16 Effective Home Remedies To Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain

Did you experience a shooting pain in your back while trying to get off your couch? Or was it the long hours you spent sitting at work that triggered the pain? Irrespective of the reason, you know that it is not your usual back pain as it seems to stretch much lower, towards your buttocks. This pain that begins from your back and extends all the way to your lower legs is nothing but the result of irritation or inflammation of your sciatic nerve. Has sciatic nerve pain been an issue with you lately? Then, your worries can take a backseat as we bring to you some of the best natural ways to treat it. Read on.

Table Of Contents

• What Is Sciatica?
• What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?
• Symptoms Of Sciatica
• 16 Best Ways To Treat Sciatica At Home
• Tips To Prevent sciatic Nerve Pain

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is another term used for sciatic nerve pain. This pain typically extends from the lower back and radiates towards your knees. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, and it begins from the nerve roots in your spinal cord and extends to your lower limbs through your buttocks.
Let us now look at the causes of sciatic nerve pain.

What Causes Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Sciatic nerve pain is often the result of a lumbar disc herniation pressing down upon it. However, any factors that cause irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve can also cause sciatica. Some common causes of sciatic nerve pain include:

• Irritation of the sciatic nerve by an adjacent bone
• Tumors
• Internal bleeding
• Infections around the lumbar spine
• Pregnancy

If the pain results from an abnormality of an intervertebral disc, it is referred to as radiculopathy. Whatever may be the cause, its symptoms are no less than a nightmare and range in their severity. The signs and symptoms that surface with the onset of sciatic nerve pain are listed below.

Symptoms Of Sciatica

The most common symptoms associated with sciatic nerve pain include:

• Burning sensation and pain in the lower back
• Numbness in the affected area
• Lumbar pain
• Pain around the buttocks
• Leg pain
• Hip pain
• Difficulty in walking

Now that you have a fair idea of sciatic nerve pain, here are some of the best and most effective home remedies that can provide relief from the symptoms of the condition and also speed up recovery.

How To Treat Sciatic Nerve Pain Naturally

1. Garlic Milk

 

You Will Need

• 10 garlic cloves
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 cup of water
• Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add the milk, water, and crushed garlic cloves to a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes and then strain the milk.
3. Allow it to cool a bit. Add a little honey.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink a cup of garlic milk twice a day.

Why This Works

Garlic is a powerful therapeutic herb that is widely used for its distinct flavor and multiple health benefits. The anti-inflammatory activity of garlic is highly beneficial in reducing the inflammation and pain that accompany sciatica (1), (2).

2. Hot And Cold Compress

 

You Will Need

• A clean washcloth
• A bowl of warm water
• Ice cubes

What You Have To Do

1. Take a clean washcloth and dip it in some warm water.
2. Wring out the excess water and place it on the affected area. Once your body absorbs the heat, soak the washcloth again and repeat the process.
3. Alternatively, you can also put some ice cubes in a washcloth and place it on the affected area.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this multiple times daily.

Why This Works

A hot or cold compress is one of the easiest and most effective ways to treat sciatic nerve pain. While a hot compress can reduce inflammation and pain to a large extent, a cold compress can numb the pain (3), (4). Both hot and cold compresses act as effective pain relievers and give quick relief from sciatica.

3. Essential Oils

a. Ginger Essential Oil

 

You Will Need

• 4-5 drops of ginger oil
• 1 tablespoon of any carrier oil (coconut or jojoba oil)

What You Have To Do

1. Mix ginger essential oil with a carrier oil of your choice.
2. Apply this mixture to the affected area.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this at least twice daily.

Why This Works

Ginger essential oil has a wide range of benefits. It is extracted from a flowering plant and is an integral part of folk medicine. Ginger oil is known to be soothing and can help in relieving sciatic nerve pain (5), (6). Ginger also contains a pungent constituent called [6]-gingerol, which is said to have anesthetic effects (7). The combined effect of these properties can be quite effective in treating sciatica and its symptoms.

b. Peppermint Oil

 

You Will Need

• 4-5 drops of peppermint oil
• 1 tablespoon of any carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix peppermint oil with a carrier oil of your choice.
2. Apply this mixture to the affected area.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Peppermint is widely used as a pain reliever. It possesses amazing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which can help in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with sciatic nerve pain and also speed up your recovery (8), (9).

4. Ginger

 

You Will Need

• 1 inch of ginger
• A cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add ginger to a cup of hot water and allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Strain the ginger tea and let it cool down a bit.
3. When the tea is not too hot, you can add a little bit of honey to it.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink ginger tea at least thrice daily.

Why This Works

While ginger oil can provide relief from sciatica externally, ginger tea can help heal sciatic nerve pain internally. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic nature of ginger, as discussed before, can help in reducing the inflammation and pain associated with sciatica (10), (11).

5. Turmeric

 

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 cup of hot milk

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a cup of hot milk.
2. Mix well and drink it.
3. You can also make a paste of turmeric and sesame oil and massage it on the affected area.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Most of the beneficial properties of turmeric are due to the presence of curcumin in it. Curcumin is not only anti-inflammatory but also possesses analgesic properties, which can be quite helpful in relieving sciatica and its symptoms like pain and inflammation (12), (13).

6. Vitamins And Minerals

 

The intake of certain vitamins and minerals can help accelerate the treatment of sciatica. Vitamins B12, C, and D can help reduce the pain and inflammation (14), (15).
Consuming about 1000 mg of magnesium and 2000 mg of calcium daily is also said to relieve the pressure on your nerves (16).
Instead of taking supplements of these vitamins and minerals, you can simply consume a diet rich in these like citrus fruits, milk, cheese, green vegetables, beans, and nuts. If you want to take additional supplements, it is always better to consult a healthcare professional before doing so (17).

