What is
Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to pain
experienced along the path of the sciatic nerve - the
longest nerve in the body, which runs from the lower back through
the pelvis and buttock area, right down to the back of the lower
leg. Sciatica is a fairly common form of lower back and leg pain
and is due to the sciatic nerve being irritated or compressed. The
pain of sciatica varies from an infrequent discomfort to a
continuous, excruciating and debilitating pain.
Sciatica is usually experienced as
pain that radiates from your lower back to your buttock
and down the back of your leg. This pain may be mild or
severe and is sometimes felt as a burning sensation or a sharp
jolt. Sciatica may be sudden or insidious in onset and worsen over
time.
In some people who suffer from
sciatic pain it may be accompanied by a numbness or weakness in
the leg or foot as well as a feeling of tingling or
pins-and-needles in the toes.
What causes
Sciatica?
The most common cause of sciatica
is pressure on the sciatic nerve from a herniated or slipped
vertebral disc (“Pinched nerve”). Between each of
the vertebrae in your spine lies a disc of cartilage to act as a
cushioning shock-absorber and allow flexibility of the spine. With
age and wear-and-tear, these discs may become brittle and
compressed - allowing part of the disc to protrude from its normal
position within the spinal column and press on the nerve root.
This generally happens in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
Other less common causes of
sciatica include narrowing of the spinal canal (known as
stenosis), spinal tumors, injury and trauma. Various
other problems affecting the bones, joints and muscles of the back
and pelvis can also cause sciatica though these may not always be
easily diagnosed, sometimes leaving the cause of the sciatic pain
unknown.
People in their 30’s and 40’s are
most likely to develop sciatica, which is uncommon in younger
people. Physically demanding occupations which
require heavy lifting, driving long hours or twisting the back are
all risk factors for developing sciatica.
Depending on the cause, sciatic
pain often resolves on its own in approximately six weeks.
Complications of sciatica
Depending on the cause of sciatica,
numbness or lameness in the affected limb may occur as well as
loss of bladder and bowel control in some cases. In severe cases
of sciatica, permanent nerve damage may occur.
How is
sciatica usually treated?
Most people with sciatica are
prescribed pain-killers or anti-inflammatory medications
to relieve the pain. These generally provide some relief but have
the potential to cause serious adverse side-effects.
Medications are usually used in combination with physical therapy
and stretching/strengthening exercises as well as hot and cold
packs.
In severe cases of sciatic pain
that does not respond to the usual treatments, conventional health
practitioners may advise injections of anti-inflammatory
steroids into the affected area. These injections are not
always very effective and can also cause serious side-effects.
Because of the dangers, there is a limit on how many of these
injections an individual can receive - not usually more than three
per year.
Surgery
to remove the herniated part of a disc is sometimes performed on
people with severe symptoms like weakness or incontinence or if
the pain is worsening despite treatment.
What
are the ingredients of SciatiGon?
SciatiGon
contains the following herbal and homeopathic
ingredients:
Zanthoxylum clava herculis
is also known as the Toothache Tree after its traditional use as a
treatment for relief of toothache. Zanthoxylum is highly effective
in stimulating the circulatory system and also has antispasmodic
properties for the relief of cramps and the pain of muscular
spasms.
Matricaria recutita
(German Chamomile)
was regarded as one of the nine sacred herbs given to the
world by ancient Anglo-Saxons. In modern times it is widely used
as a gentle anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and soothing herb.
Matricaria acts as a general tonic for the nervous system and also
relieves muscular pain in the lower back.
Arctium lappa
(Burdock) has been
used for many centuries as a blood purifier and system cleanser.
It also has antibiotic and antirheumatic properties and can help
to treat swelling around joints. Burdock is also useful for
treating and preventing calcification - a degenerative process
which can contribute to the narrowing of the spinal canal. These
properties make Burdock an excellent herb for relief of sciatica
caused by inflammation or sclerosis in the spinal column. Burdock
is used in naturopathic medicine to treat arthritis, lumbago,
rheumatism and sciatica.
Harpagophytum procumbens
(Devil's Claw) This herb is indigenous to the Kalahari
Desert and grows only in Africa. Because of its powerful
anti-inflammatory properties, Devil's Claw is used world-wide for
osteo-arthritis, fibrositis, rheumatism, small joint disease and
lower backache. Scientific analysis shows that the most important
active ingredients in Devil's Claw include monoterpine,
harpagoside, glycoside, beta-sitosterol, procumbine and
stigmasterol. It is also well known as a digestive tonic and is
beneficial in the treatment of liver and gall bladder disorders.
Rhus tox (30C) is a
homeopathic remedy for back pain, arthritis and general aches and
pains. Rhus tox is widely used for back pain and stiffness
including trauma from lifting heavy loads and bruising or sprains.
This remedy is also good for joint and muscle ailments, sciatic
pain and neck stiffness.
Colocynthis (30C) is used in
homeopathic medicine for relief of colic, sharp pains and
neuralgia. Nerve pain, including sciatica, abdominal cramps,
rheumatism and dizziness are all effectively addressed by this
ingredient.
How has
SciatiGon helped others?
"A few weeks ago
I hurt my back while trying to move a heavy book-case into my
living room. I thought I would come right within a day or two but
a week later I felt the pain was getting worse and if I leaned
over or moved my back much at all, I felt a shooting pain right
down to my foot. I ended up in bed lying as dead still as I
possibly could, feeling extremely sorry for myself which is really
not like me. My doctor prescribed pain medication that barely made
any difference and told me the next step was steroid injections -
not a comforting thought! I started looking on the internet for
alternatives and found your SciatiGon remedy. I
ordered it immediately and started taking it the minute it
arrived. Within 3 days I was feeling better and by the end of a
week I was up and about and doing housework (very carefully). I am
taking every precaution and seeing a physical therapist but only
because I never want to experience that pain again! Thank you for
a life-saving remedy - after stories from friends with similar
problems I have no idea what I would have done if I hadn’t found
SciatiGon!" -
Bronwyn
"Quite recently
husband suffered from a slipped disc and developed sciatica which
pretty much crippled him. I could see he was in agony and felt
frustrated with his doctor who did not seem too worried about the
whole situation. I’ve used Native Remedies products before with
good results and was pleased to find that you have a remedy for
sciatica. My husband took SciatiGon regularly and
soon reported that the pain was easing. He improved in leaps and
bounds from that point onwards and was back at work long before
his doctor had expected. Once again Native Remedies has been the
answer to my family’s health problems- thank you!" -
Marina
How do I use
SciatiGon?
SciatiGon
comes in a convenient tincture or drop form and is available in 50
ml bottles.
Directions
Chronic:
10 - 15 drops in 1/4 cup water three times daily.
Acute:
5 drops in 1/4 cup water every 30 minutes as needed. Do not exceed
10 acute doses in 12 hours.
Caution:
Please consult your medical practitioner should symptoms persist.
Safety during pregnancy and nursing not yet established.
How long
until I see results?
Relief should be felt
within minutes of taking SciatiGon. In severe cases the
acute dosage may need to be repeated a few times before
improvement is noted.
Over a few weeks of using this
natural remedy regularly, sciatic pain will be reduced and attacks
will become less frequent.
How long will a
bottle last?
One 50 ml bottle will last
approximately 30 days at chronic dosage.
