The painful condition known as sciatica can be made a lot more manageable with the use of alternative medicine and ayurveda treatments. One of the most popular of these treatments is acupuncture. While the practice of treating sciatica with acupuncture is a mainstream treatment practice in India, China and much of Asia, it is just now coming to the attention of traditional Western doctors.
In 2015, for example, a study published by medical researchers in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that acupuncture could be more effective than drug therapies for the treatment of sciatica pain. Moreover, it was found that acupuncture could actually enhance the effects of pain-related drugs the patient was already taking for this condition. Similar types of studies have been published elsewhere with clinical proof very much supporting the use of acupuncture to treat sciatica.
It is important to note here, however, that acupuncture is not a cure for sciatica. It is, instead, a pain treatment option. It is not intended to heal the structural issues causing the pain, which can often be attributed to issues such as a herniated disc or a lower back injury.
However, what acupuncture does is reduce the pain and make movement less stressful. It does this in three important ways:
It stimulates the real of the body’s natural painkillers (i.e. endorphins).
It increases blood flow to the affected area.
It relaxes muscles in the surrounding area.
The combination of all three of these is what leads to a calm, relaxed state after acupuncture. In fact, many people who use acupuncture treatment to control their sciatica report a feeling of general calm and relaxation after treatment.
Best of all, there are no major side effects to this form of treatment. First-time patients, however, may report a bit of muscle soreness after acupuncture treatment for sciatica. Some people also report a feeling of fatigue, although this is more commonly just a form of heightened relaxation.
So how often does it take for acupressure for sciatica treatment to work? Everyone is different, of course, but the general rule of thumb is that the longer and more sustained the sciatica condition, the longer it takes for acupuncture to work. The real secret, in fact, is just finding the right acupressure points for sciatica treatment. Many treatments begin by placing needles in the lower calf/ankle region as well as in the wrist/forearm region. These extremities of the body are very useful for redirecting blood flow and isolating the specific source of the pain.
Once that preliminary work is done, you can take advantage of acupuncture treatment for sciatica on a nearly daily basis. Most patients find that 2-5 times per week work best, although it is possible to have just a single treatment in a month and still receive benefits. The treatment is so safe and gentle, however, that it is possible to commit to a regular weekly treatment schedule.
So, yes, sciatica can be treated with acupuncture! In fact, acupuncture treatment for sciatica has a growing body of clinical evidence pointing to its positive effects on pain management and muscle relaxation. The next time you feel lower back pain, you might want to consider acupuncture for sciatica treatment.
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