7. Celery Juice

 

You Will Need

• A small cup of cut celery
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Take some fresh celery and cut it into small pieces.
2. Add water to the cut celery and blend.
3. Add a little honey to this and consume the juice.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink a cup of celery juice twice a day.

Why This Works

Celery juice is another natural way to treat sciatic nerve pain quite effectively. It helps reduce the pain and inflammation as it has excellent anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties (18).

8. Valerian Root

 

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of valerian root
• 1 cup of water
• Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add valerian root to water and bring this to a boil.
2. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Allow it to cool for some time. Add a little honey to it.
4. Drink it up.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink valerian tea 3-4 times daily.

Why This Works

Valerian root has been widely used for ages to solve various issues. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties can help in relaxing the muscles around your sciatic nerve and reduce the pain and inflammation (19).

9. Fenugreek Seeds

 

You Will Need

• 2 teaspoons of fenugreek powder
• A little milk

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the powdered fenugreek seeds with boiled milk.The paste shouldn’t be too runny.
2. Apply the paste all over the affected area and allow it to dry.
3. Wash it off with warm water.
4. You can also boil some fenugreek seeds with water and consume it daily.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Thanks to the amazing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of fenugreek, you can use it to relieve sciatic nerve pain and its symptoms (20). Fenugreek contains a petroleum ether compound that gives it its anti-inflammatory properties and helps relieve sciatic nerve pain (21), (22).

10. White Willow Bark

 

You Will Need

• 2 teaspoons of white willow bark
• 1 cup of water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add two teaspoons of white willow bark to a cup of water.
2. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan.
3. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes and strain.
4. Allow it to cool. Add some honey and drink the tea.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink willow bark tea 3-4 times daily for maximum benefits.

Why This Works

White willow bark contains an active ingredient called salicin. The widely-used painkiller, aspirin, is a derivative of salicin. Salicin exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can be beneficial in treating sciatic nerve pain and inflammation (23), (24), (25).

11. Aloe Vera

 

You Will Need

1/4 glass of aloe vera juice

What You Have To Do

1. Consume one-fourth glass of fresh aloe vera juice.
2. You can also apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel on the affected area.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this once daily.

Why This Works

The anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of aloe vera are quite well known. The polysaccharides and anti-inflammatory compounds present in aloe vera impart healing properties to it (26). Studies have proved that aloe vera is quite effective in treating sciatica due to the presence of certain ethanolic extracts, thereby making it a potential cure for sciatic nerve pain (27).

12. Elderberries Juice

 

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of organic elderberries
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of organic elderberry to a cup of hot water.
2. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Strain and drink the tea before it turns cold.
4. You can also add a little honey to it to improve its taste.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink elderberry tea 2-3 times daily.

Why This Works

Elderberry can help relieve sciatica due to its ability to reduce inflammation and pain naturally (28).

13. Horseradish

 

You Will Need

• 1/2 horseradish
• A clean washcloth

What You Have To Do

1. Grind the horseradish to make a thick paste.
2. Apply this paste all over the affected area and wrap it with a clean washcloth.
3. Leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this daily before going to bed.

Why This Works

Horseradish possesses natural healing and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in treating sciatica and its painful symptoms (29).

14. Chamomile Tea

 

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of chamomile herb
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of chamomile herb to a cup of hot water.
2. Allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Strain the chamomile tea and let it cool for some time.
4. Add a little honey to it and drink it before it turns cold.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this at least thrice daily.

Why This Works

Chamomile is another ancient herb that is widely used for its medicinal properties. It is anti-inflammatory in nature and is also known to soothe and relieve pain (30), (31). These properties can be utilized to treat sciatica.

15. Lemon Juice

 

You Will Need

• 1/2 lemon
• 1 glass of water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon and mix it well with a glass of water.
2. Add honey to the lemon flavored water and consume daily.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this at least once daily.

Why This Works

Lemons are rich in vitamin C (32). Vitamin C can reduce sciatica and its symptoms with its anti-inflammatory properties (33), (34).

16. Apple Cider Vinegar

 

You Will Need

• 500 mL of apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of salt
• A bucket of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Add the apple cider vinegar to a bucket of warm water.
2. Add a cup of Epsom salt to this and mix well.
3. Soak your feet in this warm solution for 10 to 15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 3-4 times a week.

Why This Works

Warm saline solution is quite effective in relieving the pain and inflammation that accompany sciatic nerve pain. The addition of apple cider vinegar to this solution makes it even more effective in relieving sciatica due to its anti-inflammatory properties (35), (36).

The remedies listed above will help cure sciatica naturally. Here are a few preventive tips to increase the efficiency of your treatment against sciatic nerve pain.

Tips To Prevent Sciatic Nerve Pain

• Massage the affected area for relief from the throbbing pain that accompanies sciatica and prevent further discomfort.
•  Practise yoga and exercises that require stretching of your hamstrings and lower back.
• Maintain proper posture while sitting. Sitting with your knees elevated can reduce the pressure on your spine.
• Follow an anti-inflammatory diet that consists of plenty of leafy vegetables, water, turmeric, fish, and eggs. Also, increase your intake of foods rich in magnesium and vitamin B12.
• Bend your knees while lifting heavy objects.
• Avoid movements that involve sudden twists or jerks that can affect the spine.
• Avoid sitting or standing for prolonged periods.

Sciatic nerve pain can affect anyone at any point in time, but with the simple remedies discussed here, you can deal with this condition easily. However, if you experience immense and unbearable pain, visit your physician immediately. If these remedies and tips were helpful, do share your experience with us by commenting in the box below.

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