc disease is diagnosed when a weakened disc results
in excessive micro-motion at that spinal level and inflammatory proteins
from inside the disc become exposed and irritate the nerve root(s) in
the area.
Bone spurs, which may develop with spinal degeneration, also may press against a nerve, resulting in sciatica.
-
- Lumbar herniated disc
A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner material of the disc leaks
out, or herniates, through the fibrous outer core and irritates or
pinches the contiguous nerve root.
Other terms used to refer to a herniated disc are slipped disc,
ruptured disc, bulging disc, protruding disc, or a pinched nerve.
Sciatica is the most common symptom of a lumbar herniated disc.
Sciatica Symptoms
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, dull ache, or burning sensation.
In some cases, the pain is severe enough to make a person unable to move.
Some combination of the following symptoms is most common:
- Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg, but rarely on both sides
- Pain that originates in the low back or buttock and continues along
the path of the sciatic nerve—down the back of the thigh and into the
lower leg and foot
- Pain that feels better when patients lie down or are walking, but worsens when standing or sitting
- Pain typically described as sharp or searing, rather than dull
- A “pins-and-needles” sensation, numbness or weakness, or a prickling sensation down the leg in some cases
- Weakness or numbness when moving the leg or foot
- Severe or shooting pain in one leg, making it difficult to stand up or walk
- Pain and other symptoms in the toes, depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected
- Lower back pain that, if experienced at all, is not as severe as leg pain
Symptoms may intensify during sudden movements, such as a sneeze or a
cough, or when changing positions, such as when moving from a sitting
position to standing up.Certain symptoms are unique depending on the
underlying cause of sciatica. For example, bending the body backward or
walking more than a short distance often triggers symptoms when spinal
stenosis is the cause. Bending the body forward may trigger symptoms if
the cause is a lumbar herniated disc.
1.VataKaphaHaram
2. Usna Virya Dravya Prayogam, anulomanam
Ayurvedic Medicines For Sciatica
1.Sahacharadi Kashayam: It is a concentrated decoction prepared out
of herbal ingredients, which consist of water-soluble active principles.
Indication: Effective in the management of vatarogas , sciatica, low back ache, disc prolapsed, facial palsy, Paralysis.
Ingredients: Sahacharadi Kashayam is a concentrated
decoction prepared out of herbal ingredients, which consist of
water-soluble active principles.
| Si.No |
Sanskrit name |
Botanical name |
Quantity |
| 1 |
Sahachara |
Barleria prionitis |
1 Part |
| 2 |
Suradaru(Devadaru) |
Cedrus deodara |
1 Part |
| 3 |
Shunti |
Zingiber offcianlis |
1 Part |
Method of preparation of Kashayam: Herbal ingredients (coarse powder)
Ayurvedic Properties of Sahacharadi Kashayam:
Roga karma: Useful in Vatarogas.
Dosha karma: Kaphavatahara.
Agni karma: Pachana and deepana.
Reference: Astangahradayam Vatavyadhi Chikitsa 21/57.
Dose : Kashayam 5 – 15 ml diluted with 15 – 45 ml
of water twice daily before food or as directed by the physician.
Tablets 1 to 2 tablets twice daily.
Vaiswanara Choornam: It is an Ayurvedic medicine, in herbal powder
form. It is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,
constipation, and diseases of the digestive track. Vaishvanara means
fire in Sanskrit.
Vaiswanara Choornam benefits:
It is used in treating rheumatoid arthritis, constipation, abdominal pain and bloating.
It improves digestion, strength, and immunity.
This is excellent for motion.
Vaishvanara Choornam Ingredients:
Manimantha – Saindhava lavana – Rock salt – 20 grams
Yamani – Trachyspermum ammi – 20 grams
Ajamoda – Trachyspermum roxburghianum – 30 grams
Nagara – Ginger – Zingiber officinalis – 50 grams
Haritaki – Terminalia chebula – 120 grams
Reference for vaisvanara choornam: Chakradatta Amavachikitsa 15-18, Sahasrayoga, Astangahridayam.
