Our nerves course throughout our bodies carrying information to the Central core (central nervous system) as well as carry information away by way of motor neurons. When there is impingement or disease anywhere along their paths-there can be pain (neuralgia) and inflammation (neuritis) and this can lead to nerve destruction (neuropathy). Sciatica is a particularly painful inflammation of the sciatic nerve that runs down the leg from the sacral area.

There can be lots of causes of sciatica including lumbar disc disease, bony encroachment, and inflammation of the nerves caused by a viral infection-shingles. Nerve irritation can also be caused by damage to the discs between the vertebrae. Damage to the disc can come from simple "wear and tear" of the outer ring of the disc or from traumatic injury, or both.

As a result, the central softer portion of the disc ruptures or herniates out through the outer ring of the disc and can cause pressure on either the spinal cord or the nerves. This rupture is what causes the commonly recognized "sciatica" pain that shoots down the leg. Sciatica can be preceded by a history of localized low-back aching or it can follow a "popping" sensation and be accompanied by numbness and tingling.

The pain commonly increases with movements at the waist and can increase with coughing or sneezing. In more severe instances, sciatica can be accompanied by incontinence of the bladder and/or bowels.

Western medicine Treatments range from medical management to surgery. With unrelenting pain, severe impairment of function, or incontinence (which can indicate spinal cord irritation), surgery may be necessary.

Essential Oils Can Help with Sciatic Pain

When there is pressure and pain, the person may not be able to stand up or walk straight and pain may be excruciating. A number of essential oils can help relieve the pain and irritation, decrease swelling and inflammation and give the back time to heal. Essential oils can detoxify, relax, and decrease swelling in muscle tissue. A muscle responds to pain with a reflex contraction.

This causes blood flow to the area to be impeded. Less oxygen and glucose and the decrease in circulation means that removal of toxins and waste products is slowed. Inflammation, muscular soreness and pain are the results.

o Helichrysum, peppermint, nutmeg, thyme, spruce, wintergreen/birch, basil, rosemary, clove, tarragon.
o Blends-Aroma Siez, PanAway, Relieve It, Aroma Life
o Compress-warm if there is no inflammation; cold if there is inflammation, 1-2 times daily as needed.
o Specifically for Muscle-basil, marjoram, lavender, Relieve It, PanAway
o Specifically for spasms-Aroma Siez with Ortho Ease or Ortho Sport massage oils
o Topically, dilute 50-50, 6-10 drops on location twice a day or as needed
o Raindrop technique 2-3 times a week in acute situations, and 2-3 times monthly in chronic conditions. (Raindrop technique uses 9 essential oils "feathered" into the spine with a light touch)

I have found helichrysum followed by peppermint to be particularly helpful in relieving the pain of sciatica. Another essential oil I would highly recommend is Palo Santo (meaning "holy wood"). This oil comes from South America and has pain relieving qualities as well as anti-inflammatory properties.

This oil has high levels of limonene -up to 65% making it an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic oil. It has been used to heal fractures and get people out of wheel chairs. Using a combination of Palo Santo & Frankincense for pain & for bone rejuvenation (including Idaho Balsam Fir) will shorten recuperation time.

How to relieve sciatica pain is a common question because the majority of the people suffer low back pain as a result of the problem.

First you should understand that sciatica pain is a naturally occurring thing. By that I mean there is no trauma involved, it is merely the result of years of neglect, bad posture, and ineffective treatments if any at all.

You can go to a doctor and waste your money if it makes you feel like you are doing something positive. But doctors cannot cure back pain caused by sciatica. They never address the cause.

Chiropractors can make manual and mechanical adjustments that can relieve the pain, and even help reverse the damage by putting the body in a better position to heal itself. But the treatments are expensive and require continued regular visits for life.

How to relieve sciatica pain? The first step is to take responsibility for your own back rather than placing your hope in an under skilled and highly educated pill pusher.

Once you have decided to relieve your own sciatica pain, the process is cheap and very easy. It involves noting but a device capable of mild inversion (about 20 degrees) and extension and flexing of your back through exercises that reshape the disc.

With a bit of study you will learn how to relieve sciatica pain in the natural way. You will allow your body to do what it is supposed to do, which is heal itself. No doctor in the world can do for your own body what it can do for itself if given the proper treatment, from the proper person. You.

If you want to relive sciatica nerve pain you need to know you are doing and realize that there is no miracle that can save you. By using the right methods for treatment of the sciatica nerve pain you can get to your normal life in only few day. I have some very helpful tips for you in case you are interested in natural and homeopathic ways!

Potassium is an enzyme that controls the muscle contractions and able to release the spasm in your muscle. So how it helps me - you might ask. Well, you are experiencing the pain because the muscles that surround the sciatic nerve are tensed and press it, causing the nerve inflammation. By releasing the spasms in these muscles you'll take this pressure off and the pain will be gone! Potassium can be found in apricots, bananas, kiwi and oranges!

Provide heat to the painful spot - heat helps the muscles to relax very quickly. No wonder that one of the ways doctors recommend is to put hot compresses - it can't harm you and works well!

Don't aggravate the sciatica - many people don't understand but no matter what cures and remedies you will try, as long as you don't help your spine everything is useless. Sitting with a straight up back without slouching and sleeping on firm surface are the most basic and natural sciatica nerve pain treatment! Every time you are curving your back you are putting a lot of unnecessary pressure on the spine and then you are wondering why you can't get up from the couch! Help yourself first!

These methods work great as sciatica pain relief but not as a constant cure.