Sciatica in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different sciatica patterns according to TCM theory
Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice
Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Sciatica, often characterized by pain radiating along the sciatic nerve pathway, emerges from the lower back, traverses the hips and buttocks, and extends down one leg. Common in individuals with herniated disks or bone spurs in the spine, sciatica’s symptoms include lower back pain, tingling, or numbness in the legs. Its severity can range from mild discomfort to acute pain that hinders everyday activities.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives sciatica through the lens of Qi and Blood flow within the body. Unlike Western medicine, which often attributes sciatica to physical nerve compression, TCM focuses on identifying and rectifying imbalances or obstructions in the body's energy, such as Qi or Blood.
TCM practitioners consider factors like Wind, Cold, and Dampness, which can invade the body and contribute to sciatic pain, emphasizing the necessity of restoring harmonious Qi flow for relief and healing.
TCM Patterns for Sciatica
Painful Obstruction with Wind-Cold-Damp
Causes: Swollen and painful joints that are warm to the touch and worsen at night, Reduced range of motion in the affected joints, Chills without sweating, Weight loss, Headaches, Dizziness, Shortness of breath, Nausea
Yang Deficiency
Causes: Abdominal pain that worsens with cold, Urinary difficulty, Deep aching and heaviness in the extremities, Dizziness, Heavy sensation in the head, Edema, Loose stools, Palpitations, Coughing, Vomiting, Heavy and painful sensations in the lower back and lower extremities, Weakness and stiffness, Aversion to cold, Attraction to warmth, Shortness of breath, Slight abdominal distension after eating, Lassitude, Desire to lie down curled up, Pale complexion, Cold limbs, Chills, Undigested food in the stools, Gas, Bloating, Abdominal pain and distension relieved by pressure and warmth, Sallow complexion
Exterior Cold invading the Interior
Causes: Abdominal pain, Constipation, Hypochondriac pain, Chills, Low-grade fever, Cold hands and feet, Sweating that doesn't reduce fever, Palpitations in the epigastrium, Dizziness, Generalized twitching, Unsteadiness
Full Cold in the Directing and Penetraing Vessels
Causes: Painful period, Cold in the lower abdomen, Infertility, Late period, Dark clots in menstrual blood, Abdominal pain after childbirth
Dampness and Phlegm in the Uterus
Causes: Late period, Painful period, Dark clots in menstrual blood, Brown vaginal discharge, Irregular menstruation, Abdominal pain after childbirth, Lochia retention, White vaginal discharge, Cold in the lower abdomen, Cold feeling in vagina, Infertility, Feeling of cold, Cold limbs, Purple lips
Herbal Formulas for Sciatica
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address sciatica