The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body that runs down the spine to the hips down through the back of each leg. Sciatica is a condition in which a person suffers from pain that radiates through this nerve. Pressure or injury in the lower back is often responsible for sciatica. Sometimes the nerve gets inflamed due to pressure from a protruding or herniated disc in the spine, or when the piriformis muscle in the pelvic area gets dislocated and exerts pressure on the sciatic nerve. More rarely, the spinal canal gets constricted due to a condition called spinal stenosis and puts pressure at the base of the sciatic nerve, causing acute pain along the nerve.

Home Remedies for Sciatica Relief

Though it is advisable to see a professional physiotherapist in order to treat sciatica, you may follow a few simple home remedies alongside the prescribed medical treatment for faster recovery. One of the most popular remedies is to mix potato and celery in equal portions and drink at least 10 ounces of this solution daily. If you find celery juice too strong for your taste, you may add the juices of beetroot and carrots into the mixture and then consume it. Another useful remedy is to eat a few cloves of raw garlic during every meal, as the natural antioxidant properties of its juices help improve blood circulation and reduces pains. Alternatively, you could crush two cloves of garlic and add its juice into half a cup of milk and drink this twice every day for similar results. Another effective remedy is to use a horseradish poultice on the affected parts of the body. The pain subsides within an hour of the application of this poultice as it soothes the nerve endings and reduces internal inflammation. For another remedy, chop some ivy leaves into small pieces, add two handfuls of bran and boil the contents in a liter of water for around 10 minutes; then massage the affected areas with this paste. Sometimes, adding a cup of Epsom salts in warm bathwater is also recommended as a remedy, particularly if the pain is more acute in joints. In case of acute pain, apply cold packs on the affected areas for 15 minutes every couple of days. After a couple of days, alternate these with warm packs. This helps ease the nerves and muscles and reduces pain. A few basic stretching exercises involving the back, hip and calf muscles, and done under the supervision of a trainer, may also be useful.