Sciatica

SCIATICA AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

Ayurveda considers Sciatica /grishrasi to be a svedana sadhya vyadhi I.e one that can be managed by sudation / hot fomentation therapy. Additionally panchkarma procedures like the basti karma (medicinal enemas) may also be used for the management of Gridhrasi.²

Diet Recommendations (Aahar)

• Foods that are considered as beneficial for Sciatica include:
  • Grains: Godhuma (wheat), Raktashali (red rice)
  • Millets: Masha (black gram), Kulatha (horse gram),
  • Fruits: Amlaphala (sour fruits), Dadima(pome granate), Draksha(raisins),
  • Vegetables: Shigru (drum stick), Patola (snake gourd),
  • Dairy: Kshira (milk), Ghrita (ghee),
  • Soups: Mamsarasa (meat soup), Dhanyamla (sour gruel)
  • Oils: Eranda taila (castor oil) and Tila taila (sesame oil).
• Foods to avoid include:
  • Very spicy foods
  • Fried foods
  • Sweet foods
  • High intake of alcohol
  • Caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee
  • Refined sugar

Lifestyle changes (Vihar)

• Follow a systematic daily way of life (Dincharya).
• Activities that vitiate vata and cause pain to aggravate such as Diva swapna (day sleep), Prajagarana (sleeplessness), Vyavaya (sexual indulgence), Vegadharana (suppression of urges), and Vyayama (heavy exercise) should be avoided.
• Stretching exercises that help relieve pain are recommended.
• Asanas that help maintain range of movements include - Virabhadrasana and Uttanasana. Shalabhasana and bhujanga asana may also be tried. These asanas should be performed under your Physicians guidance.