Sciatica - Ayurvedic Treatment

Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve — from the low back or buttock, down the back of the thigh, and often below the knee into the calf or foot. It may come with tingling, numbness or weakness on one side. The word describes where the pain goes, not what caused it.

Most commonly a lumbar disc herniation or bulge pressing on a nerve root, often at L4-L5 or L5-S1. Other causes include narrowing of the spinal canal, degenerative change, spondylolisthesis, and piriformis involvement in the buttock. Prolonged sitting, poor lifting mechanics, sudden unaccustomed load and long-standing postural strain all contribute. Ayurveda reads these as conditions in which Vata is aggravated and lodges in the Asthi, Majja and Snayu of the region.

Pain running from the low back or buttock down one leg Burning, shooting or electric pain rather than a dull ache Tingling or numbness in the calf, foot or toes Weakness in the leg or foot, or the foot dragging while walking Pain worsening on sitting, coughing, sneezing or straining A gait that leans away from the affected side

Ayurveda describes this radiating pain in lower limb as Gridhrasi, counted among the Vata Vyadhi. The leaning, dragging walk of a patient who cannot load the affected side are classical symptoms of this condition. Classical description recognises a Vataja form, with shooting pain and stiffness, and a Vata-Kaphaja form, which carries heaviness, numbness and a dragging quality. The two are not treated the same way. The proper assessment can ensure better results in this condition.

The straight answer is-No. A disc might be the commonest cause but not the only one, and an MRI finding does not automatically explain the pain. Discs bulge on the scans of people with no symptoms at all. What matters is whether the level seen on the scan matches the level indicated by clinical examination. When it does not, the cause lies elsewhere- and treating the scan instead of the patient is how sciatica becomes chronic.

Duration is set by the cause and the chronicity, not by a package. Recent, uncomplicated cases recover with in 2 months where 10-15 days Panchakarma is required. Chronic, recurrent or structurally caused cases: Total 4 to 5 months starting with 21 days of Panchakarma, followed by home-based rehabilitation

Not on your own, and not from a video. Several postures commonly recommended for sciatica load the very structures that are already compressed, and forward bends in particular can aggravate an acute disc presentation. Movement has a real place in recovery, but which movement, and from which week, is a clinical decision. Ask before you start.

Cause before protocol — imaging and examination are read together, and treatment is planned for what is actually compressing the nerve. No standard package — therapy selection and sequence change per case, and change again during the course. Classical Panchakarma performed in a hospital setting under two M.D. physicians. Honest referral — neurological emergencies go to surgery, and we say so on the first day. NABH-certified hospital, empanelled under CGHS and RGHS, and a participant in the Heal in India / AYUSH Visa programme.

Sukhayu is an NABH-certified Ayurvedic hospital in Jaipur, empanelled under CGHS and RGHS, and a participant in the Heal in India / AYUSH Visa programme. Classical Panchakarma is performed in a hospital setting under two M.D. Ayurveda physicians, with in-house formulations. Imaging and clinical examination are read together before a protocol is written, and the protocol changes during the course as the patient changes. We do not sell packages. We treat diagnoses.