Dosage Of Vaishvanara Choornam: 1 Teaspoon two times a day with hot water.
Rasonadi Tablet:
- It is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, low digestion power.
- diarrhea, gastroenteritis.
Effect of Tridoshas: Balances vata and kapha, improves pitta.
Rasonadi vati ingredients:
Lashuna
jiraka
saindhava lavana
shudha gandhaka
shunti
pippali
marichi
ramatha
nimbu swarasa.
Reference: Vaidhyajivana.
Dosage: 2 Tablets two times a day after food.
Sukumara Ghrita
It is an
Ayurvedic medicine, in herbal ghee form. This herbal ghee is
made from Vidaryadi group of herbs, mentioned in Ashtanga Hrudayam. It
is used for preparatory procedure for Panchakarma and also as medicine,
used in the treatment of gynecological diseases. This medicine is
prepared based on Kerala Ayurveda principles.
Sukumara Ghrita benefits:
It is used as medicine and also in a preparatory procedure called
snehakarma for the treatment of lower abdominal pain in women, abscess,
hemorrhoids, menstrual pain, inflammation, constipation. This will show
better results in a hernia and vata based gulma. For those constipated
by nature, this will do well if taken daily.
In women, it is usually given as a daily tonic in lower doses for
overall good health. It is also used to improve skin complexion.
Sukumara Ghrita Ingredients:
Punarnava – Boerhaavia diffusa – 4.8 kg
480 grams of each of
Bilva – Aegle marmelos
Agnimantha – Premna mucronata
Shyonaka – Oroxylum indicum
Patala – Stereospermum suaveolens
Gambhari – Gmelina arborea
Brihati – Solanum indicum
Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum
Gokshura – Tribulus terrestris
Shalaparni – Desmodium gangeticum
Prishnaparni – Uraria picta
Payasya (Kshirakakoli) – Roscoea purpurea
Ashwaganda – Withania somnifera
Eranda – Ricinus communis
Shatavari – Asparagus racemosus
Darbhamoola – Erianthus arundinaceum
Kushamoola – Desmostachya bipinnata
kashamoola – Saccharum spontaneum
Shara moola – Saccharum arundinaceum
Ikshumoola – Saccharum officinarum
Potagala moola – Typha elephantina
Water for decoction – 49.152 liters boiled and reduced to 6.144 liters.
Guda – Jaggery – 1.44 kg
Eranda taila – Castor oil – 768 g
ghee – 1.536 kg
Milk – 1.536 liters
96 grams of fine powder of each of
Krishna – Long pepper fruit
Krishnamoola – Long pepper root
Saindhava Lavana – rock salt
Yashti – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra
Madhuka – Madhuka longifolia
Mridvika – Raisins
Yavani – Trachyspermum ammi
Nagara – ginger
All the ingredients are heated till Ghrita is prepared.
Sukumara Ghrita reference:
Sahasrayoga Ghrita prakarana – 4
Dosage: 15ml with Kasayam
Kottamchukkadi Choornam
Is a medicated powder Kerala formulation used for external application.
It’s usage:
Application in the form of paste mixed with egg with or tamarind leaf
juice, rice water or warm water in swelling caused by arthritis,
rheumatism.
Kottamchukkadi Choornam ingredients:
Equal quantities of herbal powders of
Pushkaramoola – Inula racemosa
Viswa – Zingiber officinale
Vacha – Acorus calamus
Suradruma – Cedrus deodara
Lasuna – Allium cepa
Sigru – Moringa olifera
Rasna – Alpinia galanga
Kamsamara – Capparis aphylla
Sarshapa – Brassica alba
Chinchapatra – Tamarindus indicus
made to lepa form and used externally.
Reference:Sahasrayoga.
Dosage: External Application.
Cincadi Lehyam
Ingredients : Jirna Cinca, Purana guda, Loha kitta,
Viswa, Vidanga, Cinosana, Trayusana, Jirakayugma, Trijiataka, Rasna,
Yasti, Jatiphala, Jatidala.
Dosage: For external Application
