What Causes Sciatica?
” What causes Sciatica ” is a burning question among the patients, doctors and the therapists. Because sciatica is a disease related to spine and nerve. Sometimes it behaves like an independent disease. Sometimes it is seen as the complication of another disease or deformity. Sciatica takes place due to the irritation of the sciatic nerve. At another side the sciatic nerve roots get compressed by the prolapsed intervertebral disc (PIVD) or spine compression. Then it gets irritated. So either way irritation of sciatic nerve is the reason behind what causes sciatica.
What Causes Sciatica
Causes of Sciatica
When the students in the Ancient Ayurveda Gurukul ask the Guru ” What Causes Sciatica “, the guru says the causes can be classified into two. They are-
- Sannikrishta Nidana- Near or self reason of the disease
-
Viprakrishta Nidana- Distant or remote reason of the disease
Before we move ahead for detail discussion, we should discuss the types of sciatica. According to Ayurvedic concept sciatica is of two types from dosha point of view. They are
- Vataja Gridhrasi (Vataja Sciatica)
- Vata Kaphaja Gridhrasi ( Vata Kaphaja Sciatica)
Dosha is the active principle that upholds the body in a balanced state. The derailed and imbalanced dosha causes disease. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are three doshas. They can get aggravated individually or in groups.
Sannikrishta Nidana- Near or self reason of the disease
Sannikrishta Nidana- Near or self reason of the disease with special reference to Vata dosha:
a. Aahara (Dietic factors):
Diet possessing the properties of ruksha (ununctuous), seeta (cool), laghu (light) and tastes like bitter, astringent, pungent aggravates vata. Insufficient or excessive diet, frequent fasting, repeated intake of food, intake of diet while thirsty, drinking water while hungry, excessive intake of dried food, aggravates vata what causes sciatica. Excessive intake of green gram (Mung dal), Massor dal, bengal gram (Arhad dal), Chana, Chhole, Horse gram, dry fish, dry meat, cold drink, baked food etc are behind the causes of sciatica.
b. Vihara (Behavioural Factors)
Excessive or wrong practice of jumping, running, skipping, walking, swimming, cause excessive strain to hand, leg, feet and lumbar region. Excessive load lifting, climbing mountain or stare case, biking, practicing wrestling causes strain to chest, low back and spinal column. Long standing and sitting habit, wrong standing, sitting and sleeping habit exaggerates Vata What Causes Sciatica.
Even massage which is considered to be good may harm the health of sciatic nerve if taken frequently and excessively. Suppression of natural urge like sleep, urine, faeces, semen, vomit, sneezing, tear etc aggravates Vata dosha and causes sciatica.
c. Climate and Season:
Excessive exposure to air, cold climate, rainy and summer season, cloudy atmosphere causes sciatica.
d. Improper Treatment:
Improper or excessive practice of Ayurveda Panchakarma over a patient aggravates Vata dosha and may land him with sciatica.
e. Psychological factor:
Worry, grief, anger, fear, anxiety, timidity and tension aggravates vata to cause different nerve diseases. Sciatica is one of them.
f. Diseases:
Falling from height, road traffic accident, excessive hemorrhage of blood, emaciation due to prolonged illness, poison, anemia may cause sciatica.
g. Age:
Aging is the reason behind the gradual degeneration of bone, disc, sciatic nerve etc. Old age and tissue degeneration aggravates Vata and cause sciatica.
The above mentioned factors aggravate Vata dosha to give rise to sciatica. Similarly there are some activities which aggravate Kapha with reference to the above mentioned factors.
Sannikrishta Nidana- Near or self reason of the disease with special reference to Kapha dosha:
a. Diet:
Intake of sweet, sour, salt, cold, unctuous, heavy food increase secretion of Kapaha. Black gram, big black gram, wheat, gingly, rice cake, Basmati rice, curd, milk, fish, sugar, fat, flesh, underground shoots aggravates Kapha.
b. Behaviour:
Day sleep, sedentary habit, laziness, excessive sleep, non-indulgence of physical, mental and oratory work, suppression of vomiting causes Kapha Dosha.
c. Other Factors:
Excessive exposure to cold season in winter, non-practice of shodhana chikitsa ( detox program) also may aggravate kapha. A fall or an injury with a young patient causes vitiation of Kapha.
Viprakrishta Nidana- Distant or remote reason of the disease
The remote factors includes the following factors.
1. Congenital defects like spinal bifida of lumbar region,
2. Spondylolisthesis of childhood injuries, birth injuries,
3. Frequent fall on the buttock during learnig to walk during childhood
All these history behave as the remote reason behind sciatica.
Any how all of the above factors are the answer to the big question-
What Causes Sciatica?
On Dt 26.8.2016
Written by: Dr A P Nayak
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