For centuries, back pain, especially sciatica, has been a common ailment among young and old alike. Unfortunately, many people have learned to live with it as if it were part of life. However, anyone who has experienced the debilitating pain of sciatica knows that this is no joke.
Sciatica pain can be chronic or take a few days to get better, but there are natural alternatives that can ease the pain quickly until a permanent solution is found.
Two ingredients to reduce sciatica pain
The recipe we are about to share is one of the most popular natural remedies for sciatica pain relief. To try to make it yourself, all you need is:
Ingredients:
- A bucket or tub big enough to put your feet in
- 10 liters of warm and hot water
- 1 liter of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup Epsom salts
foot soak instructions
- Pour the apple cider vinegar into the bucket, followed by the Epsom salts.
- Fill the bucket with warm and hot water
- Stir the water to dissolve the Epsom salts and mix in the vinegar
- Tuck your feet in and keep them there for about 30 minutes.
- When taking your feet off, rinse them and wrap them in something warm (e.g. towel, sheet or blanket).
- Sleep the night like this. When waking up, keep your feet warm by wearing socks and slippers
- Repeat when you need
How effective is this foot bath for sciatica?
Soaking your feet with Epsom salts and apple cider vinegar works wonders. Epsom salts are used by many for relaxation. When dissolved in water, it breaks down into magnesium and sulfate, the former of which is known to relax the nerves. Ideally, when you soak your feet or legs in the foot bath, your skin absorbs the soothing Epsom salts that help loosen pinched nerves and also soothe stiff muscles and joints.
Apple cider vinegar may have anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting benefits. Remember: it’s important to realize that this natural remedy is meant to relieve pain and not fix the real problem.
Ways to get long-term relief from sciatica pain
Soaking your feet in this mixture regularly can bring some relief. But for a long-term solution, the following strategies are recommended:
- Consult a medical professional who can perform physical therapy and establish an exercise routine that will help improve posture and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.
- Inactivity can lead to inflammation that can make sciatica worse, so ensuring you get daily physical activity can keep inflammation at bay.
- If you can, allow yourself the luxury of taking a break from bed. Three days of foot rest is usually a great relief for your sciatic nerve and is especially effective if you sleep on a firm mattress on the floor.
- Apply hot and cold compresses to the lower back several times a day for several minutes. But for best results, start with cold compresses and then switch to warm ones.
- Explore alternative therapies. This includes things like yoga, chiropractic work, acupuncture, and more. These things can help different people on different levels, so it might take some patience and exploration. But don’t be afraid to ask your doctor what he thinks of more natural approaches to curing your sciatica.
- Create a repertoire of lower back stretches for temporary but consistent relief.
In general, a true cure for sciatica is best accomplished with safe and proper exercise, physical therapy, and stretching. However, for immediate short-term pain relief, natural remedies like vinegar foot soaks and Epsom salts can help.