Numerous herbs may be helpful for your sciatic pain. According to the Spine Health website, sciatica is a medical term that describes leg pain, tingling, numbness or weakness that originates in your lower back and travels down the back of your leg along the path of your sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the thickest nerve in your body. Before taking herbs to treat your sciatic pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Burdock
Burdock is an herb that may be helpful for treating your sciatic pain. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center burdock, also known as Arctium majus, has been used to treat numerous health problems, including anorexia, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, eczema and psoriasis. The MSKCC states that the root and seeds of the plant are used medicinally. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that burdock is an alternative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, mild laxative and diuretic that is beneficial for sciatica, urinary calculi and gout. Tilgner notes that long-term use or excessive doses of the burdock seed can cause urinary tract irritation. Before taking burdock to help treat your sciatic pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Juniper
Juniper is an herb that may help reduce your sciatic pain. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states that juniper, also known as Juniperus communis, is a coniferous evergreen shrub or small, multi-stemmed columnar tree. Juniper grows very slowly. Juniperus communis grows on dry, open, rocky, wooded hillsides, maritime escarpments or exposed slopes and plateaus. According to Tilgner, the berries of the plant may be used to treat numerous health problems, including sciatica, gout, arthritis, chronic bladder and kidney infections, kidney congestion, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. Juniper berry is a stimulating diuretic, carminative, antiseptic, hypoglycemic and renal vasodilator. Tilgner states that juniper's ability to relieve the pain of inflammation may be due to its prostaglandin-inhibiting action. Before taking juniper to treat your sciatic pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort is an herb that may be helpful for reducing your sciatic nerve pain. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforatum, is a yellow-flowered plant that has been used medicinally since the time of ancient Greece for numerous health problems, including nerve pain, mental disorders, malaria, burns, insect bites, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Tilgner states that St. John's wort is a nervine, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antibacterial, sedative and antioxidant. St. John's wort, according to Tilgner, is effective for treating nerve-related pain, including sciatica, shingles and toothache. If you are pregnant, avoid taking St. John's wort. Before taking St. John's wort to help treat your sciatic pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
