Hey, I read that aventurine is good for helping sciatica (my friend has had trouble from sciatica for months). Can anyone suggest anything else that might help? That could be other stones, herbs, massage, etc? Many thanks!
I had sciatica a few years ago. I found that nothing much helps other than rest until the pain diminishes and you can walk round again, at which stage, it's good to keep moving about in a gentle manner. Usually, esp. in younger people, it is caused by muscular inflamation, which in turn is usually the result of some muscular strain of trauma, often to the lower back. Rest is the best thing. Once the inflamation goes down, the sciatic pain should disappear too.
Thanks---I think that she's tried that, but perhaps she is overexerting herself, at least mentally. I wouldn't call her young though--she's probably like 60. Most of my best friends are at least twenty; people around my age tend to be shallow and desensitized to the point of constant immaturity.
Sciatica is a pinching of the sciatic nerve. It can be helped by massage and by the use of a pillow to support the upper knee while sleeping on your side. This puts the spine back into the correct position and relieves the pressure on the nerve. Many people find hot baths to be helpful. Yoga exercises that strengthen and support the lower back are good. Under almost no circumstances should you consider surgery. Over 85% of patients report no improvement or a worsening of condition after surgery and the damn doctors keep doing them on people
As hippy paul says, it's caused by pinching of the sciatic nerve - the pressure that causes this is often, as I said before, due to muscular inflamation or injury, esp. in younger folk - one thing that might help is to apply a strong tisane of comfrey to the affected area, as this can help bring down muscular inflamation. However - don't drink comfrey tea, as there is some suspicion that it may contain carcinogenic substances which can be harmful if taken internally. It's quite safe to use as I suggest. With older people, myself included, it tends to come and go. Avoidance of lifting heavy objects etc, and general awareness are needed to minimize the frequency of chronic attacks, which can leave you unable to walk or even stand.
Hi all, I'm a huge believer in gentle exercises and stretching to relieve sciatica pain. The key is a regular routine of short sessions - preferably 3 or 4 times a day for around 15 minutes. You have to be really careful when you first start and take it very slowly. I recommend a combination of gentle stretching movements and some strenghtening exercises for the abs, back and legs. I wrote a sciatica exercises article on it with a couple of videos that show you the basic movements I recommend. Its all free of course. Best of luck to all. Howard
