Treating Sciatica With Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

spinal stenosis

Sciatica is a condition that is characterized by the compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. It begins in the lower back and extends down the back of the leg on both sides. Sciatica is just a symptom of another medical problem. The pain can be very debilitating and possibly even leave someone unable to move. Sciatica is usually felt down one leg and on one side of the hips and buttock, and it can progress slowly over time.
Sciatica pain symptoms are usually felt in the buttock, hip, and down the leg possibly even in the foot. The pain may be described as:

• Sharp or stabbing
• Dull or ache
• Tingling
• Burning
• Numbness
• Weakness

The symptoms of sciatica may get worse with:
• Standing or sitting
• Sneezing, coughing, or laughing
• Bending backwards
• Walking (even short distances)
• Exercise

The western treatment of sciatica includes:
• Letting it resolve on its own with lots of rest
• Applying heat or ice to the affected area
• Over the counter pain medications or anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant prescription medications
• Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees to alleviate the pressure on the nerve
• If sleeping on your back, placing a pillow underneath your knees to alleviate pressure on the lower back
• Physical therapy, exercises, and stretching
• Surgery

As mentioned earlier, sciatica is just a symptom of another medical problem. Those may include:
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis, or "slipped disk"
• Piriformis syndrome
• Trauma - such as a car accident or fall
• Herniated disk in the spine

In Chinese medicine, sciatica may be caused by one or a combination of several different patterns, including:
• Qi and blood stagnation
• Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency
• Liver Depression
• Wind-Cold Damp Bi Syndrome

These patterns may be caused by trauma to the lower back area, due to a normal decline in Qi with aging, the body responding to stress, one of the problems in the spine mentioned earlier, or another cause. It is recommended that the underlying cause of the sciatica be diagnosed with a doctor in order to ensure that the cause is also treated, not just the pain.

Sciatica pain can be treated with acupuncture. There are acupuncture points in the back, hip, leg, and hands that can help alleviate the pain, increase blood flow and Qi flow to the affected area, and decrease the compression on the nerve. There are also ear acupuncture points that may be used also to help decrease the pain signals to the brain as well as supplement the therapeutic effect of the body needles.

Additionally, there are liniments (oils) that may be prescribed that help increase Qi flow along the affected meridian as well as decrease pain. They can be rubbed into the affected area by the patient at home after the acupuncture treatment. Customized herbal formulas may also help in the case of complex or deeply rooted patterns. Both liniments and herbal formulas may be used to help continue treatment between acupuncture sessions.