14
Mar
2012

Sciatic Pain: Herbal Remedies

Sciatic pain occurs when your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body, is damaged or compressed by other structures in your body. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that sciatica is a symptom and is not a medical condition alone. There are many possible causes of sciatic pain. Herbal remedies for sciatica pain may help relieve your discomfort, but you should talk to your doctor first about the best herbs to use.

Sciatica pain, which ranges from mild to severe, is pain that radiates, or travels from your lower back down the back of your leg. In some cases, sciatic pain may reach the back of your calf and beyond. Possible causes of sciatica include herniated or bulging disks, narrowing of your spinal canal, or vertebral fractures. Sciatic pain is often worse after sitting or standing for prolonged periods.

For years, herbal medicines have been used to help treat sciatica. The most commonly used remedies for sciatica includes St. John’s wort, juniper, burdock, yucca, devil’s claw, dong quai, alfalfa, burdock, chaparral and black cohosh. Other helpful herbs for this condition may include slippery elm bark, oat straw, and white willow bark, an herbal remedy that contains salicylic acid, an effective pain reliever.

Juniper is an herb that is often used to treat sciatica. Juniper possesses strong anti-inflammatory action, which may help explain its ability to treat musculoskeletal conditions such as sciatica. The fruit, or berries, or the juniper plant are used in herbal medicines and supplements.

Although sciatic pain itself is not life-threatening, this symptom can lead to several health complications, including reduced sensation in your leg, partial or total loss of leg movement and leg injuries due to lack of sensation. You may also experience side effects caused by prescription drugs for this condition and sciatic pain may be a sign of a serious underlying problem. If you develop the symptoms of sciatic pain visit your local health care professional to be evaluated and treated.

Source: Livestrong

 

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay

Related posts:

  1. Sciatica Pain: Herbal Remedies
  2. Sciatica Pain Relief Options
  3. Sciatic Nerve: Pain Solutions
  4. Treatment for Sciatica: Different Ways for Relief
  5. Causes of Sciatica

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

*