For centuries, back pain has been a common ailment among people young and old. 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 this is no joke.
The pain of sciatica, however, is that it can take a longer amount of time to fix the problem. But sometimes you just need quick relief, so here is a natural remedy to keep on hand.
Two ingredients to lower sciatica pain
The recipe that we are about to share is one of the most popular natural remedies for sciatica pain relief. To try to do it yourself, all you need is:
Ingredients:
- A bucket or tub big enough to put your feet in
- 10 liters of hot-to-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
- Put your feet in and hold them there for about 30 minutes
- When you take your feet out, rinse them and wrap them in something warm (for example, a towel, a sheet, or a blanket)
- When you wake up, keep your feet warm by wearing socks and slippers
- Repeat as you like
How effective is this foot soak for sciatica pain?
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 your feet or legs are soaked in the foot bath, your skin absorbs the soothing Epsom salts that help relax pinched nerves, and soothe stiff muscles and joints as well.
Apple cider vinegar may have anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting benefits. Remember: it is important to realize that this natural remedy is for pain relief and does not solve the real problem.
Ways to get long-term relief from sciatica pain
Soaking your feet in this mixture regularly can bring you some relief. But for a more long-term solution, the following strategies are recommended:
- Visit a medical professional who can perform physical therapy and establish an exercise routine that helps improve posture and take pressure off your sciatic nerve.
- Inactivity can lead to inflammation that can make sciatic pain worse, so making sure you get daily physical activity can keep inflammation at bay.
- If you can, allow yourself the luxury of taking some bed rest time. Generally, three days of foot rest is 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 your lower back several times a day for several minutes. But for best results, start with cold compresses and then switch to hot.
- Explore alternative therapies. These include things like yoga, chiropractic work, acupuncture, and more. These things can help different people on different levels, so it may take a bit of patience and exploration. But don’t be afraid to ask your doctor what they think of the most natural approaches to curing your sciatic pain.
- Create a repertoire of lower back stretches for temporary but consistent relief.
In general, a real cure for sciatic pain is best accomplished with safe and appropriate exercises, physical therapy, and stretching. However, for immediate short-term pain relief, natural remedies such as vinegar and Epsom salts foot soaks can help.