Cure sciatica through yoga

  Definition:-

Sciatica is a condition involving pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. It is caused by injury to or compression of the sciatic nerve.

Alternative Names

Neuropathy – sciatic nerve; Sciatic nerve dysfunction

Causes

Sciatica is a form of peripheral neuropathy. It occurs when there is damage to the sciatic nerve, located in the back of the leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot. Incomplete damage to the sciatic nerve may appear identical to damage to one of the branches of the sciatic nerve (tibial nerve dysfunction or common peroneal nerve dysfunction).

A problem in a single nerve group, such as the sciatic nerve, is classified as a mononeuropathy. The usual causes are direct trauma (often due to an injection into the buttocks), prolonged external pressure on the nerve, and pressure on the nerve from nearby body structures. It can also be caused by entrapment — pressure on the nerve where it passes through a narrow structure. The damage slows or prevents conduction of impulses through the nerve.

The sciatic nerve is commonly injured by fractures of the pelvis, gunshot wounds, or other trauma to the buttocks or thigh. Prolonged sitting or lying with pressure on the buttocks may also injure it. Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, can typically damage many different nerves, including the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve may also be harmed by pressure from masses such as a tumor or abscess, or by bleeding in the pelvis.

In many cases, no cause can be identified.

Note: A ruptured lumbar disk in the spine may cause symptoms that simulate the symptoms of sciatic nerve dysfunction.

Symptoms

  • Sensation changes
    • Of the back of the calf or the sole of the foot
    • Numbness, decreased sensation
    • Tingling, burning sensation
    • Pain, may be severe
    • Abnormal sensations
  • Weakness of the knee or foot
    • Difficulty walking
    • Inability to move the foot (in severe cases)
    • Inability to bend the knee (in severe cases)

 Yogic cure:-

            [1]Shatkarma                                                {Purificatory techniques}

{a} Nauli

[2]Yogasanas                                                  {Posture}

{a}Vajrasana                                        {Adamantine}

{b} Ardh-matsyendrasana

{c} Brahmacharyasana

{d} Bhujangasana                              {Cobra}

{e} Konasana                                      {Angle}

{f} Asvathasana                                 {Horse posture}

{g} Paschimottanasana                   {Posterior stretch}

{h} Shavasana                                    {Corpse}

{i}Pawan-muktasana                      {Wind release}

{j} Makrasana                                    {Crocodile}

{k} Dhanurasana                              {Bow pose}

{l}  Tadasana                                     { Palm tree}

{m} Makrasana                                 {Crocodile}

{n} Utkatasana

 [3]Pranayama                   {Body-mind energising breathing practices}

{a} Kapalbhati     {Lungs & brain wash by breathing}

 [4]Bandhas:-                                                            {Bands}

{a} Uddiyana bandha                       {Abdomina lock}

[5]Mudras:                                                          {Finger –posture}

{a} Vayu mudra

{b} Aakashi mudra

[6]Dhayan                                                        {Meditation}

 

  {7} Yogic diet:-      

YOGIC DIETARY ADVICE FOR PA­TIENTS SUFFERING FROM SCI­ATICA DISEASES.

Foods to be Avoided by pain sufferers of neck and lower back

Cold dishes, cold drinks, ice creams etc.

Curd, yoghurt and buttermilk.

Sour and bitter foods like pickles, sauces, chutneys vinegar, tamarind etc.

Raw tomatoes, raw mangoes, sour fruit juices.

Hot spices and chillies.

Grams, heavy pulses like rajmah, urad and lentils (peas and beans etc.)

Citrus fruits like lemon, oranges, mausambis etc.

Kachalu, arbi, Yam (Zimikand) and other such heavy vegetables.

Rice, fried food items.

Non Vegetarian foods.

Alcholic and other drinks.

Maida, refined careals, other items made from refined cereals.

Tinned foods, preserved and pro­cessed foods.

Too much of oils and fats.

Foods Allowed for pain sufferers of neck and lower back

Gourd Bottle, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, drum stick , Green papaya, plaintains (raw bananas), brinjals, Bathu,.a Spinach, Capsicum, parmal, kunduru, raw turmeric and all other veg­etables except those listed above under the heading ‘Foods to be avoided.

Wheat, maize, buck wheat (Kootu), barley etc.

Light washed pulses like mung, arhar and masur.

Mild spices like ginger (adrak), cummin seeds (Zeera), Cloves (laung), cinnamon (dalchini), turmeric (haldi), co­riander (dhania), black pepper (Kali mirch), asfoetida (hing) and garlic.

Milk and its products except curd.

Green leafy vegetables, tender radish and carrots.

Papaya, apples, pears (sweet), apple juice, carrot juice, grape juice, pomegran­ate, black currants (munakka).

Honey, sugars etc.

Limited quantities of fats and oils.

Preferably warm water to be taken.

Take one-half teaspoon paste of juice or garlic mixed with two teaspoon honey twice a day on empty stomach.

Take 5-10 g of raw turmeric or the same boiled with milk in the morning on empty stomach.

If constipative, take two ounces (60 ml) of castor oil mixed with warm milk, preferably at night.

Home remedies:-

    Usually, sciatica requires immediate medical attention. However, some of the effective home remedies are:

  • Diet – A sciatica patient must strictly keep off pulses, beans, fried food, curds and other sour substances. A possible remedy can be found by drinking milk with a pinch of saffron mixed in it.
  • Lifestyle – Gentle leg exercises are recommended for such patients. There should be minimum exposure to damp and cold conditions, as they tend to aggravate the pain. If the patient wants to swim, then it should be done in warm water. Since sciatica is a problem of the spine, therefore correct sleeping posture is very necessary. A hard bed should be used without pillows or mattress. In extreme cases, the patient has to wear a lumbo-sacral belt.

Further suggestion:-

Sciatica treatments will vary from doctor to doctor and patient to patient. However, in most cases, doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory medication – unless the pain is so severe that it warrants corticosteroid injections direct into the patient’s spinal fluid. Surgery can also be considered in such instances. Heat or cold compresses can also help relieve the pain just as consistently adopting good walking, standing and sleeping postures.

In fact, postural support is one of the most important ways through which sciatica can be contained.

It thus follows that exercise can go a long way in helping alleviate sciatica as this helps keep the muscles that provide support to the spine, strong. However, such exercise must be moderated in order to prevent it from being counterproductive and contributing to the pain. Doctors will usually recommend low impact work-outs such as stretching or walking that help enhance circulation. But no form of physical exercise has as much impact as yoga.

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Yogi Yoganand