Sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. It controls muscles in the back of your knee and lower leg and provides feeling to the back of your thigh, part of your lower leg, and the sole of your foot. When you have sciatica, you have pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling. It can start in the lower back and extend down your leg to your calf, foot, or even your toes. It's usually on only one side of your body.
Causes of sciatica include:
- A ruptured intervertebral disk
- Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve, called spinal stenosis
- An injury such as a pelvic fracture.
In many cases no cause can be found.
Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem. It may include exercises, medicines, and surgery.
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Sciatica
COLCHICUMCOLCH
The dried (I) root and (II) seed of Colchicum autumnale, Linné (Nat. Ord. Liliaceae.) England and other parts of Europe. Dose, Corm, 1 to 5... / ... without effusion, and attended by tearing, muscular pain, aggravated by heat. Subacute and chronic sciatica are asserted to have been relieved by colchicum when the pain is sharp, shooting, tearing, ...1
The dried (I) root and (II) seed of Colchicum autumnale, Linné (Nat. Ord. Liliaceae.) England and other parts of Europe. Dose, Corm, 1 to 5... / ... without effusion, and attended by tearing, muscular pain, aggravated by heat. Subacute and chronic sciatica are asserted to have been relieved by colchicum when the pain is sharp, shooting, tearing, ...1
COLOCYNTHIS
The dried, peeled pulp of the fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis (Linné,) Schrader. (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae.) Mediterranean basin of Europe, Asia,... / ...ions named above it is often corrected by colocynth. In that form of lumbago and sometimes pressure sciatica, due to gaseous accumulations in the bowels, colocynth, capsicum, and bryonia should be con... / ...of the fifth nerve, when the characteristic cutting pain prevails. It should be given also when colicky pain precedes or accompanies amenorrhoea.1
The dried, peeled pulp of the fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis (Linné,) Schrader. (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae.) Mediterranean basin of Europe, Asia,... / ...ions named above it is often corrected by colocynth. In that form of lumbago and sometimes pressure sciatica, due to gaseous accumulations in the bowels, colocynth, capsicum, and bryonia should be con... / ...of the fifth nerve, when the characteristic cutting pain prevails. It should be given also when colicky pain precedes or accompanies amenorrhoea.1
MENTHOL
Menthol. A secondary alcohol obtained from the oil of Mentha piperita, Linné, or from other oils of mints. It should be kept in well-stoppered... / ...nd scalds, insect bites and stings, earache, neuralgia, boils, carbuncles, and the surface pains of sciatica. The pain of local and superficial neuralgias and of arthritis, simple, rheumatic, or gonor... / ...is sometimes of value in hiccough. It should not be used in large doses internally because of the profound nervous disturbances it may occasion.1
Menthol. A secondary alcohol obtained from the oil of Mentha piperita, Linné, or from other oils of mints. It should be kept in well-stoppered... / ...nd scalds, insect bites and stings, earache, neuralgia, boils, carbuncles, and the surface pains of sciatica. The pain of local and superficial neuralgias and of arthritis, simple, rheumatic, or gonor... / ...is sometimes of value in hiccough. It should not be used in large doses internally because of the profound nervous disturbances it may occasion.1
OLEUM TEREBINTHINAE RECTIFICATUM
Rectified Oil of Turpentine, Rectified Turpentine Oil. Description.A thin colorless liquid corresponding to the properties described under Oleum... / ..., peritonitis, arthritis, and other congestive and inflammatory disorders; and to alleviate pain in sciatica, myalgia, pleurodynia, and various neuralgias. For these purposes equal parts or one-fourth...1
Rectified Oil of Turpentine, Rectified Turpentine Oil. Description.A thin colorless liquid corresponding to the properties described under Oleum... / ..., peritonitis, arthritis, and other congestive and inflammatory disorders; and to alleviate pain in sciatica, myalgia, pleurodynia, and various neuralgias. For these purposes equal parts or one-fourth...1
PISCIDIAPISCI
The bark of the root of Piscidia piscipula, Jacquin (Nat. Ord. Leguminosae). West Indies and rarely in Florida. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Name:... / ...ntrol pain, but for any good reason is not desirablein neuralgias, painful spasms, ticdouloureux, sciatica, enteralgia, dysmenorrhea, and the pains of fractures and carcinoma. It has aided some case... / ...the feeble it should be employed with caution on account of its tendency to produce convulsions, even though it may satisfactorily relieve pain.1
The bark of the root of Piscidia piscipula, Jacquin (Nat. Ord. Leguminosae). West Indies and rarely in Florida. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Name:... / ...ntrol pain, but for any good reason is not desirablein neuralgias, painful spasms, ticdouloureux, sciatica, enteralgia, dysmenorrhea, and the pains of fractures and carcinoma. It has aided some case... / ...the feeble it should be employed with caution on account of its tendency to produce convulsions, even though it may satisfactorily relieve pain.1
STRAMONIUM (Datura spp.)
