An Ayurvedic commentator Arundutta in his commentary defined clearly that due to vata dosha in the kandara i.e., tendon, severe pain is experienced at the time of raising the legs which restrict its free movement. A straight leg raising test is a common test which confirms the sciatica diagnosis.

Sciatic pain Ayurveda treatments include a set of systematic treatments. They are Ama pachana that helps to reduce the joint inflammations followed by Shodhana i.e. elimination of deep-seated toxins from the body and Brahmana i.e. rejuvenation to the damaged part or cartilages. Ayurvedic treatments for sciatica include Dhanymaladhara, Abhyanga sweda, Patra pinda potali sweda, Sarvangadhara, Kati vasti, Erandamoola niruha basti – Kshara vasti and Ksheera vasti. These external treatments along with internal medications help to reduce sciatic pain.

• Rest – The foremost important remedy for sciatica cure is to take adequate rest. Lying down on the hard bed or thick wooden coat helps to align the spine to its normal position and reduces back pain.
• Hot or Cold Compress – Applying a hot or cold compress helps to reduce sciatica symptoms. Using a clean cloth, dip in the hot water or cover the ice cubes and apply over the area of inflammation. Repeat this 3-4 times a day.
• Lepa with Ayurvedic herbal mixture – A thick paste prepared with aloe vera, turmeric powder, Triphala powder and castor oil. Apply this lepa and tie a bandage to the lower back. This helps to reduce the local inflammation and sciatica pain.
• Hot oil Massage – When the acute pain subsides, massage with castor oil followed by mild steam helps to resolve the pain.

Sciatica refers to the pain that is caused to the sciatic nerve when it gets compressed. This is associated with lower back pain which radiates through hip and buttocks down to the leg. Sciatica can affect one leg or in the worst case both the legs.

Although there is severe pain during the disease, sciatica can be cured with adequate rest and a proper regimen. The severity of the condition can even lead to leg weakness and bowel or bladder changes which require surgical intervention.

In this modern era and our fast-paced lifestyle, our posture, strained muscles, and inflammation of pelvic joints can cause back pain. This results in aggravated Vata. It can also lead to sciatica which is characterized by radiating pain from the lower back to the backside of either one or both legs.

At Rinchsachan, we offer a wide range of natural treatments for back pain. Using various herbal medicines, coupled with therapies such as Kati vasti, kaadidhara, local patrapotala sweda, etc, we help alleviate the agitated vayu, eventually offering relief from back pain. Additionally, the administration of medicated enemas for eight, fifteen or thirty days can also provide relief. You can also consider practising mild yoga exercises. Some yoga asanas make great lower back pain treatment in Ayurveda.

Given the wide range of treatment options available, the choice of process depends on the individual’s lifestyle, health habits, and a variety of other factors. Once you pay a visit to the Rinchsachan retreat in Bangalore, you will be welcomed and your health conditions will be examined by professional Ayurvedic practitioners. This will help us identify the health concerns you are dealing with. Based on this information, we’ll provide you with the most suitable Ayurvedic treatment for lower back pain.

Additionally, you can also practise the following preventive measures about how to keep back pains at bay:

• Regular back stretching exercises: Exercising keeps us active, boosts our mobility and helps our body organs remain healthy. By doing back stretching exercises on a regular basis, you can ensure that your back is in good health.
• Avoid sitting idly for long hours: Sitting in the same posture for long hours can give rise to various diseases and back pain is one of the most painful ill-results. Even when you are at work, keep taking short breaks every thirty - forty minutes.
• Avoid improper seating and lying posture: Amidst the fast paced lifestyles of ours, we often tend to overlook the importance of posture. So often we may find people sitting on a chair as if they didn’t have a backbone. Fortunately, that wasn’t true, but such seating postures are bound to disrupt the natural and optimal positioning and health of your back. So, avoid such postures.
• Massage therapy: A number of massage therapies ranging from self massage to a medicated massage performed by professionals at the Rinchsachan retreat can help you improve your back’s condition and also maintain it.

The Ayurvedic treatment for back pain is focused on many aspects like diet, lifestyle, and herbal remedies. Lifestyle change refers to a change in posture to maintain the natural curvature of the spine and herbal remedies focus on reducing the inflammation in soft tissues and relaxing the supporting musculature. Back pain treatment in Ayurveda involves the following:

• Bad Posture leads to a reduction in the intervertebral joint space causing an Imbalance of Vata which is corrected through the administration of herbal medications orally as well as detoxifying using Panchakarma. Enema is used to correct the Vata imbalance and this also strengthens the bones and joints, thereby reducing back pain.
• Abhyanga (massage done by warm medicated oil) is an Ayurvedic treatment for back pain that provides relief from back pain by balancing the doshas. Kati Vasti is also another Ayurvedic method of treating lower back pain.
• Practicing Pranayama can be helpful in balancing Vata dosha. Anulom viloma or alternate nostril breathing can be helpful in balancing Vata.
• It is recommended to avoid refrigerated food and drinks and to consume only warm, sour, and salty foods to pacify vitiated Vata.
• Agnikarma is also an Ayurvedic treatment for back pain and it is the use of thermal microcautery where an instrument known as Agnikarma Shalaka is used to heat specific areas to provide relief from pain. Practicing Pranayama can be helpful in balancing Vata dosha. Anulom viloma or alternate nostril breathing can be helpful in balancing Vata.
• Ayurveda recommends the use of herbs like Guggul, Nirgundi, Shallaki, and Ginger to treat back pain.