8 Natural Remedies for Sciatic Nerve Pain

That agonizing, throbbing sensation you feel running from your lower back to your feet? It could be sciatic nerve pain, also called sciatica, which is notoriously hard to treat. Whether you’ve gotten an official diagnosis or you just have your suspicions, you may benefit from any of these natural remedies for sciatic nerve pain.

The best part? These remedies are non-invasive and come with far fewer side effects than most prescription medications used to treat nerve pain. Plus, they can be used in combination with each other, and some can even be used in combination with your regular medications (after consulting your doctor) for extra relief.

Table of Contents

Chiropractor Spinal Adjustments
Massage Therapy
Acupuncture Therapy
Manage Inflammation
Incorporate CBD
Get Moving
Yoga
Apply Heat and/or Ice
Conclusion: Natural Remedies for Sciatica

Key Takeaways

• Chiropractic spinal adjustments can help relieve the sciatic nerve pain caused by bulging or herniated discs in the spine.
• Massage therapy has been linked to back pain relief and can increase blood flow and reduce pain.
• Acupuncture therapy uses small needles to target pressure points in the body to relieve pain and has been approved by the FDA for managing back pain.
• Managing inflammation through natural solutions like diet changes, herbal supplements and CBD can help manage sciatica. Other natural remedies like physical activity, yoga, and heat/ice therapy can also provide temporary relief.

Here are eight solutions that may help relieve sciatic naturally:

Chiropractor Spinal Adjustments

This one is a great natural remedy for all types of back and leg pain, even if you aren’t quite sure that sciatic nerve pain is at the core of your problem. Having a spinal correction performed by a licensed Chiropractor can help solve issues like bulging or herniated discs in the spine that can contribute to nerve pain.

There’s quite a bit of research to back up the many benefits of a regular spinal adjustment. A 2010 study found that nearly 60 percent of patients with treatment-resistant sciatica experienced relief from spinal adjustments that was similar to the relief experienced after spinal surgery.

In general, a regular spinal alignment can help restore the structural integrity of the spine, relieve pinched nerves, and generally improve the symptoms of sciatic nerve pain.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy has been linked to back pain relief through countless studies, including one 2001 study that found massage therapy to reduce pain, increase range of motion, and release healthy endorphins that act like pain relievers.

You may want to share your primary concerns with your masseuse so they can adjust your massage accordingly. In general, massage therapy can increase blood flow and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. Many people experience significant relief from sciatic nerve pain after incorporating regular massages into their wellness routine.

Acupuncture Therapy

As you’re probably aware, acupuncture is the process of applying very small needles to target certain pressure points in the body. It sounds uncomfortable, but in reality it’s virtually painless and can be very effective for relieving nerve pain. In fact, acupuncture is an FDA approved treatment for managing back pain.

Research has found that acupuncture may help reduce nerve pain caused by cancer treatments, and ongoing research suggests it may have some potential for treating sciatic nerve pain.

Acupuncture works by stimulating certain nerves and improving blood flow to certain areas. Acupuncture therapy may be needed less frequently than massage therapy, which is a great benefit to those suffering from sciatic nerve pain.

Manage Inflammation

Inflammation contributes to all sorts of pain, including sciatic pain, so it’s sensible to say that managing inflammation can help manage sciatica, too. Many people turn to NSAIDs for managing inflammation, but these may not be safe to take regularly or in excess to manage consistent pain.

Instead, You may want to try one of many natural solutions for inflammation relief, which includes anti-inflammatory diet changes, herbal supplements, and more.

Incorporate CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a hemp-derived supplement that interacts with the body through neurological pathways. It’s not psychoactive (unlike THC), which makes it a useful option for daily use. Research frequently suggests that CBD can help relieve many different types of pain by acting as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory substance, including pain that is traditionally difficult to treat.

A 2020 study found that patients with neuropathy greatly benefitted from an oral CBD dose. The participants in the CBD oil group tolerated the supplement well and experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to the control (placebo) group.

Although no research has directly targeted the impact of CBD on sciatica, it’s important to note that sciatica is closely related to neuropathy. CBD will not cure sciatica, but anecdotal reports suggest that it may help alleviate some of the worst symptoms.

We believe that CBD works best when taken daily, and it may be useful both as a preventative measure and as a spot treatment. Our Vitality CBD Collection includes convenient gummies, fast acting tinctures, and a variety of other dosing styles that you can easily incorporate into your wellness routine.

Get Moving

Being sedentary can contribute to the worsening of sciatic pain, so it’s important to make sure you’re moving every day. This could mean taking gentle walks, having a regular exercise routine, or just doing what you can and trying to increase your physical output every day. While your pain is active, consider stretching or taking a gentle walk around the block.

Also try to be mindful of your posture. Slouching puts more pressure on the lower spine and weakens the spine over time, so it can worsen sciatic nerve pain.

Yoga

While it’s important to stay as active as possible to avoid the worsening of sciatica pain, there are some movements that are better than others. Certain stretches, like those used in most basic yoga routines, can actually help lengthen and strengthen the spine to improve back pain.

The best part is that many yoga stretches can be done while sitting or lying down on your back, so you may be able to use these stretches to get relief even when your pain is too severe for vigorous movement.

There’s some research to back up this approach. One study concluded that yoga is a safe and effective treatment option for patients suffering from sciatica after a 3 month trial involving regular yoga practices.

Apply Heat and/or Ice

There are mixed reviews about whether heat or ice works better for relieving sciatic nerve pain, and some theories suggest that you should alternate the two to help relieve pain.

There’s no doubt that applying heat and ice can help relieve pain temporarily, but keep in mind that this is a limited solution that only blocks the amount of pain you feel. It’s a great method for relieving intense pain as a spot treatment, but you should consider other proactive natural remedies for sciatic nerve pain to help improve the condition over time.

Conclusion: Natural Remedies for Sciatica

Any number or combination of the methods described above can be used to create an effective wellness routine to help naturally relieve sciatic nerve pain. We recommend considering lifestyle changes that may help lower inflammation, like eating less processed or greasy foods and incorporating a daily CBD dose, like a CBD Multivitamin Gummy.

Then, use spot treatments and non-invasive therapies (like applying heat and getting a massage) to help manage any pain that may still arise. There’s no one best method, rather you should choose the natural sciatica remedies that best meet your needs and lifestyle.

Resources

1. “The Effectiveness of Topical Cannabidiol Oil in Symptomatic Relief of Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31793418/
2. “Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/
3. “Lower back pain is reduced and range of motion increased after massage therapy” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11264915/
4. “Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21036279/