The dried leaves of Datura Stramonium, Linné, or of Datura Tatula, Linné (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). A common weed everywhere in the United States,... / ...algia, gastritis, and enteritis, neuralgic dysmenorrhea, spasmodic intestinal pain, tic douloureux, sciatica, and the pains of chronic rheumatism, it is useful but does not compare with either bellado... / ...with nervous erethism and unsteadiness. Like hyoscyamus, stramonium meets two classes of nervous and mental disordersthe ment1
The dried leaves of Datura Stramonium, Linné, or of Datura Tatula, Linné (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). A common weed everywhere in the United States,... / ...algia, gastritis, and enteritis, neuralgic dysmenorrhea, spasmodic intestinal pain, tic douloureux, sciatica, and the pains of chronic rheumatism, it is useful but does not compare with either bellado... / ...with nervous erethism and unsteadiness. Like hyoscyamus, stramonium meets two classes of nervous and mental disordersthe ment1
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Materia Medica on Sciatica
PHENACETIN
A derivative of NITRO-PHENOL. Analgesic. antipyretic. Prescribed for relief of pain in acute rheumatism, sciatica, gastralgia, migraine, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia. etc.; to reduce temperature and promote diaphoresis in fevers, and for a specific influence in diabetes. Dose, 0.12 to 0.60 Grm. (2 to 10 grs.).2
A derivative of NITRO-PHENOL. Analgesic. antipyretic. Prescribed for relief of pain in acute rheumatism, sciatica, gastralgia, migraine, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia. etc.; to reduce temperature and promote diaphoresis in fevers, and for a specific influence in diabetes. Dose, 0.12 to 0.60 Grm. (2 to 10 grs.).2
TURPENTINE
The concrete oleoresin obtained from PINUS PALUSTRIS, Mill. and other species of Pinus. This is now seldom used, but the oil distilled from the fresh oleoresin, Oil of Turpentine, is frequently prescribed. Internally it is stimulant, hemostatic, antiseptic and anthelmintic. It is often prescribed in typhoid fever, for relief of tympanjtes, in in ternal hemorrhages, occasionally in sciatica and lumbago, in purpura hemorrhagica, in chronic bronchitis and chronic affections of the urinary passages,2
The concrete oleoresin obtained from PINUS PALUSTRIS, Mill. and other species of Pinus. This is now seldom used, but the oil distilled from the fresh oleoresin, Oil of Turpentine, is frequently prescribed. Internally it is stimulant, hemostatic, antiseptic and anthelmintic. It is often prescribed in typhoid fever, for relief of tympanjtes, in in ternal hemorrhages, occasionally in sciatica and lumbago, in purpura hemorrhagica, in chronic bronchitis and chronic affections of the urinary passages,2
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Sciatica
SCIATICA
General treatment for neuralgia. Hypodermatic iniections of atropine in heroic doses (1-20 grain) is highly recommended by some to cut short the attack. Others advise acupuncture or local massage or the ether spray, applied daily, or the hypodermatic use of morphine or of chloroform. In any case the hot water bottle and liniments of chloroform, aconite, methyl salicylate and menthol are remedies of value.2
General treatment for neuralgia. Hypodermatic iniections of atropine in heroic doses (1-20 grain) is highly recommended by some to cut short the attack. Others advise acupuncture or local massage or the ether spray, applied daily, or the hypodermatic use of morphine or of chloroform. In any case the hot water bottle and liniments of chloroform, aconite, methyl salicylate and menthol are remedies of value.2
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.